Johnson Controls and the United States Energy Association (USEA) welcomed Congressional leaders, White House appointees, and regulatory officials to the 2015 Energy Efficiency Forum, June 11, in Washington, D.C. The event featured leaders in the energy sector, including the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Department of Energy, the U.S. Army, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

“Energy efficiency represents a powerful opportunity to improve the economy, lower carbon emissions, create jobs, and ensure our country’s energy resiliency,” said Bill Jackson, president of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency. “We’ve gathered a powerful group of leaders from the public and private sectors who must work together to accelerate the progress being made and the success possible from greater energy efficiency.”

Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) championed bipartisan efforts in both chambers to move energy efficiency legislation, including bills that would leverage energy saving performance contracting models to make the federal government more energy efficient. Senator Gardner and Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) were recognized as 2015 Energy Leadership Award Recipients.

Federal Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt added perspective on the President’s recently announced 10-year strategy to reduce the federal government’s energy use by 2.5% and greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. Policy influencers including the Department of Energy’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency Kathleen Hogan, Ph.D. and FERC Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur shared insights into critical regulatory debates including the upcoming Supreme Court review of FERC Order 745, a demand-response compensation program in the wholesale electricity markets.

Katherine Hammack, assistant secretary of Army Installations, Energy and Environment, showcased the Army’s mission toward greater energy resiliency and net zero, including a new combined heat and power plant at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. The plant will save the Army nearly $113 million over 19 years and provide reliable energy service to mission-critical facilities.

Technology innovators from C3 Energy, Clean Energy Trust, and the Nest Labs rounded out the event with additional advancements from the private sector, including utility data analytics, clean energy development, and residential energy management.