Siemens's Bob Dixon, VP, Industry Affairs Building Performance and Sustainability, shared insights on what leaders can do to help build resilient communities.

The session suggested that leaders should keep these three notable quotes in mind when planning for tomorrow:

• Alan Kay
  "The best way to predict the future is to invent it."

• Michelangelo
  "The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it"

• Thomas Edison
  "Opportunity is missed by most people as it is dressed in overalls and looks like work"

Global best practices for building a sustainable infrastructure include:

• Policies and Regulations
• Building Standards
• Bench-marking and Labeling
• Tax Credits & Incentives
• Leveraging Existing Technologies
• Support for New Technology
• Innovative Business Models
• Education

Ten actions leaders can take to accelerate the implementation of the efficiency & sustainability:

1. Mandate Efficiency & Sustainability Standards for New & Existing Buildings
2. Benchmarking / Labeling of Buildings and Homes Efficiency and Sustainability
3. Adopt Policies to Allow Payment of Energy Efficiency Improvements with Utility Bills or through Property Tax Assessments; Provide End User Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency Improvements
4. Provide Governmental Support or Subsides to Accelerate the Development of New Technologies
5. Adopt a Holistic Approach to Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, Think Beyond the Building, Re-think the Building
6. Utilize Innovative Business Models such as Performance Contracting and Incentivizing Utilities to Fund Energy Efficiency
7. Leverage Existing Technologies
8. Increase Energy Efficiency Expertise through Education: University, Community Colleges, Trade Schools; Re-Skilling Programs
9. Every Organization Should: Appoint a Chief Sustainability Officer; require their supply chain partners to have sustainability programs
10. Do Your Part as an Individual

 For more information about how Siemens can help your community go to: http://w3.usa.siemens.com/buildingtechnologies/us/en/cities/Pages/cities.aspx