Oct 23 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Monica Potts The Stamford Advocate, Conn.

The U.S. secretary of energy met with government and business leaders at UBS headquarters in downtown Stamford yesterday, saying the country has wasted its resources and it is time to use energy in a smarter way.

"It goes beyond good public relations," Samuel Bodman said of efforts by businesses to use less energy and shift from burning fossil fuels to cleaner sources. "It's becoming increasingly clear that it will help the bottom line."

U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Bridgeport, joined Bodman as Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy and members of the Business Council of Fairfield County presented their efforts to reduce energy use and promote environmentally friendly development projects.

Bodman and Shays toured UBS North American headquarters at 677 Washington Blvd., where parts of the building were redesigned to increase energy efficiency.

The changes -- including installing sensors that modify light levels and devices that better regulate air temperature and flow -- saved 4.4 million kilowatts a year, or about 4 percent of the company's annual usage, said Warren Belt of UBS.

Malloy unveiled a proposal last week with initiatives to promote energy-efficient changes in homes and businesses and give tax breaks to residents who buy hybrid vehicles.

The plan would require the city to follow the initiatives, including that some future buildings meet the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Malloy told the group it is imperative that Stamford make the effort because energy use in this area of the country is so high.

"We need to play a lead role in the United States," Malloy said.

Jeanette Brown, executive director of the Stamford Water Pollution Control Authority, presented a preliminary plan that would turn dried wastewater residuals from the treatment plant into fuel.

She said that a process called gasification can convert the biological waste into gas. Gasification does not emit greenhouse gases, she said.

The resulting gas can be burned as fuel to produce electricity, and the Stamford facility has the capacity to produce 10 megawatts to 15 megawatts of power, she said.

Jeff Cordulack, president of the Environmental Council of Stamford, said he applauds the efforts, but said environmentalists would rather see greater focus on solar power.

"Burning to create electricity is not environmentally sound in most cases," Cordulack said of the project. "Fuel cell technology should be invested in."

Bodman and Shays said such efforts must start with cities the size of Stamford.

"As more and more communities do it, it will have a very noticeable impact," Shays said.

Joe McGee, vice president of public policy with the business council, said the days of conflict between environmental and economic issues are over.

"If we're going to continue to grow the county, we have to have reliable energy," he said. "This is a systematic change in thinking."