Continuing to make improvements in energy efficiency has taken hold as a mission of global importance that unites experts in the field. The first Policy Committee meeting of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) was held in Washington D.C. in May. Leaders from 15 countries and the European Commission attended the meeting, which was the result of the partnership formed at the G8 Energy Ministers Meeting in Rome in May 2009.
Some of the key initiatives sponsored by more than $1.6 million contributed by IPEEC member countries include the Sustainable Buildings Network (SBN) and the Worldwide Energy Efficiency Action through Capacity Building and Training project.
Italy leads the Worldwide Energy Efficiency Action through Capacity Building and Training project, providing seed funding for the project which will establish on-site training workshops and online materials to share best practices for energy efficiency. The International Energy Agency and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory are providing technical assistance in developing training materials, and the first on-site workshop will be held this year in Mexico.
The SBN has already held six workshops in their efforts to focus on intelligent tropical architecture, zero-energy buildings, and innovative policies to increase efficiency in exiting buildings. The SBN brings together a number of building efficiency organizations, and building experts from across the globe participated in an in-depth review in May at the EE Global Forum.
Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy