Bloomington forms partnership with IU, Duke Energy, Hoosier Energy

In an effort to build skills in the local workforce, improve efficiency in local buildings and reduce the community’s environmental footprint while improving the bottom line for businesses, the City of Bloomington will form a partnership with IU, Duke Energy and Hoosier Energy to conduct a building efficiency forum.

The forum, which is intended for local facility managers, will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. June 27 on the IU campus, according to a press release.

Buildings account for 40 percent of energy consumption in the United States, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Building designs and other factors contribute to the efficiency of a building.

“Skilled facility management staff are absolutely key in making local buildings as efficient as possible,” City Sustainability Coordinator Jacqui Bauer said in the press release. “The more knowledge exchange and training we can facilitate, the more energy we save, and the more we can help cut fat from the bottom line for local businesses and other organizations.”

The forum will provide local facility managers with an opportunity to share resources and ideas, seek additional training and to improve their skill set, along with improving the performance of their facilities, according to the press release.

Hoosier Energy and Duke Energy will also provide information regarding energy incentives for local businesses and other organizations.

The program will be led by IU Engineer Jeff Kaden, along with other University staff. It will also highlight the University’s efforts to monitor usage and optimize performance through upgrades and process improvements.

“We’ve made great strides in reducing energy usage at our many buildings,” Kaden said. “We see it as part of IU’s service mission to share what we’ve learned with others in the community.”
 
— Mark Keierleber