WASHINGTON - More than 50 HVACR industry professionals gathered at the 12th Danfoss EnVisioneering™ symposium in Washington to discuss new federal building initiatives and the state of the HVACR industry. The day-long event featured several speakers including Cyrus Nasseri of the U.S. Department of Energy, Chuck Clinton of the National Association of State Energy Officials, and Drusilla Hufford, director of the Stratospheric Protection Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The group also heard from Mack McFarland, global environmental manager, DuPont Fluorochemicals, and Richard Lord, engineering fellow, Carrier Corp.

Nasseri outlined some of the effects of federal legislation that has been enacted in recent years. He called attention to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that has set energy reduction goals in federal buildings with the ultimate goal of eliminating 100 percent of fossil fuel consumption by the year 2030.

Clinton stated the Recovery Act passed by Congress early last year includes $12 billion for energy efficiency and he added, “The opportunities are fantastic.” He later outlined three opportunities, including weatherization of low-income housing (5.9 billion), state energy programs (3.1 billion), and block grants to local communities (3.2 billion). Clinton also suggested that contractors can take advantage of these opportunities by contacting their state energy official, investigating current activities involving energy service companies in their area, or contacting local municipalities to tap into block grants.

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Publication date: 01/04/2010