Acupuncture and Lobsters in a Virtual World June 29, 2009 Posted by: johnsoncontrols 10:48 AM
By Steve Thomas, Johnson Controls
Near the end of his keynote speech at last week’s Virtual Energy Forum, Amory Lovins was asked what I thought was a very interesting and telling question. Lovins is head of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), which describes itself as a “think and do tank” focused on energy and resource efficiency. Lovins says RMI is in the business of “institutional acupuncture” – locating the logjams restricting progress and sticking needles into them until they loosen up. Johnson Controls sponsored his presentation at the Virtual Energy Forum.
The question posed to Lovins was this: “Why isn’t more happening?” The question reflects the eagerness that those of us involved in energy efficiency share. We’re all anxious to see the pace of change quicken, see energy efficiency become a higher priority in more buildings and homes, see renewable energy provide a bigger percentage of our power.
But the question was also a reminder of something important: a lot is already happening. Lovins made reference to one excellent example: the energy efficiency retrofit now underway at the Empire State Building – a project on which Rocky Mountain Institute and Johnson Controls are partnering. Upgrades to windows, HVAC systems and more will result in a 38% reduction in the building’s energy use. Best yet, the project will create a template for other buildings to follow to become more energy efficient and more profitable.
It’s an example, Lovins pointed out, of what can happen when businesses realize that energy efficiency can be one of the lowest-risk, highest-return investments they can make. But it requires persistence, Lovins observed, like eating lobster: the big, easy chunks are in the tail and claws, but there are plenty of tasty morsels in other places if you’re willing to work a little harder for them.
To see Lovins’ entire presentation, go to the Virtual Energy Forum website, register (or log in if you’re already registered) and click on Archived Presentations.
In the Eye of the Storm at the Energy Efficiency Forum June 22, 2009 Posted by: johnsoncontrols 10:57 AM
By Darryll Fortune, Johnson Controls
The old saw, “when it rains it pours” was never truer than it was last week in Washington, D.C., where Johnson Controls proudly co-sponsored the 20th edition of the Energy Efficiency Forum. The weather was fine – cloudy and cool – but there was an absolute downpour of news about energy efficiency, both at the Forum and elsewhere in the nation’s capitol.
We kicked off the event by inducting the first honorees into the Energy Efficiency Forum Hall of Fame –two dozen leaders who have made phenomenal contributions to energy efficiency policy over the past two decades from their positions in government, private industry, non-profit organizations and the news media. It was a real privilege to see so many deserving people get a little credit for their hard work and leadership.
The following day, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson keynoted the Forum, calling energy efficiency critical to our nation’s future. “We know that we will not reach that future with a business-as-usual approach,” said Jackson. “One of the best things we can do for our economy and our environment is to focus on energy efficiency.”
Under Secretary of Energy Kristina Johnson made her first public appearance at the Forum and said the Department of Energy believes energy use in buildings can ultimately be reduced by up to 70%, with renewable resources such as solar and wind power providing the balance of electricity needed. “It’s a very exciting time at DOE,” said Johnson. “It’s a very exciting time for the country.”
The National Press Club, where we hosted the Forum, wasn’t the only place in Washington where excitement about energy efficiency was being generated last week. On the same day she delivered her keynote address at the Forum, EPA Administrator Jackson appeared on Capitol Hill with the Secretaries of Transportation and Housing to announce a joint government initiative called the Partnership for Sustainable Communities.
The Partnership will work to provide communities across the country with more safe, reliable and economical transportation options, while promoting affordable housing, protecting the environment and addressing climate change.
And speaking of climate change, on the same day the Forum was taking place, the U.S. Global Change Research Program – the organization that “coordinates and integrates federal research on changes in the global environment and their implications on society” – released a very significant new report.
Called “Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States,” the report was two years in the making, its research and preparation spanning two presidential administrations. It is the combined effort of experts in 13 U.S. government science agencies and several major universities and research institutes. The report lists among its key findings:
Global warming is undeniable and primarily caused by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases
Heat waves will become more frequent and intense
Increased heavy downpours will lead to more flooding
Rising sea levels will threaten homes and coastal land will be increasingly lost
Insect infestations and wildfires are already increasing and projected to continue doing so
The report is intended to help all Americans take steps to limit climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adopting strategies to either avoid or adapt to the harmful impacts of climate change.
The report does not favor one approach over another. It is apparent, however, that decreasing fossil fuel emissions by increasing energy efficiency is critical to addressing the clear and present danger that climate change presents.
With its theme of “Efficiency First: Transforming America’s Energy Future,” this year’s Forum – bringing together policymakers, business leaders, non-governmental organizations and others in our nation’s capitol – couldn’t have taken place at a better time or in a more appropriate location.
Two Decades of Dedication to Energy Efficiency June 14, 2009 Posted by: johnsoncontrols 10:19 PM
By Barry Worthington, Executive Director, U.S. Energy Association
Remember 1990? It was the year East and West Germany re-united as the Soviet Union began to crumble. Nelson Mandela was freed in South Africa. The Hubble Telescope was launched into orbit. Iraq invaded Kuwait, triggering the first Gulf War. Driving Miss Daisy was Best Picture. And the Cincinnati Reds swept the Oakland A’s to win the World Series.
1990 was also the first year of the “Energy Conservation Forum” as it was called back then. Today, it’s called the “Energy Efficiency Forum,” and it takes places for the 20th consecutive year in Washington D.C. this week. We’ve been a proud co-sponsor of the event with Johnson Controls since 1992.
For two decades, the Forum has brought together policy makers, business people and other stakeholders to share their views on energy efficiency and its impact on the environment, national security and economic growth.
It’s the passion of the people who’ve taken part in that discussion over the years that has made the Forum what it is today. And it’s that passion that we celebrate in a very special way this year by creating the Energy Efficiency Forum Hall of Fame and inducting its first members – each one of them selected by the Executive Council for their outstanding contributions to energy efficiency policy and for their ongoing leadership:
Doug Decker – former director of the government business unit at Johnson Controls and founder of the Forum.
Mark Ginsberg – former director of the Federal Energy Management Program that leads federal agencies to reduce energy consumption, and currently senior executive with the Department of Energy.
Dr. James Schlesinger – the nation’s first Secretary of Energy under President Jimmy Carter.
Thomas Kuhn – President and CEO of the Edison Electric Institute, the association of investor-owned electric utilities that generate three-quarters of the nation’s electricity.
Hazel O’Leary – Energy Secretary under President Bill Clinton and currently president of Fisk University.
Phil Sharp – former Congressman from Indiana and currently president of Resources for the Future.
Jack Gibbons – appointed as the first director of the Federal Office of Energy Conservation in 1973, just as the nation’s first energy crisis began, ultimately becoming President Clinton’s director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Christine Ervin – formerly the Department of Energy’s Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, who went on to lead the U.S. Green Building Council.
Kathleen Hogan – Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the Environmental Protection Agency, which includes ENERGY STAR®.
Dan Reicher – Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the Clinton administration; currently director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives for Google.org.
Spencer Abraham – A former Senator from Michigan, Abraham was Secretary of Energy under President George H. Bush.
Christine Todd Whitman – The former Governor of New Jersey served as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2003 where she was a strong advocate for financial incentives for energy efficient buildings and renewable energy.
Senator Byron Dorgan – The North Dakota Senator has championed energy independence as chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.
Branko Terzic – A former energy commissioner in Wisconsin and at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission who has long been involved in the Forum as a speaker, moderator and member of the Executive Council.
Eileen Claussen – the president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change who once correctly predicted that a cap-and-trade system would require “a great deal of political will” to pull off.
David Garman – Formerly Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, as well as Under Secretary of Energy, where he played a lead role in implementing major presidential energy initiatives for President George W. Bush.
Edward G. Rendell – The Governor of Pennsylvania has a well-established track record of promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Tom Leppert – As the former CEO of Turner Construction, the Mayor of Dallas probably knows more about energy efficiency in buildings than any other mayor currently in office.
Timothy E. Wirth – The former congressman and senator from Colorado is president of the United Nation’s Foundation and Better World Fund, working to strengthen the United Nation’s work with the respect to the environment and other issues.
James Rogers – Chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy as well as co-chair of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.
Kateri Callahan – The president of the Alliance to Save Energy is a tireless advocate, fundraiser and coalition builder for energy efficiency in the marketplace.
Greg Nickels – As Mayor of Seattle, he has led his city to become one of the greenest in the nation. He is also author of the Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement.
Thomas Friedman – The Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times reporter and author has made a career of writing about global trends and issues that have included energy and the environment.
Andy Karsner – Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the administration of President George W. Bush, where he earned the respect of both the business and environmental communities.
These are the men and women – Democrats and Republicans, representing governments, businesses and non-governmental organizations, elected and appointed officials – who not only understand the urgency of energy efficiency, but who are doing something every day to get the job done.
It’s a privilege to honor them as we celebrate two decades of achievement at the Energy Efficiency Forum.
Saving Water in the Wildest of Places June 07, 2009 Posted by: johnsoncontrols 10:47 PM
By Tricia Kuse, Johnson Controls
More than two thousand miles of prairies, mountains and deserts separate Milwaukee, Wisconsin and San Diego, California. The climates and cultures in the two cities couldn’t be more different. But right now, they have at least two big things in common: wild animals and water.
In the wild animals department, both San Diego and Milwaukee have fabulous zoos. The world-famous San Diego Zoo is routinely ranked as the best in the nation, and the Milwaukee Zoo is often on lists of the top zoos in the U.S.
What about water? Well, each city has a massive body of water in its front yard – San Diego, the Pacific Ocean; Milwaukee, Lake Michigan. The whole state of California is in the midst of a severe water shortage – one that’s prompted the Governor to declare a state of emergency. And Milwaukee is working hard to establish itself as the World Water Hub for water research, economic development and education.
In San Diego, the emphasis on water ratchets up several notches next week when the American Water Works Association (AWWA) holds its annual conference and exposition in the city. High on the conference agenda will be water efficiency, which, coincidentally, is also high on list of priorities at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
At Johnson Controls, we’re proud to be working with the Milwaukee Zoo to make habitats for some 350 species of animals more water and energy efficient. After conducting an exhaustive audit of Zoo buildings that are spread out over 200 acres of spacious parkland, we’re implementing a range of large-scale equipment upgrades and operational improvements. To mention a few:
Updating to low-flow sinks, aerators, toilets and valves
Putting control valves on drinking trays in the Aviary Building
Regulating water flow at the Japanese Macaque Island
Turning off water at night for decorative displays and waterfalls in the small mammal building and in the bear and giraffe exhibits
These and other measures are expected to cut the Zoo’s water use in half and save 100 million gallons of water each year.
Just as importantly, they’ll help create a more comfortable environment for the 1,800 “residents” – from alligators to zebras – and for Zoo visitors and staffers of the two-legged variety.
What’s more, because of the strong linkage between energy and water usage, the improvements we’re helping make at the Milwaukee Zoo will also result in significant energy savings. Recently, my colleague, Joy Clarke Holmes, and I presented a webcast about this important relationship between water and energy and the incredible opportunities to maximize both economic and environmental returns with smart water management. You can view the archived webcast here.
A recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Fund estimates that if California businesses adopt proper water efficiency measures, enough water could be saved to supply San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. The report calls on the commercial, industrial and institutional sectors to dramatically improve their water efficiency – and it’s clear that institutions such as the Milwaukee County Zoo are leading the way.
It’s also clear that the time is now for others to join in. Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.
No Summer Break for Renewable Energy Education June 01, 2009 Posted by: johnsoncontrols 08:01 AM
By Judith Mouton, Renewable Energy Education Manager, Johnson Controls
If you’re like me, this time of year always makes you think about your college years. June was when nine months of taking notes, studying, writing papers and cramming for tests were finally over and we could think about anything other than the periodic table, the fall of the Ottoman Empire or how to conjugate Spanish verbs.
At colleges and universities across the country, that’s exactly what millions of students are doing right now – shifting their focus from the classroom to summer jobs, family get-togethers, maybe even vacations.
But here at Johnson Controls, the college campuses where those kids go to school remain at the center of my attention whether it’s spring, summer, winter or fall. My job title is Renewable Energy Education Manager. It’s a reflection of Johnson Controls’ commitment to helping create the green collar work force of the future. And it’s a reflection of our understanding that doing so is absolutely essential to our success as a company and as a nation.
If we’re going to restart our economy, achieve energy independence and protect our environment through energy efficiency and renewable energy, we’re going to need a bunch of new engineers, installers, technicians, salespeople and others to make that happen. Colleges and universities are gearing up to train and educate students to tackle those tasks, and we’re pleased to be one of the leading companies sharing our knowledge and expertise to help them get the job done. For a couple years now, we’ve been working with colleges and universities to offer four-year degrees and technical programs in renewable energy. Here are some examples:
We worked with the University of Wisconsin to develop the curriculum for the nation’s first bachelor of sciences degree in sustainable management. The degree program will be offered – beginning this fall – at four UW system campuses (Parkside, River Falls, Stout and Superior), with much of the class work delivered online. The program is geared towards non-traditional students – adults who may already have a degree and are already in the workforce, but want to update their skills and take advantage of the boom in the green job market. Graduates will gain necessary knowledge in topics such as carbon trading, logistics, supply chain, renewable energy policy and economics.
We’re also working with the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and Milwaukee Area Technical College to develop curriculum for courses to train workers for jobs in the wind industry. Called the Wind Energy Educational Collaborative, the program is one of just 53 initiatives nationwide to receive funding from the federal government to help achieve the goal of generating 25% of electricity used nationwide from wind by 2030. Courses at MATC will offer students a certificate for installing, operating and maintaining wind systems. The UWM curriculum will prepare engineering students and laid-off engineers to analyze wind patterns, research wind power and its effects on the electrical grid, as well as engineer and design wind systems.
We previously helped Mid State Technical College – serving Central Wisconsin – develop the curriculum for an Associate in Applied Science Degree in one of three areas of renewable energy:
Renewable Thermal Energy Technician – performs site assessments, sells, installs or services solar thermal or geothermal renewable energy systems
Finally, we’re working with a number of colleges and universities to offer workshops and seminars to educate the general public about renewable energy and emerging career opportunities in the industry
So, while college kids everywhere are on summer break – whether they’re bagging groceries, mowing lawns or just working on their tans – at Johnson Controls we’ll still be hard at work helping ensure that when classes resume this fall, more students than ever before can start preparing themselves for a successful career in tomorrow’s green economy.
