Yesterday, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced an agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Chinese Ministry of Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD) aimed at developing more energy efficient building designs and sustainable communities.  This MOU enables the U.S. and China to exchange experts and technicians to learn from their experiences with energy efficient building technologies.  These technologies include: high-performance HVAC, insulation, lighting, cold storage, geothermal heat pumps, building-integrated photovoltaics and solar thermal systems. 

Focusing on buildings is imperative as buildings use roughly 40% of energy globally, followed by transportation and industry.  As a result, buildings account for almost half of greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, 75% of all electricity generated by power plants is used to operate buildings. Buildings present an enormous opportunity to cost-effectively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions while creating infrastructure for the future that is less dependent on fossil fuels, and as a result, more sustainable. The DOE estimates that at least 30% of building sector emissions can be eliminated at no net cost by simply updated old infrastructure with newer more efficient technology.

The MOU will enable both nations to collaborate on the development of standards and guidelines for "eco-cities". For more information on this initiative, please visit: http://www.energy.gov/news2009/7640.htm

This joint effort holds tremendous promise for ratcheting down demand and scaling up energy efficiency while addressing one of the primary concerns many have in establishing effective energy policy and climate change legislation; that our international neighbors are not in sync with our efforts. The MOU demonstrates the intention that goes beyond domestic borders, to create solutions to our global energy demands.  As the two nations who lead as the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, this collaboration will set an example that hopefully others around the globe will follow.