Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives have become imperative to business strategy, and energy consciousness and carbon emissions reductions are top considerations for many executives.

With Earth Day coming up on Sunday many may be asking “Are we doing enough to reduce our environmental impact?” “How can we better support our environment?” Sustainability initiatives that are effectively built into a business strategy not only reduce the business carbon footprint, but also provides substantial savings that contributes directly to the business’ bottom line– a win win!

Below are the top 5 energy trends businesses are adopting to reduce environmental impact and operating costs:

 

1) Participating in utility-driven demand response programs

Demand response enrollment is on the rise and for good reasons. These programs give commercial consumers a choice to use less during on-peak hours.  Site managers have control over their energy costs and they can avoid spikes and new peak demand rates. Smart building  controls and services can generate real savings by helping the utility manage their demand. These programs further support the environment by helping the utility plan better and decrease the need to call on more dirty energy assets.

 

2) Applying for state-sponsored energy reduction programs

Rebates and incentives are currently available in many U.S. markets, and provide money back on costs required to implement qualified energy solutions. To see what is available in your state you can visit DSIRE’s website (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency).

 

3) A shift towards energy-as-a-service solutions

Traditional energy solutions were often costly to implement, required enormous capital to roll out across enterprises, and were difficult to get approved. Like many other industries, energy is transitioning to an as-a-service approach meaning that large cost is replaced by a subscription-based pricing structure.  These solutions cut down on energy consumption without the upfront financial burden to enable small businesses to take part in the bottom line savings and social stewardship.

 

4) Investing in asset-level management solutions

Asset-level management is the practice of monitoring and managing pieces of equipment to maximize efficiency and achieve the greatest return. Through collecting asset-level data, facility managers can identify underperforming equipment and check for issues or prioritize maintenance. Identifying issues early eliminates potential wasted energy and cash.

 

5) Automating HVAC testing for predictive maintenance

Traditional maintenance for necessary equipment, like HVAC units, has been done on a calendar basis (think spring or fall tune ups), or as-needed if an issue occurs. New smart building technology is revolutionizing repair and maintenance with data and automation to help site managers be proactive instead of reactive. HVAC SCOPE helps managers to identify equipment health issues and predict when maintenance or repairs will be needed. This helps managers allocate capital for these expenses, keeps equipment running efficiently, and eliminates the potential for costly down-time.

 

For more information on how your business can take advantage of these trends, contact us.