Earlier this month I was honored to join government leaders along with international institutions and embassies to discuss ways that they can improve their environmental, energy, and sustainability performance. The event, “Energy Solutions for Sustainable Embassies,” was held on June 4 by the League of Green Embassies, the DC Greening Embassies Forum, and the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) in recognition of the United Nation’s World Environment Day, bringing together over 30 embassies and 50 businesses.
The most distinctive part of the seminar, hosted by Lockheed Martin at their Global Vision Center, was the comprehensive point of view that each discussion brought to the table, with different panelists distinctively representing different subject matter areas. The panel that I served on focused on sustainability. The conversation, moderated by Julia Nesheiwat, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources of the U.S. Department of State, touched on how to take a comprehensive approach to sustainability, and how to fund building improvements through energy savings performance contracts, as well as perspective on where renewable energy fits into an overall sustainability initiative.
A prevailing theme throughout this discussion and other conversations over the course of the day was the need for a change in “behavior” or taking the necessary actions needed to see a sustainability initiative all the way through an organization. We hear similar concerns from our public sector customers, which is why it’s important for agencies and organizations to consider working with a competitive energy supplier to explore new approaches to developing a comprehensive energy strategy in which accessibility, streamlining and bottom-line performance are priorities.
I was thrilled to be a part of this lively discussion and look forward to future conversations at similar events. If you represent a government agency or organization and have any questions about these topics, please feel free to leave me a comment below.