Monthly Archives: January 2009

Melanie Lyons Closing out the International Builders Show

Posted on January 23, 2009 by Melanie Lyons | Comments Off


As the International Builders Show draws to a close here in Vegas, the mood is somewhat somber with glimmers of hope for a turnaround.  As this article from the Wall Street Journal, reported direct from the Las Vegas Convention Center, explains “Single-family-housing starts, which fell 40% to 617,000 in 2007, are expected to drop to about 441,000 this year — the lowest since records have been kept…  That would be a nearly 75% drop from the industry’s highwater mark of 1.7 million single-family starts in 2005.”  These figures were released by NAHB at the show.

But it wasn’t all doom and gloom.  Green was the name of the game.  This piece by the Associated Press tells the greens story that was displayed at the show.  And Bobvila.com did a little blurb on our fellow booth mates from the Council for Responsible Energy.

090123ibsbooth Closing out the International Builders Show

Our booth at the International Builders Show.

Just as the show was getting ready to close for the evening, the AGA booth was visited by NAHB board member Bob Nielson. He visited with Jeff Shaw from Southwest Gas, AGA staff and had a look at all the great products displayed in the American Gas Industry booth.  AGA staff look forward to another great Homebuilders Show in Las Vegas next year!

090123ibstom Closing out the International Builders Show

Tom Moskitis, AGA Managing Director, Jeff Shaw, CEO, Southwest Gas Corporation, and Bob Nielson, second vice chairman, board member, NAHB.

Posted in events | Tagged | Comments Off

Pam Lacey Green Economy Network

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Pam Lacey | Comments Off


If you missed my last post on the Green ball, let me just say again how excited AGA was to be a “Green Sponsor” of the Green Inaugural Ball. The event was a lot of fun and a great gathering of people who are working to create a new green economy through energy efficiency and clean energy. In case you are not aware, natural gas has great green properties. When used for direct applications in the home for space heating, cooking and heating your water, natural gas delivers tremendous efficiencies especially when compared to electricity which loses almost 70% of its energy by the time it reaches the home. By comparison, natural gas loses only 10 percent of its energy – 90% gets to the customer.  Natural gas customers in the United States also have a fantastic track record for efficiency, reducing consumption annually thereby reducing their carbon footprint.  Since 1970, the number of natural gas customers in the U.S. has risen from 38 million to more than 64 million homes and businesses – yet they collectively use less natural gas now than they did in 1970.  Think about that – they have not only achieved 1990 greenhouse gas levels – they have held the line at 1970 levels. Good jobs can be created by continuing the trend toward better weatherization and installing efficient natural gas equipment – including new technologies such as natural gas heat pumps and tankless hot water heaters combined with solar hot water equipment. We look forward to working with the new administration and all our green friends to use energy more efficiently and to create new green jobs.

090122 Green Economy Network

I also got this message about the Green Economy Network.

Green Economy Network (GEN 09) was created by the organizers of the ball as a place where people can upload their videos and post comments on how they are participating and contributing to the development of America’s clean energy future. All of the content is user-generated with the exception of blogs that we are featuring from our host organizations. If you would like your organization’s blog to be included, let us know.

By supporting GEN 09, you can help online users join the attendees who will come together for one night to celebrate the new Administration and the talent and commitment of this important network. GEN 09, as conceived, will endure long beyond the end of the ball and represents the new economic base that will rebuild America on the belief that when ecology and economy are in unity, history is made.

So check us out and help to support GEN 09. Do your part by spreading the word. Post us on your organization’s website, twitter the event, blog about us, upload your most compelling videos on the green economy. In short, we want you and your constituencies to be a part of GEN 09: www.greeneconomynetwork.org. And look for more to come from this initiative after the inauguration.

I’m interested in seeing how many of you upload your own videos. Leave me a comment below if you do so I can check it out.

Posted in events | Tagged | Comments Off

Tom Moskitis The 2009 New American Home at the International Builders show

Posted on January 21, 2009 by Tom Moskitis | Comments Off


The 2009 New American Home, the official showcase home of the International Builders Show, features innovative design and cutting edge natural gas technology, providing home builders with an outstanding example for producing more energy efficient homes without sacrificing style. The 8816 square foot contemporary home is a near net zero energy home that includes active (photovoltaic cells) and passive (orientation and shading) solar design and a revolutionary natural gas heating and cooling system. It also features tankless gas water heaters and numerous indoor and outdoor gas appliances. The AISIN gas heat pump is the most efficient HVAC system on the planet. Energy savings on the cooling side are estimated to be 75%, with heating savings estimated to be 67%. The house achieves 76% whole house energy savings when compared to the Building America benchmark and achieves a Five Star-Plus HERS rating of 57. This is before factoring in the installation of a 12,000+ khz solar panel system striving for a net-zero level of electrical consumption. The 2009 New American Home is proof positive that the direct use of natural gas is a winning solution to our energy efficiency and environmental challenges. Here are some pictures we took during our tour.

090120ibs01 The 2009 New American Home at the International Builders show

090120ibs02 The 2009 New American Home at the International Builders show

090120ibs03 The 2009 New American Home at the International Builders show

090120ibs04 The 2009 New American Home at the International Builders show

Posted in events | Tagged | Comments Off

Tom Moskitis The law of supply and demand…still working

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Tom Moskitis | Comments Off


As we continue to make the case on Capitol Hill for expanded exploration and production of natural gas on the outer continental shelf (OCS), I’ve encountered a recurring argument from staffers whose bosses would have no problem with putting OCS energy leasing bans back in place.

The price of natural gas is half of what it was less than a year ago, they say, and your own industry people (meaning the producers) tell us supplies are abundant. There is no real need, they conclude, for more access.

The point being missed in this argument, however, is that the economic law of supply and demand is still at work. Supply today exceeds demand, thus the drop in prices, whereas just a few years ago the reverse was true. Despite the cold winter so far, demand for natural gas is way down due to the recession. People are simply not buying things like houses or cars, and they are buying fewer of other things like clothes or even bottled water. And all of this impacts the demand for natural gas.

Think about what goes into a new car – steel, glass, plastic, aluminum, fiberglass – all of it is natural gas intensive. The huge drop in gas demand in the industrial sector, especially in manufacturing, has led to excess available supply, and indeed to lower prices.  But now is not the time for complacency!

It may take several years for our economy to recover and while low energy prices may have lessened the sense of urgency we felt this past summer, our lawmakers need to look at the long-term reality of the situation.  It will take years if not decades to find and bring new resources to market. Because of this lag, failure to act now to ensure we have the supply that the future economy will demand, will only ensure high-prices for all.

Posted in energy | Tagged | Comments Off