As for Willson, the "Great Connector," he isn't through. He's raised private funds to erect a commercial building that will rise next to his energy lab starting this month. It will have state-of-the-art heating, cooling and lighting systems.

Buildings use roughly a third of the energy consumed in the United States, and there are often legal and economic barriers between landlords and tenants that keep energy use high and efficiency measures low. Willson wants to change all that with his new building, which will be thoroughly green. But it will also allow people to come in and tinker with different operating systems and then measure the financial results.

He describes it as a "playground for operators of commercial buildings."

Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. www.eenews.net, 202-628-6500

1 Comments

1. 1. MRC06405 05:29 PM 12/18/12

   Bravo!
   
   Perhaps the College can set up a major or certificate program in energy efficiency. It might also spin off a company that sold efficiency design and consulting services to other companies or government agencies.

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