Performance Systems Development Teaches Energy Efficiency Techniques at Federal Government Facilities

Online, May 6, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Performance Systems Development (PSD), an energy efficiency company based in Ithaca, NY, has been awarded a contract to provide Energy Assessment Training to government personnel at selected federal sites. PSD is one of only three companies in the nation to be selected through a highly competitive solicitation process by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Department of Energy's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. The work is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

In 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), requiring new energy use requirements for federal buildings. Under the law, 25% of selected facilities must be audited for energy efficiency each year. The audits are designed to identify problem areas for each building and to offer recommendations for improvement. Additionally, the EISA requires an overall energy reduction in federal buildings of 3% per year from 2006 to 2015, or 30% by the end of 2015. Performance Systems Development will be training facility personnel to perform energy audits to comply with the EISA.

In the first round of training, PSD's staff including Chris Balbach, Shirley Jean Bergman, Jerone Gagliano and supporting subcontractor Randy Lacey will train facilities managers and other personnel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's research station in Beltsville, MD; Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, AK; and the Architect of the Capitol's Senate and General Services Administration buildings in Washington, DC. Using a comprehensive curriculum developed by NREL, the PSD team will focus on the application of specific energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities. After the training is complete, facility personnel will be qualified to audit their buildings and implement energy conservation measures.

"The federal government has set ambitious standards to increase energy efficiency in its facilities across the country, and we applaud their efforts," says Chris Balbach, VP for Research and Development at PSD. "We are honored to help them take the first step in reaching their goal of high performance, green buildings."