Focus

In November, the Alliance to Save Energy, a nonprofit coalition of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders, held its first EE Global forum in Washington, D.C. The event brought together company executives, policymakers, researchers and the general public to examine energy efficiency and help develop policies for global implementation.

The event was sponsored by heavy hitters like Whirlpool Corp., BP and Exxon­Mobil Corp. Sponsors also included important roofing industry-related representatives: NRCA; the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association; The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.; Honeywell International Inc., Morristown, N.J.; and Johns Manville, Denver.

In addition, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, Calif., and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn., exhibited at the show.

This demonstration of solidarity shows—again—how the roofing industry is committed to doing its share to improve the energy efficiency of the building envelope.

And to further promote energy efficiency, NRCA announced at the EE Global forum the formation of a new organization dedicated solely to promoting the development and use of environmentally respon­sible, high-performance roof systems: the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing.

Based in Washington, the center will operate as a separate nonprofit 501(c)(6) association and plans to draw together the entire roofing industry to promote and learn about energy efficiency and how it relates to roofing.

The center is expected to be fully operational by February 2008 (the center's official launch will occur during NRCA's 121st Annual Convention Feb. 19-23, 2008, in Las Vegas).

This is an exciting time for the roofing industry as it becomes deeply involved in the energy dialogue. The EE Global forum was a good first step, but the center is sure to make the roofing industry a permanent force.

For more information about the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing, contact Craig Silvertooth, the center's executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7598 or csilvertooth@nrca.net.

Ambika Puniani Bailey is editor of Professional Roofing magazine and NRCA's senior director of communications.