During the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Exposition (AHR Expo) this past winter in Chicago, Danfoss announced plans to host a series of conferences under the general title EnVisioneering.

The first of those took place during the summer in Kansas City, Mo. U.S. Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) was among the speakers who talked with a group of about 50 HVACR and allied industry leaders. The conference was titled, "Innovation and the Emerging Energy Challenge."

The inaugural conference focused on how energy challenges of the 21st century are transforming business strategy and the conditions of American international policy. Briefings and a roundtable discussion explored such questions as:

  • Why is the energy world so different than what was expected just a few years ago?

  • What are the realistic options - coal, sun, biofuels?

  • How can the U.S. government secure the energy future?

  • How can the private sector drive change?

  • What are the implications for equipment manufacturers?

  • How do we calculate the financial implications for our industry?

    "Renewable fuels are at the heart of energy security, economic growth, and job creation," said Talent, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Biofuels Caucus. "The EnVisioneering symposium Danfoss sponsored in Kansas City was an invaluable forum for industry leaders to discuss solutions to our energy challenges, such as increasing production of ethanol and biodiesel."

    Featured speakers included Dr. James L. Spigarelli, president and chief executive officer, Midwest Research Institute; Michael Deggendorf, vice president for public affairs, Great Plains Energy Inc.; and Laura Lesniewski, principal, and Brad Nies, architect, of the firm Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell Inc.

    In addition, Robert Cavey, president of Global Strategy Initiatives, led a roundtable discussion hosted by Danfoss North America President John Galyen and Kansas City Public Library Executive Director R. Crosby Kemper III.

    The next conference in the series is tentatively scheduled for October in Tallahassee, Fla., on the topic, "The Future of Energy Efficiency Policy - The Role of the States." That will be followed tentatively with another in December in Washington, D.C., on the topic, "America's Global Energy Technology Strategy."

    According to Danfoss, "The conferences bring together decision makers from business and government, end users and power generators, equipment manufacturers and architects, engineers, financiers, regulators, scientists and strategists - the expansive group required to envision the novel approaches, new technologies, and creative applications needed for a secure energy future."

    At the 2007 AHR Expo, Danfoss said it will release a report detailing the discussions and ideas that were part of the conferences.

    For more information, call 410-931-8250 or visit www.envisioneering.danfoss.com/symposium.

    Publication date: 10/02/2006