Conference
Wrapup
Orlando Conference
Kicks Off 100th Year:
Informing, Connecting, Advancing
District energy industry professionals from around the globe
convened for IDEA’s 99th Annual
Conference & Trade Show “Sustain, Energize
and Grow”, June 29-July 2, 2008, in
Orlando Fla. IDEA Chair Bob Smith of
RMF Engineering presided over the gathering, which was hosted by OUCooling
and held at the Renaissance Orlando
Resort at Sea World.
This year’s conference attracted
more than 430 attendees and 81 trade
show exhibitors – reflecting a five-year
upward trend in participation and providing compelling evidence of increasing
worldwide focus on energy efficiency and
sustainability and concern for the environment.
About one of four of the 430 total
registered attendees came from outside
the U.S. – from Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil,
Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany,
Israel, Jordan, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
South Korea, Sweden and United Arab
Emirates.
Focusing on the Future
Following a video greeting from
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer that opened
the plenary session, IDEA Chair Bob
Smith, vice president of RMF Engineering
Inc., addressed the group, emphasizing
the historic nature of this year’s gathering.
Smith noted, “Our association is entering its 100th year, and we’re standing
on the shoulders of people who met in
these rooms 100 years ago. To survive
the current economic and environmental
pressures, we need to be smarter, collaborate more, and focus on the things
we all have in common, all of which are
available to us in this association. IDEA
is beginning its second century, and it
remains committed to the same tenets
that were established by our founders in
1909 – to inform each other and to inform
our governmental leaders of the benefits
of district energy. IDEA is focused on
informing, connecting, and advancing, as
we move ahead to an even more prosperous future.” “Informing. Connecting.
Advancing. Since 1909.” was introduced
as the 100th anniversary theme.
Moderated by IDEA President Rob
Thornton, an international panel of experts
addressed “Climate Change, Carbon
Regulations and Congress – What Does
It All Mean for District Energy and What
Is Our Path Forward?” Contributing to a
lively and informative discussion were
panelists Shelley Fidler and Kyle Danish
of Washington, D.C., Van Ness Feldman;
Mark Spurr, FVB Energy (and IDEA legislative director); Birger Lauersen, the
Danish District Heating Association and
Euroheat & Power; and Tom Kerr, International Energy Agency. Excerpts from
their remarks include:
Fidler: “There is no longer debate on the
science of climate change. The argument
is closed and has given way to political
science. CHP is part of the [energy and
sustainability] solution. You all bring a
huge part of the solution to the table….
Climate change legislation is coming.
You are going to help us solve this problem. Doing it right will provide opportunities for you; doing it wrong will merely
be expensive.”
Danish: “Output should be measured in
terms of useful energy—not just electricity.
Congress needs to understand this.”
