2009 5th International Green and Intelligent Building Conference and Expo (IGEBC2009)

What: 2009 5th International Green and Intelligent Building Conference and Expo (IGEBC2009)

Where: Beijing, China

Who: Alliance Executive Vice President Brian Castelli; Senior Program Manager, International Team Alexander, Filippov; Program Manager, Buildngs, Nils Peterman

When: March 27 – 29, 2009

Why: The IGEBC2009 is one of the premier buildings conferences held in China; this year five Chinese ministers made presentations in the opening plenary session. Brian Castelli presented at the IGEBC2009’s U.S. Technology Seminar, jointly organized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) in Beijing. The presentation focused on the policies and practical steps to achieve net zero energy building goals in the United States and the importance of such advanced buildings for China’s development. Brian Castelli also participated in a private meeting with U.S. DOE representatives and Vice Minister of Housing, Urban, and Rural Development Qiu Baoxing. Vice Minister Baoxing stressed the need to accelerate the collaboration with the U.S. on energy efficiency issues related to construction and water sectors, and reaffirmed his interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. on the creation of a Center of Excellence in Beijing (the latter project to be run by the Alliance for DOE). The Alliance, in concert with the U.S. DOE (a principal sponsor of IGEBC2009) and the FCS, organized their booth at the U.S. Pavilion of the Expo. In addition, Nils Peterman gave a presentation on the National Fenestration Rating Council’s Windows Collaborative Program in China, which focused on adopting labeling standards for windows.