How Do I Turn Green?, by Chuck Burnette, CEM, LEED AP
The proliferation of the green movement has raised the consciousness of many. Most people we talk to about the subject support the idea; after all, who isn't rooting for the planet? So the question is how do we accomplish these "green" goals?
The federal government provides a lot of good information regarding energy management at www.energystar.gov. The graph below serves as a roadmap to energy efficiency.
However, this is not intended to be a cookie-cutter approach to saving resources or money, but, rather, it is meant to be a roadmap to help with planning and managing the green process. It is also important to recognize that there is no single plan to reach our goal of reducing costs while minimizing enviornmental impact. Each company will have a unique culture and management approach to help realize their opportunities. Energy service companies, along with consulting and engineering firms, offer expertise that can be tailored to any organization. If you choose to create your own plan or enlist the assistance of a contractor, any plan should allow for reductions in the following areas:
- Reduce the amount of operational time - by reducing the amount of time a particular system or piece of equipment is operating, you reduce the amount of energy it consumes
- Pay less for energy - in the deregulated energy market, opportunities exist to pay less for energy; it may take some reseach to find but there are many companies that are saving money now because they locked-in rates during advantageous times
- Increase the efficiency of the devices - every mechanical or electrical piece of equipment has an efficiency rating based on their ability to convert input power to output work; increase that ratio and the total energy consumed will be less while accomplishing the same amount of work
Any opportunities to become "green" will depend on how significant the cost and environmental impact of energy are to the business operations and overall strategy. A commitment to being green is not a destination; it is the first step in our journey towards a sustainable future.
Mr. Burnette has worked with buildings for over 20 years, both as a Chief Engineer and outside consultant, and he is a Certified Energy Manager. As a member of the Green Team, Chuck specializes in utility analysis, mechanical upgrades, and resolving control and operational issues.