If the world’s complex energy challenges are to be met, all stakeholders must be better-informed and educated and more willing to share knowledge.
That was the overriding theme of "Breaking Through: Creating an Informed Energy Efficiency Technology Marketplace," the sixth in an ongoing series of "EnVisioneering" symposia hosted by Danfoss, the Baltimore-based supplier of refrigeration, air-conditioning, motion-control, and heating components, Oct. 23 at Hotel Washington in Washington, D.C.
Among the speakers was Dennis Moran, Eastern Region director of energy for Marriott Inc., who said too much emphasis is placed on global warming.
"Responding to carbon hysteria is distracting attention from energy-efficiency improvement," Moran said. "The true catastrophe will be a shortage of oil and gas."
Speaker Glenn Barrett said he has learned four key lessons as director of energy management for Supervalu Inc.: "First, commissioning is the key to a successful project. Second, you have to be able to quantify energy savings. Third, you must take action to retain benefits because, without preventive actions, savings will be lost over time. And fourth, maintenance technicians are not energy experts."
The other speakers were:
• Eric Ackerman, senior manager of regulatory policy for Edison Electric Institute, who offered three solutions to the electricity challenge: (1) introduce more-efficient rates at retail, (2) restructure business and regulatory models so utilities can make a sustainable business out of efficiency, and (3) share information about energy-efficient products.
• Karen Penafiel, vice president for advocacy for Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, who discussed the BOMA Energy Efficiency Program, which provides tips on reducing building energy costs, and the Green Lease Guide, which provides guidance on saving energy and being environmentally responsible.
• Chandra Govindarajalu, senior environmental specialist for The World Bank, who said a wealth of energy-efficiency projects await in developing countries, but various barriers, including a lack of information, a lack of trained personnel or technical/managerial expertise, price distortions, regulatory biases, and high transaction costs, are inhibiting implementation.
• Heather Kennedy, manager of government affairs for The Home Depot Inc.
The symposium was the last in the series for 2007. For more information, visit www.envisioneering.danfoss.com/symposium.