Insights

October 9, 2013

Leading Sustainability Executives Discuss Advanced Energy Strategies at SR Inc’s Q3 Executive Symposia

Sustainability Roundtable Inc held its most recent Sustainable Business & Enterprise Roundtable (SBER) Executive Symposium: Advanced Energy Strategies & Renewables on September 19th at SBER Member-Client NetApp’s offices in Sunnyvale, CA and on September 26th at Member-Client Interpublic Group’s office in Manhattan. The Symposia built upon SR Inc original Executive Guidance, Guidebooks & Tools, and case studies, as well as on-going related work with SBER Member-Clients. Facilitated discussions at both events examined management best practices in Advanced Energy Strategies and Renewable Energy Strategy in 2013 in the U.S. and internationally.

In 2013, real estate and sustainability executives are focusing on integrating energy efficiency deeper within the organization, leveraging advanced analytic tools, employee engagement and behavior change, and improved metering and controls technologies. Leaders from SBER Member-Clients Bentall Kennedy, Intuit, Pearson, PG&E and a leading Global IT Company shared their strategies to prioritize operational efficiency and data collection while balancing energy sourcing and renewable energy goals.

The following highlight the key takeaways from both the West Coast and East Coast discussions:

• West Coast attendees discussed the importance of public and visible energy targets—in absolute or intensity terms. Member-Clients shared three strategies to gain support for energy targets: 

1. Strong leadership with C-Suite support
2. Buy-in from engineering, IT, finance, and other internal stakeholders
3. Advocacy pressure from NGOs

• East Coast attendees discussed the importance of a long-term approach to energy strategy. Member-Clients shared that they are seeing increased attention from the C-Suite on the role of energy in operational resiliency.

• Member-Clients at both meetings were particularly interested in promising results in new energy technologies. For example, one Member-Client found preliminary savings of 40% year-over-year by implementing wireless lighting controls. Leading companies also expressed interest in evolving tools to manage energy data from the plug load to the enterprise-wide level.

Selected Relevant SBER Executive Guidance:

• SBER-RLC Report: Taking the Path to Higher Performance: Energy Management Using Advanced
  Analytics & Controls

• SBER-ELC Report: Deploying Enterprise Energy and Carbon Accounting (EECA) Software

• SBER-RLC Report: Financing Portfolio-Wide Energy Efficiency Upgrades

• SBER-ELC Report: Occupant Engagement for Sustainability

• SBER-ELC Member Briefing: Market Structures for Conventional and Renewable Energy

• SBER-ELC Member Briefing: International Markets for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)

 

Is your company exploring advanced energy management or renewable energy strategies? We’d love to hear from you. Tell us about it in the comments section below. Please check out our Digital Library for full reports of related research, or reach out to your SR Inc advisor directly. To find out about SR Inc membership, please contact us.