Energy Efficiency is the perpetual "low hanging fruit" that can serve a number of important goals. Businesses like Energy Efficiency because it reduces expenses, which means dollars are added straight to the bottom line. The power system players (the utilities and grid operators) like Energy Efficiency because fewer power plants need to be constructed and the need for transmission lines might be avoided. Environmentalists like Energy Efficiency because it means fewer emissions and less waste. Jobs are created because devices to control systems have to be manufactured, and people are needed to install the energy efficiency upgrades. All of this can come about because savings are realized over time, or better yet, in many cases can be the source of financing for upgrades. The EBC is having a seminar on Connecticut's Energy Efficiency Programs on Wednesday, February 8th at Northeast Utilities in Berlin. The seminar will examine Connecticut's programs to encourage and promote energy efficiency and explore how various players in the market are coming up with new and better ways to reach some of the higher tier fruit so that residential, institutional, commercial and industrial users can reduce their costs, and improve their bottom lines both economically and environmentally. Richard Steeves, vice vhair of the CT Energy Efficiency Fund, will discuss the regulators perspective and Ron Araujo, manager of conservation and load management at Northeast Utilities will share the utility perspective. In addition, there will be experts to address the implications of new innovations in energy control and management. The program will be held from 7:30am to noon. Please visit the EBC website for more information and to register: www.ebcne.org