Forum Extols the Virtues of Energy Efficiency

Energy conservation, environmental concerns and economic growth were the main agenda when more than 350 industry, government and environmental leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., at a recent energy efficiency forum.

Among the speakers at the event, "Evolution of the Energy Economy: Ensuring Security and Stability," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Whitman discussed the success of the Energy Star program and announced its expansion to include hotels and manufacturing plants.

Whitman noted that since the program's inception, more than 10,000 buildings have benchmarked their facilities to Energy Star's energy-efficiency standards and more than 800 have earned the Energy Star rating.

"Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $5 billion on their energy bills and reduced pollution equivalent to that of 10 million cars," she said.

Also promoting energy conservation, the event's keynote speaker, the U.S. Department of Energy's Secretary of Energy, Spencer Abraham, noted that the majority of points delineated in President Bush's national energy policy have either already been acted upon, or have been included in House or Senate energy bills.

"We expect a comprehensive and balanced final bill will be headed to the President's desk for his signature this year," he said.

U.S. Representative Tom Udall (D-NM), another presenter, spoke out against investing a lot into oil production in order to decrease dependence on foreign oil. Instead, the congressman emphasized the importance of maximizing efficiency and conservation along with developing new sources of energy.

Similarly, Abraham pointed out that of the Administration's 105 recommendations in the national energy policy, 54 deal with energy efficiency and renewable energy.

For more information on the forum sponsored by the United States Energy Association and Johnson Controls, visit: www.eeforum.net.