CHICAGO - Diane Shea, executive director of the National Association of State Energy Officials, was among speakers who engaged a group of about 25 HVACR and allied industry leaders during a Danfoss-sponsored symposium titled, “The Future of Energy Efficiency Policy: The Role of States.” The symposium focused on how states are developing energy efficiency policies that will help America meet the energy challenges of the 21st century, particularly exploring the drivers and problems of state action.

Following the presentations, a roundtable discussion led by Robert Cavey, president of Global Strategy Initiative, and John Suzukida, president of Lanex Consulting, was held.

The roundtable discussion explored such questions as:

• What are the available alternative state strategies especially on energy-efficient processes and comfort systems?

• Will current efforts be enough to create a critical mass for energy efficiency?

• What tools exist to help end users accept higher first costs?

• Is lifecycle costing a reality of the marketplace, and if not, what will it take?

“States know that energy efficiency is critical to helping energy suppliers address demand and lessen our economic vulnerability,” said Shea. “To run today’s economy without the energy efficiency improvements that have taken place since the early 1970s, when the state energy offices were organized, we would need 43 percent more energy supplied than we use right now.”

John Galyen, president of Danfoss North America, Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning, stressed that while federal and state regulations are expanding, so are innovative programs to promote energy efficiency.

“It has long been said that the states are the incubators of experimentation in the policy world, and we are seeing a great many initiatives in energy at the state level,” he said. “But it is not without risk. I frequently hear about fears among manufacturers and others of creating a patchwork of regulatory systems that will drive up production costs, make energy efficiency harder to afford, and make American business less competitive as a result.”

Danfoss will release an industry report detailing the discussions and ideas presented during the conferences at the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigerating Exposition in Dallas.

For more information, visit www.envisioneering.danfoss.com/symposium.

Publication date: 01/15/2007