Delighted to see you gathered here. Lots of positive energy here.

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said: Green is the new red, white and blue…not to take away the patriotic value of our red-white-and-blue…but we need for view environmental responsibility as the key to our future health and prosperity.

The truth is: Green is also the way to stay in the black – green saves green. Energy savings are important to government… and you as well.

For all those reasons: This meeting is important. I want to thank Chris Cieminski of Hines, manager of the Aegon Building, the current president of BOMA, for getting it rolling.

Today’s meeting grew out of a meeting the city organized last December. We learned in the fall Louisville has been chosen to be an Energy Star city – one of a handful where the EPA Energy Star program would provide special focus and resources.

Mike Zatz, your speaker today, came and spoke to several groups in December.

Folks who work for city government got a briefing from Mike on what it means to be an Energy Star City. And we also organized a group of about 50 people from the private sector, including Chris and some of the rest of you in this room.

Mike got folks so energized at that meeting…that emails and text messages began flying around the room….right there.

Chris and others realized the power in joining forces – that many private sector folks had programs underway, questions, ideas….and could work together. Chris seized the reins and moved forward. He widened the circle to the groups here today.

You will hear more soon about the city’s plans… an initiative to Go Green Louisville….In city government we want to become a role model for energy efficiency… but that’s not going to happen in a month or 12 months….It will be steady, focused progress.

We’ll be taking energy conservation steps in building management… and in other aspects of city operations. For example, we are saving $250,000 a year by switching our traffic signals to LED lights.

We’ll be looking at initiatives like downsizing our city vehicles…more than 45 vehicles are targeted for downsizing this year and 10 hybrids have been ordered….We will put our first green roof on a government building …3 design options for the Metro Development Center’s Green Roof are under consideration; construction bids should go out by April, with installation beginning by May.

But today our focus is on you …and how you can band together to make a difference.

Commercial and industrial buildings in the U.S. are responsible for nearly 50 percent of all our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.

According to Energy Star, about 30 percent of the energy use in buildings is inefficient or unnecessary. Cut that and it does good … and makes economic sense, too.

You have a smart …savvy… inspirational fellow to help today: Mike Zatz …who heads the EPA Energy Star Commercial and Industrial branch. I can testify to his knowledge…enthusiasm… and commitment to helping us make a difference.

Mike, please tell us more.