Smart Buildings for Sustainable Energy Consumption
VALERIE ST JOHN: Hello I'm Valerie St John. Our focus today on BizWiseTV smart buildings for sustainable energy consumption. It's where climate concerns and the nation's economic crisis intersect, this need to seize control of our nation's energy consumption. But where to begin? BizWiseTV joins you today from Washington DC where we check in with the experts. We start with a visit to the Urban Land Institute for a big picture look at what must be done. The Obama Administration's message to the public sector is loud and clear. Taking steps to cut down on the emission of greenhouse gases is no longer an option, it's a requirement.
RICHARD ROSAN: I think the administration has taken a giant step forward and really acknowledging that the idea of the greenhouse gases have got to be reduced and they are really trying to see how that can be done at all fronts. And we know that one of the big things is that we have to do something about existing buildings.
VALERIE ST JOHN: Rick Rosan of the Urban Land Institute, ULI, says existing building emit nearly half of all greenhouse gas carbons, far more even than the much maligned automotive where much of the focus has been.
RICHARD ROSAN: Retrofitting existing buildings is one way to save enormous amounts of energy.
VALERIE ST JOHN: This is especially the case in some of the nation's oldest government structures, beautiful architecturally and from an energy usage perspective incredibly inefficient. So Congress has set aside $10 billion to assist federal facilities managers in footing the bill for upgrades, improvements to air and heating systems, motion sensors for lighting, whatever high tech tools will do the trick.