Johnson Controls: Your Energy Forum http://yourenergyforum.com/ Your Energy Forum en Copyright 2009 Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:51:28 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.2ysb5-20051201 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Ringing the BELL for Energy Leaders
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

When John Quincy Adams – America’s sixth President – expressed that thought, steam locomotives and horse-drawn streetcars were among our major modes of transportation. Many of our homes and businesses were still lit by whale oil lamps. And “energy efficiency” was a concept that would mean very little to anyone for another 150 years.

Today, however, Adams’ words perfectly describe the kind of person (or persons) Johnson Controls hopes to honor again this year with a Building Efficiency Lifetime Leadership – or BELL – award.

Presented annually during our Green Tie Affair at the Greenbuild Conference, the BELL award recognizes outstanding and long-term individual leadership in pursuing, promoting and implementing energy efficiency and/or renewable energy initiatives. Award recipients are selected for their contributions to:
  • Energy efficiency in buildings
  • Energy policy development and/or advocacy
  • Energy efficiency product development and/or deployment
  • Renewable energy initiatives
  • Leadership in energy efficiency communications
Last year’s winner was Paul von Paumgartten, longtime director of energy and environmental affairs here at Johnson Controls. For many, many years, Paul has been a tireless advocate for creating the tools, developing the standards and crafting the strategies to convince more and more organizations to integrate sustainability into their operations. Paul was a founding member of the USGBC and helped in the development of the first LEED rating system. He was a most deserving recipient of the first BELL award.

We’ll present the BELL again on November 11th at our Green Tie Affair at Greenbuild 2009 in Phoenix. Nominations are open to anyone, but the deadline is fast-approaching: August 31, 2009.

You can review and download the nomination form and criteria here. Nominations can be e-mailed or faxed to me at the e-mail address or fax number on the nomination form.

Recipients are selected by a Johnson Controls Awards Committee, made up of well-known leaders in energy efficiency and renewable energy from both inside and outside the company.

Another famous person – the late Peter Drucker, a well-known management expert and author – said, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.”

It will be a privilege to again this year present BELL awards to people whose commitment and contributions to energy efficiency and renewable energy epitomize both the letter and spirit of those words.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.

]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/07/ringing_the_bell_for_energy_le.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/07/ringing_the_bell_for_energy_le.html Green Buildings Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:51:28 -0600 Going Green
As the global leader in helping organizations maximize their energy efficiency and sustainability, we feel a special obligation to walk the talk here at Johnson Controls. As manager of global travel for the company, that translates into making sure our corporate travel is as green as it can be. It’s a challenging job – with 140,000 employees at 1,300 locations in 125 countries it goes without saying that our employees travel a lot. But by using a little common sense – and with some help from our travel partners – we’re definitely making a difference.

For example, in some European cities, we’ve reduced our use of rental cars, encouraging employees to use public transit alternatives. In other cities, we’re asking our people to look at public transit options and only rent a car when absolutely necessary. When employees do rent a car, we’ve negotiated an agreement with our vendor to reduce the number of unsolicited upgrades they give us, and we’ve shifted our policies to encourage employees to rent smaller vehicles that use less gas and emit fewer pollutants.

Also in Europe, we’ve shifted from air travel to rail between some destinations. On one of our heavier travel routes, between Paris and Strasbourg, France, we reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 90% by choosing the train instead of a plane.

Obviously, airlines remain our main mode of long-distance travel, but we’re making progress here as well. The last time we solicited bids from airlines, we specifically asked them what they were doing – and what they planned to do – to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. We’re not penalizing airlines based on their responses, but we are trying to send a clear signal that they need to green their fleets to remain competitive. Happily, some – though not all – airlines are responding.

We’re putting technology to work wherever we can to lower the carbon footprint of our travel. I’ve been encouraging project teams that may be separated by many time zones to use video conferencing when it makes sense, instead of meeting in person. It takes some getting used to – particularly for groups that are accustomed to working face-to-face – but it’s catching on.

We’re asking our meeting planners to think local when they order food for events. That means when we’re hosting a luncheon in Atlanta it’s unlikely that Alaskan king crab legs will be on the menu. Food that travels fewer miles from the producer to our tables burns a lot less fuel.

And as often as possible, we book rooms in hotels that we know are greener than their competitors’. For example, we regularly check employees into the Holiday Inn Express in Brown Deer, a suburb of Milwaukee, home to our corporate offices and Building Efficiency business unit headquarters. This hotel is one of only a few with a feature that I really like: when you unlock the door to your room with your key card, the lights go on automatically. When you leave, they go off. Research shows that travelers aren’t always as conscious of turning off lights on the road as they are at home, so this feature saves energy despite the bad habits of some road warriors.

One thing that would make my job easier is a better way to measure our progress. If I want to increase the diversity of my suppliers, I can do that by doing more business with companies that are certified as minority- or women-owned businesses. But with travel, it’s not that easy. Various states in the U.S. and some countries have green travel certifications, but there’s virtually no consistency between them. Many function as little more than a marketing tool.

We definitely need a set of clear and uniform standards if we’re going to be able to say with any degree of certainty that we’re successfully greening our travel. In the meantime, we’ll keep working hard to do our part.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.
]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/07/going_green.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/07/going_green.html Transportation Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:05:01 -0600 Acupuncture and Lobsters in a Virtual World
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.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.
]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/acupuncture_and_lobsters_in_a.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/acupuncture_and_lobsters_in_a.html Green Buildings Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:48:18 -0600 In the Eye of the Storm at the Energy Efficiency Forum
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.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.
]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/in_the_eye_of_the_storm_at_the.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/in_the_eye_of_the_storm_at_the.html Public Policy Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:57:46 -0600 Two Decades of Dedication to Energy Efficiency 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.
]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/two_decades_of_dedication_to_e.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/two_decades_of_dedication_to_e.html Public Policy Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:19:14 -0600 Saving Water in the Wildest of Places 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.
]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/saving_water_in_the_wildest_of.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/saving_water_in_the_wildest_of.html Green Buildings Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:47:24 -0600 No Summer Break for Renewable Energy Education 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:

  • 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.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.
]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/no_summer_break_for_renewable.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/06/no_summer_break_for_renewable.html Sustainability/Green Technologies Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:01:13 -0600 Beat the Heat with Hybrid AC By Andy Armstrong, Johnson Controls

Ah, the sounds of summer. Birds are singing. Lawnmowers are roaring. There’s baseball on the radio. And when I switched on the air conditioner, it sounded like somebody was pounding on an empty barrel with my three wood. That was right before the grinding and screeching. Followed by the utterly depressing silence that only a dead AC can make on the first hot day of the year.

Sound familiar? Shopping for a new air conditioner – like me? Here’s a suggestion: do what I’m going to do and go hybrid – as in a hybrid comfort system.

Where I work – York, a Johnson Controls brand – we make these hybrid systems. When you hear “Johnson Controls” and “hybrid” in the same sentence, you may think “batteries” – the ones we manufacture for hybrid vehicles. But what’s amazing about the hybrid comfort systems we make for home heating and cooling is that they provide one of the same advantages hybrid cars offer: the ability to switch between fuel sources – in this case, between natural gas and electricity. Here’s how a hybrid comfort system works:

Inside your house is the furnace component. It runs off of natural gas, and it looks and works just like your old furnace, only it uses a lot less energy.

Outside your house is the heat pump part of the system. It’s powered by electricity and looks just like your now-dead air conditioner, but it functions much differently.

In winter months, when natural gas prices are typically higher, you can use the heat pump to capture the warmth that’s always present in the outside air (even in winter) and pull it inside to warm your house. When it’s especially cold outside, the furnace automatically kicks in to supplement the heat pump and provide additional warmth. And if electric rates shoot up in your area for some reason, you can use the electric heat pump less (or not at all) and rely on the gas-powered furnace for heat. In other words, you can switch fuel sources based on what’s going on with prices. Clever you!

But who wants to think about winter the week before Memorial Day? Let’s talk about summer. When it’s hot, the heat pump works in reverse: it takes the heat out of your house and pumps it outside – which is exactly the same process that an air conditioner uses. So you get the same cooling you’d get from your AC – that is if your AC had a pulse.

Here’s something important to think about: When heat pumps first became popular back in the seventies, the technology was a little behind the curve. The equipment wasn’t very durable, and the defroster systems that kept the coils on the heat pump from icing over didn’t always work very well. The good news is that’s changed completely. Today’s systems work well and are designed to provide reliable heating and cooling year-round with little or no maintenance. And the best part is you can get some help paying for a new system. Under the federal stimulus package, you can get up to $1,500 in tax credits when you spend money to increase the energy efficiency of your home. Hybrid comfort systems that meet certain efficiency standards – and ours do! – qualify. The tax credits are good through the end of 2010. You may also be able to get a rebate from your utility for installing a heat pump. Utilities like heat pumps because they use electricity in the winter when the demand for natural gas is heaviest.

So don’t just sit there sweating. If you’ve got to replace your AC this year anyway, go hybrid with a comfort system that:

  • Keeps you cool in summer and warm in winter
  • Gives you the option of choosing which fuel source to use based on price
  • Qualifies for tax credits and rebates to help you foot the bill
Efficiency now. It’s never been more important.
]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/05/beat_the_heat_with_hybrid_ac.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/05/beat_the_heat_with_hybrid_ac.html Residential Mon, 18 May 2009 00:42:50 -0600 Rocky Road and 31 Other Flavors on the Path to Energy Efficiency By Don Young, International Facility Management Association (IFMA)

Taking part in a webcast this week, I couldn’t stop thinking about ice cream.

The webcast actually had nothing to do with my favorite dessert. It was about the third annual Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey that IFMA is happy to partner with Johnson Controls on every year.

Johnson Controls, of course, is headquartered in Wisconsin – America’s Dairyland – but that isn’t what put an image of ice cream into my head, either.

Here’s what did: Most of the time, I’m pretty good about choosing the no-sugar, no-fat ice cream when the urge strikes. I have to admit that sometimes, though, I give in and have a scoop of “fully-loaded.” I know I should stop doing this altogether. But I don’t. There’s a disconnect between what I know I should do and what I actually do. And that is exactly what the results of this year’s EEI survey show:

•    71% of business leaders are paying more attention to energy efficiency than they were a year ago (that’s up from 62% in 2007)
•    58% say energy management is extremely or very important (up from just 20% in 2007)

But here’s the kicker:

•    10% fewer business leaders expect to spend capital dollars on energy efficiency improvements
•    6% fewer expect to invest operating dollars into energy efficiency

Businesses know what they should do, but fewer are actually doing it. Why? The number one reason is capital budgets that are shrinking due to the economic slowdown. Number two is the relatively longer payback on energy efficiency investments. Uncertainty is yet another big reason – uncertainty over the direction of energy prices, financial incentives and government regulation of carbon emissions.

Still, in the midst of this uncertainty and economic turmoil, organizations are making significant investments in energy efficiency. Two of them took part in the webcast:

The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory signed a $89 million energy savings performance contract with Johnson Controls to dramatically increase energy efficiency and use of renewable energy on its 500-acre, 400-facility campus in Tennessee. When completed, the improvements will reduce fossil fuel use by 85%, save 170 million gallons of water a year and supply 21% of the facility’s power needs with on-site renewable energy facilities.

The Empire State Building, one of the most recognized and admired skyscrapers in the world, recently contracted with Johnson Controls to perform $20 million in energy efficiency upgrades to the 102-story Manhattan icon that will cut energy usage by 38% and reduce the structure’s carbon footprint. The project will serve as a model for energy efficiency retrofit projects that have sensible payback periods and enhance the profitability of owners.

The question I had is this: how were these two organizations able to look beyond the barriers preventing others from investing in energy efficiency? Their own responses during the webcast spoke loud and clear on that subject.

“It’s just good business,” said Tim Clancy, Director of Operations at the Empire State Building. “The investment pays back in lower energy costs, and we end up with a more valuable building.”

“I agree that it’s good business,” added Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Deputy Director of Facilities and Operations Jimmy Stone. “It’s how we’re going to be a viable organization going forward.”

No disconnect there. Two facility management professionals who recognize the critical roles they play in helping their organizations control costs and operate sustainably. They and their organizations are proof positive that strategic capital investments in high-performance building technologies can and do lower energy consumption, maximize efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

As the economy improves, credit markets ease and the regulatory picture becomes clearer, we’re certain to see more organizations like them lining up for their scoop of energy efficiency, with some renewables sprinkled on top.

]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/05/rocky_road_and_31_other_flavor.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/05/rocky_road_and_31_other_flavor.html Green Buildings Wed, 06 May 2009 14:19:44 -0600 A Fair Breeze Blowing on the Wind Industry By Jesse Stowell, Johnson Controls

As I drive across the wide open plains of West Texas I’m reminded– would you believe it – of Chicago. Not because the scenery is similar – it isn’t, especially this time of year! But because of the one thing that both places certainly have in common right now: wind, and lots of it.

West Texas is currently one of the hottest markets in the world for wind energy — particularly on a utility-scale. Giant wind farms with hundreds of turbines generating hundreds of megawatts of electricity dot the skyline. And more are on the way.

But this week, ground zero for the wind industry is 1,300 miles to the north in Chicago where the windy city hosts the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) Windpower 2009 conference. And while utility-scale wind is certainly high on the conference agenda, there’s something new on the breeze, as well.

For the first time, the conference will include a meeting of the Community Wind Working Group. Formed last year, the group’s objective is to develop policies and strategies to help grow community wind – on-site wind energy generating facilities that may consist of just one turbine.

Community wind continues to grow – especially among local school districts, on college and university campuses, and on federal facilities such as military bases. What’s more: community wind really stands to gain from current and potential developments that include:

  • A national Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that would require all utilities to generate a percentage of their power from renewables such as wind. A RPS is currently part of climate change legislation now before the U.S. Congress.
  • A cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions that’s part of the same legislation. Such a scheme would make generation of electricity from fossil fuels more expensive, making wind and other renewables more cost competitive.
  • The resumption of tax credits for investments in wind energy and other renewables.
  • Net-metering laws being adopted at the state level that help make on-site wind energy facilities more financially attractive.
  • Progress on bringing plug-in hybrid vehicles to the U.S. auto market where they promise to drive increased demand for electricity – which will in turn encourage utilities to promote more on-site power generation from renewables such as wind as an alternative to building new fossil fuel power plants.
  • Improvements in wind turbine technologies that increase the efficiency of generating electricity at lower wind speeds, which are common in community wind facilities.
  • Slow but steady easing of the credit markets, freeing more funding for wind projects.

All of this, of course, comes on top of an overwhelming increase in interest in all forms of renewable energy – wind included – driven by instability and uncertainty in energy prices, concerns over climate change and energy security, and other factors.

And it comes in the midst of overwhelming public support for wind energy. A recent public opinion poll finds that 82% of Americans would support a wind energy project in their hometown.

Whether it’s blustering across the vast open expanses of West Texas or gusting between skyscrapers in the loop in downtown Chicago, it’s encouraging to find a fair breeze blowing on community wind, bringing with it the promise of even greater growth for an industry that is poised to play a critical role in America’s energy future.

Efficiency now. It’s never been more important.

]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/05/a_fair_breeze_blowing_on_the_w.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/05/a_fair_breeze_blowing_on_the_w.html Sustainability/Green Technologies Sun, 03 May 2009 23:09:00 -0600 Dead Cell Phones and Other Low-hanging Fruit
How many dead cell phones are you still the proud owner of? I know I’ve got at least three. Guess how many there are in America right now. About 500 million. That’s a half-billion lying around in desk drawers and utility room cabinets in our homes and offices. Think they’re worthless? Not hardly. Actually, they represent a gold mine.

Those cell phones contain an estimated 17 million pounds of copper, 374,000 pounds of silver and 38,000 pounds of gold. You’d have to mine two tons of earth to get a half ounce of gold – so think how much dirt you’d need to move to produce 38,000 pounds. And now think about how much energy we could save in mining, transporting and refining precious metals if we just recycled a bunch of useless cell phones.

Imagine that you are holding a handful of coal in your hand that contains 100 units of energy. If you burn that coal to generate electricity and then push that electricity through transmission lines to your building, you can use it to run electric motors that pump hot water throughout your facility to keep it warm.

Out of that handful of coal you started with, how many units of energy do you think actually end up in your building as heat? The answer is not much: only 10 out of the original 100 units of energy. The rest – 90% – is lost along the way.

That’s a lot of lost energy, right? But think about it this way: what if we reverse the process? Instead of thinking about how much energy we’re losing, what if we think about how much energy we could be saving? If you save ten units of energy by making your building more energy efficient, you avoid burning ten times the amount of coal that would have been necessary to generate that electricity. Save a little energy just by turning off the lights in your conference rooms and running your building more efficiently, and you save ten times as much on the generation of that electricity. Little things can make a big impact.

You know those power strips underneath your desk that the power supplies to your computer, monitor, printer and other electronics are all plugged into? Did you know that they continue burning electricity even when the devices are turned off? Each power strip uses from 20 to 40 watts of electricity – let's call it 30 watts on average. If just a million people started turning off those power strips before they leave the office, electric companies could avoid burning 1,255 rail cars of coal.

If you have two of those converter boxes for your cable television in your house – you know, the ones that are always on – they’re consuming about as much electricity as your refrigerator. That’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While you’re sleeping. While you’re at work. While you’re on vacation. If one million people unplugged their cables boxes for eight hours while they’re in bed, we’d save 87.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity.

On Earth Day last week, I was privileged to be one of the speakers at a conference on Wisconsin’s energy future. A bevy of distinguished representatives from government agencies, universities and private industry spoke about topics that included federal and state energy policies, renewable energy resources, green jobs, transportation issues and climate change.

It was a reminder that we’re grappling with big issues requiring big ideas and big investments of resources. But it’s also good to remember that some of the solutions can be pretty simple.

Efficiency now. It's never been more important.

]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/04/dead_cell_phones_and_other_low.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/04/dead_cell_phones_and_other_low.html Green Buildings Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:13:11 -0600 LEED with Your Hips
If I’ve learned anything from playing golf – and based on my handicap, I know the guys in my foursome are wondering what I could possibly be talking about at this point – it’s this: my game is a work in progress. Always has been. Always will be.

I’ve played for more years than I’d like to admit, and still there are days when I can’t hit the driver to save my life. Or if my driver’s working, I can’t chip. Or if I’m playing okay around the greens, I can’t putt. You get the picture.

Here’s what I love about golf, though: every year I learn something new from one of my buddies, correct a bad habit, try out a new club. Slowly, but surely, my game is getting better.

That’s how I feel about LEED v3. I’ve been involved with LEED from the beginning. Like you, I’ve seen all the changes. And I know there’s going to be some belly-aching about “change for the sake of change” this time around, too.

But I think that while LEED v3 definitely makes some significant modifications in the certification process, very soon we will be looking back and thinking, “Man, am I glad we did that!” Here’s why.

First, LEED v3 sets the stage for a much more orderly revision process going forward. From now on, updates to the standards will be more similar to building codes – meaning they’ll be scheduled every couple years and based on changes in the market that make them necessary. LEED v3 takes the randomness out of future updates.

Second, LEED online is faster and easier to use than ever before. It vastly improves communications between project teams and certifiers. If you’re managing more than one project at a time, it makes life much easier. Credit assignments are made to team members by name, not roles, eliminating those annoying, “That was on my list?” responses. And an improved timeline shows what’s been accomplished and what’s left to be done – including target dates – making staying on track easier. There are other big improvements in how the tool supports the certification process that you’ll have to experience. But, trust me, you’re going to love them. A lot.

Finally, LEED v3 will mean more improvement in the social, environmental and financial performance of buildings. Just like with golf – or any pursuit, for that matter – if you’re not in it to get better, you’re not in it at all. Besides, I talk with very few building owners and facilities managers who – now that they have their plaque on the wall – aren’t interested in continuously improving the energy efficiency of their buildings. Having tasted the cost reductions, improved working environments, positive public image and all the other benefits that come with a LEED certified building, they want more. And that is as it should be.

From where I’m sitting LEED v3 – like my new and improved golf swing – is progress. If you have a different perspective – or any tips on curing a chronic slice off the tee – let me know?]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/04/leed_with_your_hips.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/04/leed_with_your_hips.html Green Buildings Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:58:31 -0600 The Bell Tolls on a Brighter Energy Future in a Place Called Wyandotte
It’s coming. A little too slowly for some. But it’s definitely coming.

In a few short weeks, the hour that every school kid in the nation fervently prays for will finally arrive. The moment when school bells ring one last time and the curtain drops on the 2008-2009 academic year. Another nine months of multiplication tables, book reports, essay questions and cafeteria food draws to a close – and a long, lazy summer of swimming pools, sandlot baseball and sleepovers begins.

In at least one city in America, the start of this summer break also marks the end of a truly remarkable year – a year in which local school officials took another bold step into a cleaner, brighter and more sustainable future for every kid in a classroom and every taxpayer in the district. That city is Wyandotte, Michigan.

Located in metro Detroit, Wyandotte Public Schools does the best it can to serve about 4,700 students on a budget that is, to put it politely, “constrained.” As I’m sure you’ve noticed, things have been tough in Detroit and pretty much all of Michigan for awhile now. That’s why what schools officials are doing in Wyandotte is so smart.

For more than a decade, Johnson Controls has worked with Wyandotte Public Schools to help make the high school, middle school and six elementary schools more energy efficient and more comfortable for kids, teachers and staff.

We’ve replaced old boilers, lighting fixtures that contained PCBs, and leaky doors and windows with new high-efficiency ones. As a result of the improvements, all 11 Wyandotte school buildings have earned ENERGY STAR® certification, making the district the first in the entire state to accomplish that.

Performance contracts have been used to fund all of the improvements, meaning the upgrades pay for themselves with the money they save on utility bills and operations – more than $6.9 million over 15 years.

But it’s the latest project that may have the biggest impact on the school system, the kids and the community. In 2008, we installed solar photovoltaic (or PV) panels on the roof of Wilson Middle School. We worked with the municipal utility in Wyandotte and the State of Michigan to get grants that paid about half the cost of the solar system.

The 10 kilowatt system will convert the free rays of the sun into electricity to help power the school. But more important is the impact the panels are having on students – particularly the kids in the 8th grade class who have taken ownership of the solar system. They have an entire curriculum about solar energy and a website that tracks the amount of energy the panels are producing. (Check out videos about the system.)

These students are learning about the impact their energy use is having on the environment, how to use less through energy efficiency, and how renewable sources like the sun can meet the energy needs of the future.

You know why that’s important? Because these kids are someday going to be the adults who solve our energy and climate problems. And it’s our responsibility – our solemn duty – to prepare them today to be the energy engineers and the solar technicians and the smart energy consumers of tomorrow.

When the school bells ring again next fall, that’s what they’ll be doing in Wyandotte. Don’t you wonder why every school in America won’t be doing the same?

Efficiency now. It’s never been more important.]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/04/the_bell_tolls_on_a_brighter_e.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/04/the_bell_tolls_on_a_brighter_e.html Green Buildings Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:09:08 -0600 The Empire State Building: Teaching an Old Building New Tricks
Towering above the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street in Manhattan is without question America’s most famous skyscraper: the Empire State Building.

At a few inches over 1,453 feet, it was the world’s tallest man-made structure for 23 years. It has 6,500 windows, 73 elevators and 1,860 heart-pounding, breath-stealing steps from the street to the 102nd floor.

Existing commercial buildings like the Empire State Building consume some 18 percent of the energy used in the United States and account for about the same percentage of greenhouse gas emissions. Many buildings have made progress in reducing their energy usage and environmental impact – the Empire State Building included. But the initiative announced on April 6th at this historic structure is dramatically different and proof positive that even old buildings can learn new tricks.

The “Empire State Building Leadership in American Progress in Sustainability” project promises to make the world’s most famous office building a world leader in energy efficiency and sustainability. And at Johnson Controls, we’re pleased to be collaborating on the project with the Empire State Building Company, Jones Lang LaSalle and two of the world’s leading organizations focused on sustainability: Rocky Mountain Institute and Clinton Climate Initiative.

Together, we’re developing a $20 million sustainability project to complete upgrades to the Empire State Building that will include:
  • Refurbishing windows to make them substantially more energy efficient
  • Improving the insulation behind existing radiators to reflect more heat into the office space
  • Installing a new state-of-the-art energy management and control system
  • Rebuilding or replacing HVAC equipment with new high-efficiency models
  • Providing tenants with a web-based  tool to help them track and manage their individual energy usage
When we’re all done, we’ll have reduced energy usage in the building by 38 percent, energy costs by $4.4 million per year, and greenhouse gas emissions by 105,000 metric tons over a period of fifteen years.  Most importantly, the project team has collaborated to develop an innovative approach to retrofitting multi-tenant commercial office buildings that will be a model for the industry.

The project will be good for the owners because it will make the building more valuable, more marketable and more cost effective.

It will be good for tenants because their operating costs will be lower, their environments more comfortable and their employees more productive.

It will be good for the world, because our approach (tools and documentation available at www.esbsustainability.com) can be used over and over again to lower the energy usage and environmental impact of commercial office buildings around the globe. 

For nearly eighty years, the Empire State Building has stood as a towering landmark to American ingenuity. Soon it will also become a symbol of energy efficiency and sustainability for the entire world.

Efficiency now. It’s never been more important.
]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/04/the_empire_state_building_teac.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/04/the_empire_state_building_teac.html Green Buildings Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:00:21 -0600 Cow Power and Other Inspirational Stories of Leadership on Renewable Energy By Don Albinger, VP of Renewable Energy, Johnson Controls

I was very pleased to be one of the speakers at the recent Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit in Milwaukee. The session topic was the Role of Local Governments in Moving Towards Energy Independence with Renewable Energy – and I was honored to appear with a distinguished group of people who are doing just that:

Larry Nelson, Mayor of Waukesha, Wisconsin. Larry talked about the work he and his colleagues are doing to demonstrate that cities can be fiscally and environmentally responsible at the same time. Larry proudly pointed to two commercial developments – a new Kohl’s department store and a Wal-Mart super center – that will be showplaces for sustainable practices when they’re completed. Solar panels on the Kohl’s will generate 15% of the store’s electricity. And the Wal-Mart will incorporate – among a host of other sustainable features – more than 100 skylights to lower (or even eliminate), the need for interior lighting on sunny days. Larry also presented details of the energy efficiency upgrades to Waukesha municipal buildings (performed, I’m happy to say, by Johnson Controls!), that are paying for themselves with more than $2 million in savings on utility bills.

Jeanne Hoffman, Facilities and Sustainability Manager for the City of Madison, Wisconsin. Jeanne talked about MadiSUN – the city’s solar energy program aimed at doubling installations of solar electric and solar hot water systems by 2001. One of the ingenious features the program provides, Jeanne pointed out, is a “solar agent” – an expert who answers questions and provides free advice to home and business owners about solar systems, required permits and rebates – and then helps them pick out a qualified contractor. More than 300 citizens and businesses have taken advantage of the program so far.

Dave Merritt, Dane County, Wisconsin. Dave correctly pointed out that “the key to energy independence and climate change is local.” And he provided an excellent example of how Dane County is doing more than giving that lip service: Cow Power is the County’s program to build two digester systems to turn cow manure from a number of dairy farms in the County into electricity. The program positions Wisconsin as a national leader in making available to small farms these manure-to-energy systems that in the past have only been used by large cattle operations. Construction of the digesters will create hundreds of jobs, and when they’re completed, each system will generate $900,000 in revenue from renewable energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12,000 pounds. The digesters will also remove thousands of pounds of phosphorous from the manure and prevent it from entering Madison area lakes where it contributes to algae growth and green water (when it comes to lakes, “green” isn’t necessarily a good thing!).

And Ann Beier, director of the City of Milwaukee Office of Environmental Sustainability. Ann painted a clear picture of the critical role Milwaukee city government is playing in energy independence by setting the right example, testing new technologies, and developing innovative programs and policies. Ann talked about the progress the city is making in meeting its goal to reduce energy use by 15% by 2012 by installing solar electric and geothermal systems in municipal buildings, and converting city stoplights to high-efficiency LED fixtures – a step the city is also studying for municipal parking garages. She also talked about Milwaukee’s participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities program – a partnership of 25 major cities (Madison is also a participant), designed to accelerate adoption of solar technologies by giving home and business owners information, guiding them through the permitting process and helping them pay the initial cost of going solar. Later this year, the city and Focus on Energy will launch a pilot Milwaukee Energy Efficiency program – or Me2 as it’s known – which will pay up-front costs of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in two city neighborhoods, allowing building owners to pay off the costs over time on their utility bills.

In my mind, the stories told by each one of these speakers demonstrate how we already have the means, the funding mechanisms, the technologies and the expertise to put energy efficiency and renewable energy to work in city halls and county courthouses across America to save money, create jobs and protect the environment.

Waukesha, Madison, Dane County and Milwaukee – they’re all leading the way. A lot more like them need to find the will to join in.

What do you think?]]> http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/03/cow_power_and_other_inspiratio.html http://yourenergyforum.com/blog/2009/03/cow_power_and_other_inspiratio.html Green Buildings Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:18:36 -0600