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On December 14, 2009, the Alliance to Save Energy held a side event during the COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, entitled, "Paradox to Paradigm: The Role of Energy Efficiency in Creating Low Carbon Economies."
The event featured two panels of distinguished global energy efficiency leaders from industry, government and the non-profit sector as well as stakeholders from Alliance Associates such as Honeywell, Schneider Electric, Siemens, the U.S. Green Building Council and Natural Resources Defense Council. U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu's delivered remarks at a post-event reception.
Swedish European Parliament Member Lena Ek moderated the first panel, "Upping the Bottom Line: A Business Perspective". "We are undergoing a technology shift as important as the shift from steam to electricity," Eck stated. "In moving to clean energy, we are making another shift. We need to examine the good examples, to see the opportunity, and to spread the good word." The panel focused on potential energy efficiency-generated savings in the building sector, which accounts for 80 percent of possible negative-cost reductions in carbon emissions (according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Such compelling bottom-line impact gives businesses a clear-cut approach to significantly cutting operational costs while contributing to emissions reduction and climate mitigation.
The presenters agreed that in order to achieve efficiency's full reduction potential, legislative leaders must create better policy incentives for energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings. "We need legislators and politicians to strengthen energy requirements and building codes, to push standards faster than they have done so far, to have energy efficiency measures in renovations and to set good examples in their own buildings," said Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO, Building Automation for Siemens and one of the event's keynote speakers. "The technology is there. We need legislation [and] incentives."
The second panel, led by Parliament Member Claude Turmes of Luxembourg, spoke to the vast opportunities for energy efficiency projects in the developing world as part of a global strategy for curbing carbon intensity in emerging economies. The presentations focused particularly on energy efficiency’s potential in China, India and Brazil. Nigel Jollands of the International Energy Agency echoed the consensus when he said that efficiency policy needs to be "loud, legal and longterm," a statement with which many delegates of the UNFCCC climate negotiations would agree.
At the post-panel reception, U.S. Secretary Chu gave remarks, citing the U.S.’s commitment to a global climate change solution that addresses the needs of emerging economies. Secretary Chu also reiterated the Obama Administration position that energy efficiency is the "fruit already on the ground", and therefore a priority in climate change policy.
Presentations
- Opening Remarks , Alliance President, Kateri Callahan
- Panel 1: Presenters
- Keynote, Andreas Schierenbeck, Siemens
- Stop Local Warming: How Buildings Can Deliver Profitable CO2-Savings, Eelco van Heel, Rockwool Group
- Upping the Bottom Line: A Business Perspective, Lena Ek, European Parliament
- Panel 1: Discussants
- Claes Anselmsson, Country President, Schneider Electric Sweden
- Kent Anson, Vice President, Global Energy & Environment, Honeywell Building Solutions
- Roger Platt, Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Law, U.S. Green Building Council
- Dan Reicher, Director of Energy and Climate Initiatives, Google
- Panel 2: Presenters
- Unlocking Energy Effiency in China, Frances G. Beinecke, Natural Resources Defense Council
- Energy Efficiency Investments In A Pension Fund Asset Allocation, Michael Friedlander, Algemene Pensioen Groep
- Unlocking Energy Efficiency in Emerging Markets, Demóstenes Barbosa da Silva, AES Brasil
- US $100 Million China Energy Efficiency Fund, Thomas K. Dreessen, Energy Efficiency Project Investment Company
- Lowering GHG Emmisions Through EE & RE Measures, Emani Kumar, ICLEI South Asia
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