"ENERGY" -- Pillar of Sustainability

              E C O N O M I C   |   E N E R G Y   |    E N V I R O N M E N T A L    |    S O C I A L

In today's environment, organizations must not only make improvements in their energy performance, they must consider these initiatives as strategic opportunities. Mounting pressure to reduce energy consumption, combined with volatile fuel supply and cost, is driving organizations to improve energy management policies and practices.

This perspective is in alignment with the recently published Ceres Report, The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability. The report provides a practical roadmap for integrating sustainability into the DNA of business – from the boardroom, to copy rooms, and across entire supply chains. It calls for significant performance improvements from companies by 2020. Among the report's 20 key expectations for companies:

  • Make energy efficiency and renewable energy the foundation for company operations
  • Design and implement closed-loop systems so that air and wastewater emissions are eliminated and zero waste is produced
  • Require 75 percent of top tier suppliers to meet company sustainability performance standards
  • Dedicate 50 percent of R&D investment to developing sustainability solutions
  • Compensate and provide incentives for top executives and other employees to drive sustainability into the business

The report makes it clear that the global economy has unprecedented challenges, whether from soaring population growth, resource constraints or a changing global climate that will require massive investment in low-carbon technology. Many companies recognize these emerging challenges and are already incorporating them into their planning and turning to Sustainable Performance Governance.


Energy Performance

Sustainable Performance Governance Solutions must be built on proven engineering and economic models which produce information that can be used for lifecycle investment planning and budgeting decisions. Built-in energy performance data analysis and KPIs, energy auditing, building systems engineering algorithms, and building lifecycle cost models form the foundation for improving the financial, energy, and environmental performance. Solutions must rely on minimum user inputs, industry benchmarks and built-in engineering models which offer retrofit recommendations and verification of energy savings from investments.

As energy markets continue to prove volatile and unpredictable, and sustainability becomes a competitive advantage, Sustainble Performance Governance offers a proactive approach to maintaining fiscally and environmentally responsible built environment.