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2008 Energy Efficiency Forum Recognizes Youth for Awareness of Energy and Climate Change Issues
WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - June 5, 2008) - The 19th Annual Energy Efficiency Forum, to be held at
the National Press Club June 10-11, will include a special focus on youth
as it explores the potential for innovative energy and climate change
policies under a new presidential administration.
The event's keynote speaker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New York
Times columnist Thomas Friedman, has chided what he calls "Generation Q" as being "...too quiet, too online, for its own
good, and for the country's own good." This year, however, the Forum,
which is sponsored by the U.S. Energy
Association and Johnson Controls,
Inc. will spotlight a growing number of informed and active younger
voices.
Individual students from kindergarten through college will leverage the
presence of the Forum's 300 top-level government, business and energy
decision-makers to raise awareness of the need to provide energy efficiency
solutions.
Carnegie Mellon University engineering graduate students Shazeen Attari of
Dubai, UAE; Ines Margarida Lima de Azevedo of Lisbon, Portugal; Constantine
Samaras of Annapolis, Md.; and Benjamin Flath of Scotch Plains, N.J. will
be recognized for winning a letter-writing competition entitled "Tomorrow's Energy Ambassadors, Managers, and
Scholars" (TEAMS). Their compelling letter was published in USA Today
and called on the presidential candidates to clarify their positions on
such topics as energy independence and climate change.
"I thought that the letter was a really good avenue to explain to people,
to get our message out there that we are really passionate," said Attari.
"We want people to do something about climate change and we need action
now."
Students Submit Ingenious Ideas on Energy Efficiency
Additionally, students from kindergarten through high school will be
recognized as winners of the "Igniting Creative
Energy" (ICE) challenge. Students nationwide were challenged to submit
projects that demonstrated ways of practicing sustainability at home, at
school, or in the community. Winners include:
-- Tessa Hartley of St. James, Missouri, a kindergartner who won for
writing and illustrating a book titled "ABC's in My Trash." Her book
project demonstrated creativity in raising awareness about recycling.
-- Matthew Belz of Upper Arlington, Ohio, a middle school student, won for
his documentary highlighting his journey to find an environmentally
friendly alternative to the polystyrene trays used in his cafeteria.
-- Wesley Fulkerson of El Cajon, California won the high school division
for writing and recording an original song entitled "It's a Beautiful
World," which encourages others to make simple changes in their lives to
conserve energy. Those attending the Forum will be treated to a live
performance of the song by the young artist.
Additionally, as the teacher with the highest average score of qualifying
student entries, Ms. Jean Kegerreis of Holland, Michigan was named the
national teacher winner.
EPA Slated to Make Special Announcements
The need for a heightened awareness of energy efficiency among children is
not lost on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) either. The
agency selected the 19th Annual Energy Efficiency Forum as the venue where
it will unveil, with the help of a well known elephant, new promotional
tools from the ENERGY STAR program. There will also be updates about the
National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.
About United States Energy Association
The United States Energy Association is the U.S. Member Committee of the
World Energy Council. USEA is an association of public and private
energy-related organizations, corporations, and government agencies. It
represents the broad interests of the U.S. energy sector by increasing the
understanding of energy issues, both domestically and internationally. In
conjunction with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S.
Department of Energy, USEA sponsors our nation's Energy Partnership
Program. Membership in USEA is open to all organizations having an interest
in the energy sector of the United States. For more information, please
visit http://www.usea.org/.
About Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls (NYSE : JCI ) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to
the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies,
products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the
relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 140,000
employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through
our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million
homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to
sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate
citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and
services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/.
