Posted by johnsoncontrols at 10:48 AM | Comments (0)

By Steve Thomas, Johnson Controls

Near the end of his keynote speech at last week’s Virtual Energy Forum, Amory Lovins was asked what I thought was a very interesting and telling question. Lovins is head of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), which describes itself as a “think and do tank” focused on energy and resource efficiency. Lovins says RMI is in the business of “institutional acupuncture” – locating the logjams restricting progress and sticking needles into them until they loosen up. Johnson Controls sponsored his presentation at the Virtual Energy Forum.

The question posed to Lovins was this: “Why isn’t more happening?” The question reflects the eagerness that those of us involved in energy efficiency share. We’re all anxious to see the pace of change quicken, see energy efficiency become a higher priority in more buildings and homes, see renewable energy provide a bigger percentage of our power.

But the question was also a reminder of something important: a lot is already happening. Lovins made reference to one excellent example: the energy efficiency retrofit now underway at the Empire State Building – a project on which Rocky Mountain Institute and Johnson Controls are partnering. Upgrades to windows, HVAC systems and more will result in a 38% reduction in the building’s energy use. Best yet, the project will create a template for other buildings to follow to become more energy efficient and more profitable.

It’s an example, Lovins pointed out, of what can happen when businesses realize that energy efficiency can be one of the lowest-risk, highest-return investments they can make. But it requires persistence, Lovins observed, like eating lobster: the big, easy chunks are in the tail and claws, but there are plenty of tasty morsels in other places if you’re willing to work a little harder for them.

To see Lovins’ entire presentation, go to the Virtual Energy Forum website, register (or log in if you’re already registered) and click on Archived Presentations.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.