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97th Annual Conference & Trade
Show
International Attendees, Record
Trade Show Are Highlights of Annual Conference
More than 420 people, including 60 from outside the United
States, attended the International District Energy
Association’s 97th Annual Conference & Trade Show “District
Energy/CHP 2006: Today’s Solution, Tomorrow’s Advantage” held
in Nashville, Tenn., USA, June 11-14.
Nashville is home to a rejuvenated district heating and
cooling system, so was a perfect – and very hospitable – host
city for the event. (The conference hotel and adjacent
convention center are
Metro Nashville District
Energy System
customers.) Attendees had the opportunity to tour the new
plant as well as visit the district energy facility at
Vanderbilt University, also in Nashville.
IDEA’s
opening plenary session June 12 included eight panelists from around the world.
The panelists addressed how district energy systems are undergoing renewal as
well as major expansion and how those investments create a more sustainable
energy future for their communities.
More
than 30 additional technical sessions were held, featuring topics ranging from
the use of tire-derived fuel to the development of mini-grids in Australia to
new trends in piping systems.
The conference included a sold-out trade show (which included
overflow tabletop exhibits in the hallway!) that featured
65 companies, nearly 75
percent of which have already opted to participate again in
2007. The conference also had more than
20 corporate sponsors,
who demonstrated their commitment to IDEA and the industry
with their contributions.
IDEA conducted two award
ceremonies during the conference. To find out this year’s
winners, click here.
IDEA’s board
of directors – comprised of 21 members representing
utility systems, manufacturers, campuses and service providers
– met before and after the conference. The board has a
strategic plan and regularly checks the association’s progress
to meet its goals to further the best interests of the
district energy industry. Gary Rugel of EVAPCO was elected the
board’s new chairman for 2006-2007.
The association’s 98th Annual
Conference & Trade Show will be held in Scottsdale, Ariz.,
June 17-20, 2007. The host will be
Northwind Phoenix.
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