Dow named to US-China energy consortium

The Dow Chemical Company announced this month it will be a research partner for a new international energy consortium, as well as chair of a related advisory board.

Dow was chosen by consortium leader Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories as a research partner for the new U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center's Consortium on Building Energy Efficiency. It also will chair the center's Industrial Advisory Board.

The U.S. Department of Energy has approved a proposal by the consortium to develop and put into practice various residential and commercial energy efficiency technologies. Dow's contributions to the effort will include funding, as well as research support and helping the consortium with getting energy technologies into commercial production.

Dow Building and Construction, part of Dow, will handle physical aspects of building energy efficiency. William Jackson is the unit's global research and development director, as well as serving as the chair for the Industrial Advisory Board, and says the consortium is looking at the U.S. and China as the world's two largest energy consumers.

"Together, the dynamic economies of the United States and China lead the world in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, which are directly linked to significant energy inefficiencies in the building sectors in each country," says Jackson.

He says Dow will have the opportunity to fulfill long-term sustainability goals for energy efficiency through its work with the consortium and board.

"The consortium's mission is to identify and implement new, affordable solutions to improve energy efficiency in homes and buildings. This initiative is critical, timely, and full of potential for China, the United States and the world," Jackson says.

The consortium is backed by $25 million over five years from the Department of Energy and consortium partners. Chinese counterparts will put up another $25 million. Total funding from both countries is expected to be $150 million over the five years from public and private sources.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: William Jackson, Dow Building & Construction