Energy efficiency, sustainable systems a focus District Energy/CHP 2009: Local Energy, Global Solution BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bucking challenging economic times and conference attendance trends, the International District Energy Association will set an attendance record at its 100th Annual Conference & Trade Show "District Energy/CHP 2009: Local Energy, Global Solution." The conference is being held just outside Washington, D.C., at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City June 28-July 1. More than 600 people from 15 countries will gather for the association's centennial conference, up from 450 attendees in 2008. "There is an increased interest in leveraging the strengths of district energy and combined heat and power to help cities, communities and college campuses optimize their energy efficiency, enhance energy security and cut harmful emissions," says Robert P. Thornton, president of IDEA. "We've put together a program of real-life applications that demonstrate technologies that already work and are delivering for our economy and the environment." Featured plenary session speakers Monday are Phil Sharp, president of Resources for the Future; Olivier Barbaroux, chairman of Veolia Energy-Dalkia; and Thomas Casten, chairman of Recycled Energy Development Ltd. Sharp's Resources for the Future is the oldest Washington think tank devoted exclusively to policy analysis on energy, environmental and natural resource issues. He previously served 11 terms as a Congressman from Indiana with key appointments to energy and environment committees.
