Danfoss today announced its participation in a series of energy efficiency makeovers of 10 U.S. Embassy residences across Europe. The makeovers are the result of a unique partnership between the Alliance to Save Energy and the League of Green Embassies, a U.S. Department of State initiative promoting international cooperation in energy efficiency and clean technologies.
“We’re excited to be part of this initiative that exemplifies the type of partnerships and collaboration needed to advance energy efficiency. The Alliance and League of Green Embassies are providing the leadership that is fundamental to creating an energy-efficient economy, and manufacturers have a platform to showcase available technologies – able to be deployed today – to reduce energy and emissions,” says John Galyen, president of Danfoss North America. Danfoss will provide its energy-efficient radiator thermostats to the project for installation in each of the residences.
The list of participating U.S. Embassies to undergo the makeover includes:
- Berlin Germany
- Bern, Switzerland
- Bratislava, Slovakia
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Madrid, Spain
- Paris, France
- Rome, Italy
- Sofia, Bulgaria
- Vienna bilat and IAEA, Austria
- Warsaw, Poland.
In April 2011, as part of the Alliance’s Energy Efficiency Global Forum (EEGlobal), Danfoss participated in a similar energy makeover of the residence of U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman’s home in Brussels. Danfoss technicians will install living connect thermostats, combined with other technology enhancements, to immediately provide significant energy savings in Ambassador Gutman’s home. The thermostats, which are part of the living by Danfoss range of premium thermostats and are commercially available throughout Europe, are designed to provide superior performance and comfort, while saving as much as 23% of a home’s energy use.
Additionally, the thermostats work wirelessly throughout a home, allowing the resident to control the temperature in each of the rooms equipped with a thermostat from a single location, using the Danfoss Link CC.
“This program demonstrates that energy efficiency can be, and should be, the standard for doing business. The payback with these technologies clearly proves the value of investing in energy efficiency retrofits,” said Andrzej Kramer, vice president of Danfoss Residential Heating.
“The Alliance to Save Energy was thrilled to work with visionary companies like Danfoss during the Brussels embassy makeover. Innovative technologies such as Danfoss’ energy-efficient radiator thermostats can make a big difference in the energy use and comfort of historic properties across Europe. There will be ample evidence of this as we upgrade U.S. embassy residences from Bratislava to Lisbon and many points in between,” says Alliance President Kateri Callahan.
“Energy efficiency is a 'win-win-win' for the embassies and their owners – the American taxpayers – by saving money on energy costs, while at the same time increasing the comfort and improving the ambiance of these historic residences,” Callahan says.
The completed makeovers are expected to be unveiled during an EE Embassy Sweep of Europe during the first couple of weeks in December – just in time to showcase the effectiveness of the energy-efficient technologies in the winter season when high heating bills are common.
The League of Green Embassies is a collaboration of the U.S. State Department, through its embassies around the world, the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce and U.S. cleantech exporters and international stakeholders. The goals of the League include the advancement of the Presidential mandate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. government buildings; to demonstrate the capabilities of U.S. products and technologies to the world market; and increase the exports of U.S. products and services. Since November 2010, the League is led by the U.S. Embassy Helsinki and Ambassador to Belgium Bruce J. Oreck. Learn more about the League of Green Embassies at www.leagueofgreenembassies.org.