As chairman of the DOE GridWise Architecture Council (GWAC) and a long-term proponent of intelligent buildings, it is clear to me that the industry is facing unparalleled challenge and opportunity (other council members may be found at www.gridwiseac.org). Perhaps the most significant catalyst for activity in buildings is green, and many people think first of the USGBC LEED® program.
Recognizing that many have heard little about GridWise, it bears noting that this is a DOE-sponsored initiative. Furthermore, it may not be surprising that August 14, 2003 is a significant electricity industry date. That was when the East Coast blacked out, an event that motivated excitement in the media and on Capitol Hill about the need for electricity reliability. A similar event has not happened again, but several more localized large-scale interruptions have.