ARENA-ECO, Ukraine

BECon, China

CENEf, Russia

EnEffect, Bulgaria

FEWE, Poland

SEVEn, Czech Republic

The Advanced International Studies Unit (AISU) of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory helped create six independent energy efficiency centers in countries with economies in transition. These centers were developed to promote economic growth while mitigating its harmful effects, especially greenhouse emissions. Energy-efficient technology and management practices have much potential to decrease fossil fuel use and consequent emissions of carbon dioxide, as well as particulates, and sulfur and nitrogen oxides.

The centers are nongovernmental, not-for-profit organizations. Each of these centers was founded by local experts, with planning and logistical support from AISU. The centers received their core funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the World Wildlife Fund.

The energy efficiency centers have conducted six major types of technology transfer programs since the first one opened in 1990: policy development, business partnering, energy and environmental research, demonstration projects, energy management training, and public education. These activities are described in detail in

Chandler, William U., John W. Parker, Igor Bashmakov, Zdravko Genchev, Jaroslav Marousek, Slawomir Pasierb, Mykola Raptsun, and Zhou Dadi. 1999. Energy Efficiency Centers in Six Countries: A Review. PNNL-13073, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington. .