20% by 2020: How Philadelphia is Reducing Energy Consumption

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Energy Efficient Buildings Hub (EEB Hub) has taken on a considerable task – reducing energy consumption in Philadelphia 20% by 2020. What does this mean for Philadelphia’s economy – and what opportunities are there for startups and established businesses? A panel discussion will take a closer look at the efforts to make lower energy consumption a reality at a Smart Talk program on October 31. This Smart Talk program is presented by Satellite Quorum by EEB Hub at the Navy Yard.

Laurie Actman, deputy director of EEB Hub; Jennifer Crowther, assistant vice president, financial services group at the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC); Alex Dews, policy and program manager for the City of Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Sustainability; and Thomas Dwyer, partner at Blank Rome; will share their insights and expertise during a panel discussion moderated by James Balaschak, principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

Smart Talk is a quarterly Science Center program that gives startup and growing companies a look at best practices and business strategies from industry leaders in the region. Smart Talk is co-sponsored by Deloitte LLP and the University City Keystone Innovation Zone.

The October 31 Smart Talk is offered through the pilot phase of Satellite Quorum by EEB Hub at the Navy Yard. During the six-month pilot, the Science Center is developing and implementing four Quorum programs at The Navy Yard targeting the energy efficiency building technology sector, the focus of the EEB Hub’s efforts. The pilot program series kicked off on October 3 with an Angel Education session.

Smart Talk will begin at 8:30 a.m. on October 31 with registration and continental breakfast. The program will run from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. There is no charge for the event which will take place in Building 101 at the Navy Yard, the temporary home of the EEB Hub. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Online registration is available at: http://sciencecenter.cal.basecampbusiness.com/node/236429

About the Science Center

The University City Science Center accelerates technology commercialization, regional economic development, and the market availability of life-enhancing scientific breakthroughs by bringing together innovations, scientists, entrepreneurs, funding, laboratory facilities, and business services. Established in 1963 and headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, the Science Center was the first, and remains the largest, urban research park in the United States. Graduate organizations and current residents of the University City Science Center’s Port business incubators have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia region today and contribute more than $9 billion to the regional economy annually. For more information about the Science Center, go to www.sciencecenter.org.

About Energy Efficient Buildings Hub

The EEB Hub was established by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as an Energy-Regional Innovation Cluster with a unique dual mission of improving energy efficiency in buildings and promoting regional economic growth and job creation from its headquarters in Philadelphia's Navy Yard. Specifically, the EEB Hub aims to reduce energy consumption in the Greater Philadelphia commercial building sector by 20 percent by 2020 through informed people, validated information and proven technologies. The EEB Hub includes 27 performer organizations, led by Penn State, made up of research universities, DOE laboratories, industrial firms, and economic development agencies.