Keynote address outlines eight steps for urban leaders to improve energy efficiency in buildings.
Efficient buildings, those that make productive use of natural, human and financial resources, are vital to achieving sustainable development. They align economic, social and environmental opportunities, creating so-called triple-bottom-line benefits.
That was the main takeaway from a keynote address recently delivered by Clay Nesler, vice president, global energy and sustainability, building efficiency, Johnson Controls Inc., at the fourth Georgetwon University Energy Price workshop at the University of Wisconsin Madison.
In his address, "Accelerating Building Efficiency", Nesler highlighted a recent report from the World Resource Institute;s Ross Center for sustainable Cities that outlines eight actions urban leaders can take to improve energy efficiency in buildings. The actions fall into the following categories:
- Building efficiency codes and standards
- Efficiency improvement targets
- Performance information and certifications
- Incentives and finance
- Government leadership by example
- Private building owner, management and occupant engagement
- Technical and financial service provider engagement
- Working with utilities
"Why care about buildings?" Nesler asked some 40 members of Midwest communities who attended the workshop.
"One is there's a very large impact. Forty percent of our energy and a third of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally are attributed to buildings, but its even higher in major urban areas. The good news is, with current technology and practices, we have the potential to reduce energy use by a third."
This is an extract taken from article - Johnson Control Highlights Efficiency. You can read the full article here. Originally published November 14, 2016.
