Energy stakeholders gather at Danfoss Symposium

More than 30 representatives from the federal government, energy utilities, foreign embassies and the HVAC&R industry gathered in Washington, DC, April 4, to answer a recurring question, “Is the tide turning with regard to the future of energy and energy efficiency strategy?”

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff April 14, 2008

More than 30 representatives from the federal government, energy utilities, foreign embassies and the HVAC&R industry gathered in Washington, DC, April 4, to answer a recurring question, “Is the tide turning with regard to the future of energy and energy efficiency strategy?”

Those who attended the seventh Danfoss EnVisioneering Symposium, held at The Mayflower hotel in the nation’s capital, said “Yes.”.

“The tide is turning, but we need to change our respective approaches,” said Robert Thompson, project manager of Commercial Energy Efficiency Programs for Pasadena (Calif.) Power and Water.

California has long been a pioneer in energy efficiency programs, and Pasadena Power and Water is no exception.%%The goal is to put energy savings first … and first costs second,” Thompson said.

Jean Lupinacci, director of the Energy Star Commercial and Industrial Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, agreed that the energy efficiency tide is turning.

Lupinacci noted that more than 4,000 buildings have earned the ENERGY STAR label; these buildings use 405re embracing the Energy Star model.

Other symposium speakers, and the key points they made, included:

  • Darrell Beschen, chief economist for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Dept.increased from 2% in 2004 to 22%  in 2006. “We’re trying to bring critical resources to critical technologies to (capitalize on) critical opportunities,” Beschen said.

  • Thomas Hartman, president of The Hartman Company, a building technologies consulting firm based in Georgetown, Texas, introduced a new white paper, “A Vision for Energy Performance-Based Building Design and Operations.”rgy.”

  • In keeping with the utilities theme, Drake Erbe, vice president of business development, Airxchange, added: “Utilities can be part of the solution, not the problem.

The symposium identified two recommendations:

  • Decoupling electric utility revenue from KWH sales could motivate that industry to become a vehicle for accelerating conservation.

    Incentives and building code changes are needed to upgrade the installed base of old, inefficient equipment.

Robert Wilkins, president of Danfoss Inc. (U.S. and Canada), summed up the symposium, noting that all stakeholders can and should make valuable contributions to the global energy challenge.

“Energy-efficient technologies are available right now, and they’re making an impact in the U.S. and abroad,” Wilkins said.

New Date (Nov. 14) Announced for Symposium 8

The next Danfoss EnVisioneering Symposium will be held Nov. 14 in Carlsbad, Calif., just prior to the annual meeting of the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute, set for Nov. 16-18.stCentury, Energy-Efficient Environment,” will address how energy efficiency technology is creating novel opportunities — and positive returns on investment — in the business environment.

For more information about the Danfoss EnVisioneering Symposia Series, call: Global Strategy Initiative at 202-744-3633 or visit: https://www.envisioneering.danfoss.com/symposium