What's the big deal? According to The Cleantech Group, energy efficiency will overtake solar as a top investment target in 2010 and commercial and industrial buildings are a major focus. Why? Lower investment costs, financial incentives and faster payback.
What's the government doing about it? The Energy Department is spending millions and millions of dollars on programs to improve building design with more efficient building components, systems and models for both existing building retrofits and new construction. DOE also is whipping out its checkbook for cool new energy efficiency technologies and worker training.
Who's in the building efficiency game these days? Companies big and small, old and brand new. Some are going it on their own and many are partnering and acquiring: big companies with huge global footprints but little direct experience snatch up the young technology innovators. Here's a sampling of the companies involved: Siemens, GE, IBM, Schneider Electric, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, Echelon, EnerNOC, SAP, Oracle. The list goes on.
Building efficiency projects and what they're about
Chicago office buildings = virtual generator: Chicago's Building Owners and Managers Association and an unlikely collection of partners are working on using about 260 downtown office buildings as virtual generators to better manage energy use and cut energy costs. The pilot program is said to be the country's first. BOMA/Chicago applied for — and didn't get — a $92.7 million Smart Grid Investment Grant, but decided to soldier on with the $185.4 million project without it.
Schneider Electric goes virtual too: French giant Schneider Electric was able to save 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour with the company's new virtual power plant installation in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Schneider covers the upfront costs in return for later sharing in revenues from the energy savings.
