Today marked a successful first day of the Alliance to Save Energy’s seventh annual Energy Efficiency Global Forum (EE Global), the world’s premiere, invitation-only forum dedicated to energy efficiency.

500 high-level representatives from industry, government and academia representing every sector of the economy and hailing from 28 countries gathered at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to participate in discussion-based sessions centered around a main theme of energizing leadership to advance energy productivity at the local, state and national levels.

“Energy productivity is an essential aspect of the world’s future economic stability and energy security, and each year EE Global provides stakeholders with the opportunity to engage with one another on important efficiency issues. The conversations during this two-day event will lay the groundwork for policies supporting energy efficiency for years to come,” said President of the Alliance to Save Energy, Kateri Callahan. 

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) gave keynote remarks during the Opening Plenary Session, noting that, “The Alliance’s Energy Efficiency Global Forum serves as a reminder of the work ahead of us – we must implement a national energy policy to grow our economy and protect our environment. I’ll continue working on investments in energy efficiency because I know that’s the cheapest, fastest way to address our country’s energy needs.” Representatives from industry giants The Dow Chemical Company, Pacific Gas & Electric, Philips, ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG and Whirlpool Corporation followed with a discussion on the future energy landscape and its impact on the business of energy efficiency.

“Companies will have to adapt their strategies for producing energy-efficient products as our energy needs evolve and supply throughout the world changes, but I’m confident the innovations in coming years will go above and beyond what can even be imagined today,” said Dave Szczupak, executive vice president of global product organization at Whirlpool Corporation.

Executive Dialogue tracks took place throughout the day, engaging participants in conversations on a variety of topics covering four main themes: government leadership, market transformation, the built environment, and investment and financing.

Tomorrow, the agenda kicks off with the official launch of the Energy 2030 On the Road campaign and keynote remarks from U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz.