An Abundance of 'Green' Technologies - As Europeans try to reduce energy consumption, manufactures rise to the occasion

摘要

My first experience attending the ISH Frankfurt trade show in Germany was one of awe. "The World's Leading Trade Fair for the Bathroom, Building Services, Energy, Air Conditioning and Renewable Energies" is no boast - the 2007 show (which was held March 6-10) had 2,392 exhibitors from 58 countries showcasing products and technologies in 10 buildings, occupying almost the entire Messe Frankfurt Exhibition Center (larger than any plumbing/heating industry trade show I have attended in North America). Of those exhibitors, 20 were from the United States (more about them in a later issue). This year also set a visitor record of 215,378 people, with about 86,000 in the "installation trade" (contractors). For the three days I attended ISH, the show floors were full of people - even in the waning hours of the day. So many people took the subway trains to the fairgrounds that many people had to wait for a second or third train to board (this reporter included).