White House Announces Executive Order on Industrial Energy Efficiency, including Combined Heat and Power

Today, President Obama signed an Executive Order to accelerate investments in industrial energy efficiency, including combined heat and power (CHP). Accelerating investment in industrial energy efficiency in a way that benefits manufacturers, utilities, and consumers can improve American manufacturing competitiveness and create jobs while improving our nation's energy system and reducing harmful

Do You Want Industry to Improve its Energy Efficiency?

Do you want industry to improve its energy efficiency? Two things need to happen:

1. Address energy in terms of outcomes that are important to industrial leaders. That would be MONEY. It's pointless to frame the discussion around electricity or gas. It's also misleading to perceive energy efficiency SOLELY as a one-time capital investment project. Energy viewed through the prism of fuel or

Energy Management: What Do You REALLY Expect to Get?

Energy management is technically simple to accomplish. It can be, however, extremely difficult to get others in an organization to comply with an energy manager’s agenda. In all organizations, long-standing behaviors and priorities prevail. Changes suggested by an energy manager will often threaten many people’s range of authority. An energy manager will:
• Encourage alternative workplace

Seven Facts about Energy that All Business Leaders Should Know

1. Without energy, you have no business.Fuel and power are inescapable ingredients of all business activity. Without energy, there’s no production, and without production, there’s no revenue. End of story. 2. You can either control your energy, or it will control you. Understand this: energy is never neutral. When it is not working for you, energy is working against you. Think of this the

Energy Solutions Q&A

Here's a question from a reader: What is the best approach to engage an organization to participate in an energy efficiency program, when there is not a direct relationship to upper management?And here's my reply:I guess you know that your question raises a subject that I’ve written about many times. I’ll recommend a few of my blog posts:1. Scenarios for Energy Management2. From Energy to Cash

From Energy to Cash Flow

What would be at the top of a business leader’s wish list for the new year? Would it be greater sales volume, easier credit, lower taxes, streamlined regulations, or all of these? These wishes are really different means to the same end: improved capital recovery. In simple terms, capital recovery is the “velocity” at which an investment creates new wealth. From a shareholder perspective, it

Justifying Energy Efficiency for Business Growth & Investment

Energy efficiency vs. business growth-- it's NOT a zero sum game, and I'll prove it. Learn how to monetize energy choices, and make a compelling business case for energy improvements. Join me for a two-hour web seminar at 11:00 am eastern on Friday, December 9, produced by the Association of Energy Engineers.