Ambassador Philip D. Murphy with Peter Byck and Tammy Murphy

On March 28, 2012, an evening reception hosted by the Ambassador and Mrs. Murphy was held at the official residence in cooperation with the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) to feature green initiatives across Mission Germany and League of Green Embassies (LoGE) programs. Attendees included stakeholders from various aspects of the “Green” movement and representatives from private industry, education and the media. A continuous slide presentation served as the back drop to the evening’s events highlighting green success stories across all five consulates and the embassy from 2004 forward.

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Film-maker Peter Byck presented video clips from his documentary, Carbon Nation, which highlighted local and regional examples of how tackling climate change can boost economies, increase energy security, and promote a clean environment. Between the clips, Byck gave a behind-the scene look into filming the movie, described meetings with leaders in the fields of climate change and clean energy, and shared how he plans to spread his message. Byck’s presentation dovetailed nicely with the evening’s overall theme of energy efficiency and making a difference.  DVDs of the documentary were given to guests.  This event was one of several presentations by Byck during his PA-sponsored multi-city European speaker tour.

Contributing Vendors:

• 3M: Window film provides security and blocks solar heat gain while allowing daylight to illuminate the residences’ interiors.
• Belkin: Energy-efficient ‘smart’ power strips and chargers reduce energy usage by turning off accessories, such as televisions, that otherwise consume electricity while in standby mode.
• Cree: Efficient exterior lighting cuts down electricity use and costs.
• Danfoss: Radiator valves with time-controlled thermostats connected to a remote-control system reduce heat waste in non-occupied rooms throughout the house.
• Niagara Conservation: Water conservation products such as flow aerators to decrease water usage.
• Philips: Replacement of inefficient incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs) save at least 75% of the energy used while maintaining attractive light in the historical residences.
• Whirlpool: Appliances such as refrigerators and washers were replaced with energy-efficient models. Appliances make up about 10-20% of home energy bills.

Visit the U.S. Embassy Berlin website for more information.