On December 13, 2011, U.S. Ambassador James Warlick invited businessmen, government officials, and representatives from non-governmental organizations to take a first-hand look at the results of an energy efficiency makeover of his home.  In the company of U.S. Ambassador to Finland, Bruce Oreck, and Landon Van Dyke, a special advisor at the U.S. Department of State on Environmental Performance and Sustainability, Ambassador Warlick explained how the makeover of his home shows what a large impact can be made in reducing our collective carbon footprint through the installation of low-cost technologies within an existing environment.  

The makeover was made possible through the partnership with the Bulgarian Green Building Council – leading non-government organization, promoting sustainable development, construction and energy efficiency, The Alliance to Save Energy and seven private-sector companies.

“We are pursuing two of the main goals that President Obama has set for the government: one is to lead by example in the field of energy efficiency and respect for the environment and the other is to double U.S. exports by the year 2015,” said Ambassador Warlick.  

“In both of these areas, the U.S. Embassy in Sofia is leading the way. We are extremely proud that the Embassy was the first LEED certified building in Bulgaria and I am pleased to report that others have followed our example. The Tischman office complex and Anglo American School have achieved LEED certification.  The Hilton has used the same 3M window film to achieve incredible energy savings and will soon install solar panels on its roof. These are some wonderful success stories supported by many high-quality products made in the U.S.,” Ambassador Warlick continued.  

The Ambassador’s residence was chosen as one of 11 American ambassadorial residences in Europe to undergo an energy efficiency makeover as part of the Energy Efficiency Sweep Across Europe.  The initiative is conducted under the auspices of the League of Green Embassies, now led by Ambassador Oreck, which seeks to “green” diplomatic facilities around the world.

Ambassador Oreck commented, “This has been a year of action at the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, and we are delighted that through the League of Green Embassies we are able to inspire and implement similar actions not only in Europe but around the world. Through the partnerships established by the League, embassies are shaping the future and setting a precedent for others to follow.  Everyone has a role to play, and embassies globally are leading by example.”

The League of Green Embassies is a bipartisan collaboration of the U.S. State Department’s Overseas Building Office, U.S. embassies worldwide, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy service companies, U.S. cleantech exporters and international stakeholders.

“Our efforts to save energy and preserve the environment through green building projects will not stop here.  As part of Secretary Clinton’s Greening Diplomacy Initiative and pledge to improve the environmental impact of our operations abroad, our embassy has been selected for a groundbreaking “net zero” energy study.  The goal of this effort is to use the latest technologies and strategies in order to reduce our energy consumption to near zero,” said Ambassador Warlick.