EFFICIENTIA '98 october largest energy efficiency event of the year

Around 1,500 participants, 70 equipment exhibits, and 350 lecturers will be at the International Seminar on Electrical Energy Conservation, EFFICIENTIA '98, organized by EletrobrPROCEL (the Energy Conservation Program of the Brazilian Federal Utility) at Riocentro, the huge Conference Centre of the city of Rio de Janeiro, from 18 to 22 October.

New regulations of the Brazilian power sector now require the utilities to invest in energy conservation at least 1 % of total sales, of which a minimum of 0,25 % must be spent on end-use efficiency improvement. This opens a market for energy-efficiency projects of around $150 Million in 1999. Engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, utilities, and large power consumers are already preparing their strategies to launch important initiatives. Ten parallel sessions will focus on the following issues at the Seminar:

· Industrial sector
· Commercial sector
· Small and medium enterprises, water and waste water sector
· Residential sector
· Public sector: municipal energy management, public buildings and lighting
· Education
· Regulations
· Marketing
· Demand-side management
· Losses in the power sector.

Efficientia 98