| |  |
| | MacArthur "Genius Award" Fellow David Goldstein |
As a MacArthur “Genius Award” Fellow, David Goldstein has, by definition, a peculiar way of looking at the current need for a clean energy economy. While many experts fight vigorously for clean technologies that will reinvigorate the economy and protect the environment, and others fight to keep dirty coal fuels alive, Goldstein sees a third path based in energy efficiency that could provide economic growth without destroying the environment. It was this message that he carried to two separate events in the Rocky Mountains region in the month of October.
On October 7th at the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business in Boulder, Colorado, Dr. Goldstein spoke to over 40 E2 members, friends, and MBA students about capturing the “invisible” power of energy efficiency to mitigate climate change, reduce energy consumption, create local jobs, and even avert a future mortgage crisis. According to Goldstein, energy efficiency is “invisible” because it is largely absent from political and policy debates, as well as media coverage, yet offers cheap, “low-hanging fruit” to address many of our current energy issues and climate problems. Goldstein notes that energy efficiency often takes a back seat to other energy policy solutions that are often more expensive, such as renewable energy production, because efficiency does not offer any “get rich quick” opportunities, and lacks both broad-based and specialized trade associations to market its appeal. This idea of energy efficiency benefitting the economy and reducing consumption of fossil fuels created a great deal of enthusiasm among members and non-members alike; the MBA students in particular expressed an interest in engaging E2 Rocky Mountains’ business-based environmental advocacy work (E2 Rocky Mountains is discussing ways to involve the MBA student voice into E2’s advocacy work to ensure the longevity of E2 and its objectives. Please contact
Jamila Rockette with any ideas). As is usual at E2 events, everyone had the opportunity to network with local business leaders engaged in environmental and clean energy advocacy.
On October 8th at KL&A Engineering’s office in Loveland, Colorado, Goldstein gave his second presentation, much more of a discussion among business, government and policy professionals, about how to implement energy efficiency solutions at the local, state, and federal levels to strengthen Colorado’s economy and protect our environment. With a strong emphasis on creating energy efficiency policies that are holistic, systematic, and performance-based, Goldstein interactively engaged the audience, which included representatives from the City of Loveland, Larimer County, local members of the U.S. Green Building Council, Colorado Geo Energy Heat Pump Association, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (S.W.E.E.P.), Colorado Environmental Coalition, and staff from Congresswoman Betsy Markey (CO Congressional District 4), and U.S. Senator Michael Bennet’s office. The engagement of these parties in Loveland develops E2 Rocky Mountains’ strategic plan to build advocacy relationships with business communities outside the traditionally “green” Denver-Boulder corridor.
Both events highlighted E2’s strength of uniting policy experts such as NRDC’s David Goldstein, present and future business leaders, and public officials to generate ideas for moving forward on environmental policies that allow economic growth.
E2 would like to thank the three MBA clubs from the Leeds School of Business for co-hosting the October 7th event, and site host Doug Rutledge and co-sponsor Colorado Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council for helping with the October 8th Event.
Login to add a comment:
