Article by Stephane Tassin in La Derniere Heure of April 15, 2011 (Translated to English)

On Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman presented the work recently accomplished in his residence in order to save energy.

Special valves connected by remote control to a central system were added to the radiators, two layers of thermal insulation were placed on the attic, and 500 traditional lamps were replaced by halogen and LED light bulbs. The total cost was 111,000 Euros.

The residence was built 230 years ago and occupies 1,496 square meters. ‘The objective of the top-to-bottom makeover is to save energy and money while respecting the residence’s historic features and décor. Seven companies that are Associates of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance to Save Energy, have participated in the project,’ the U.S. Embassy Press Section explained.

‘The residence seems old but it actually shows where our future is, i.e. in partnerships between public and private sector,’ U.S. Ambassador Howard Gutman said.

The residence was given to the U.S. immediately after WWII. 19 U.S. Ambassadors have lived there since then. Howard Gutman is not the only U.S. envoy in Belgium, because the U.S. also has an Ambassador to the EU and another one to NATO.