© Ecova, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.ecova.com Thu, 16 May 2013 10:05:00 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:05:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corp. Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/looking-for-information-on-natural-gas-upcoming-event-brings-key-players-together.aspx An event hosted by the Energy Solutions Center (ESC) in June provides an opportunity to connect with leaders in the natural gas industry. Hosted in Toronto, Canada, from June 25-27 th , the National Account Workshop brings together national account customers and thought-leaders in the natural gas industry to share their expertise in the developments and opportunities shaping the national energy landscape. With natural gas playing a larger role in the energy mix, and with price increases likely in the future, now is the time to ensure you have all the facts you need to make good decisions about gas. Ecova’s own Brad Ouderkirk will present at the event, focusing on strategic management of energy consumption. Learn more about Ecova’s solutions Facility Optimization and Strategy & Engagement Solutions to find out how you can strategically manage the energy needed to run your business. Related content: Solution: Facility Optimization Solution: Strategy & Engagement Video: Facility Optimization http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/looking-for-information-on-natural-gas-upcoming-event-brings-key-players-together.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/looking-for-information-on-natural-gas-upcoming-event-brings-key-players-together.aspx Thu, 16 May 2013 10:05:00 Brooke Mittermann - Energy Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/finding-the-corporate-energy-manager-thats-right-for-you.aspx Need a proactive, strategic, and actionable plan to tackle rising commodity prices, changing regulations, and new consumer demands? Sounds like you need an energy manager ― but where do you find someone with the diversity of skills and experience it takes to be successful in this multifaceted role? You have two options: Hire an internal leader who knows your organization. Hire an external trusted advisor, backed by a panoply of subject matter experts.  INTERNAL LEADER Finding a candidate with the skills necessary to succeed can be challenging. You may have an internal leader in mind, or you may want to search for a new hire. Either way, if done right, an in-house corporate energy manager can be extremely beneficial. An internal resource can facilitate access to capital and internal resources, gain commitment and buy-in from executive leadership, and have the ability to effectively foster cross-functional engagement. Organizationally, corporate energy managers are most successful when they report directly to the CEO or COO. Positioning the corporate energy manager deeper into any organizational department dilutes authority and the ability to execute successful programs. EXTERNAL TRUSTED ADVISOR When looking for an external trusted advisor, partnering with an organization with diverse service offerings brings experience, cross-industry knowledge, and an unparalleled breadth of subject matter experts―all of this without adding headcount to your organization. A third party can also bring utility and vendor relationships to help empower internal leaders to be energy champions and work together to build and sustain short-, medium- and long-term energy plans. GETTING STARTED ON YOUR ENERGY PLAN Whether you hire internally or partner externally, to be effective the corporate energy manager must be able to connect cross-functional teams and engage disparate departments, including operations, finance, facilities & engineering, marketing, and other industry-specific groups to execute energy programs. The corporate energy manager will interact with a range of outside stakeholders. The position needs the endorsement of the CEO and executive leadership team. The corporate energy manager will lead your energy strategy from social, environmental, and economic standpoints. Activities may be wide ranging and include program development, project management, and the coordination and delivery of energy management products and services as part of a total energy and sustainability solution. The corporate energy manager should be prepared to: Develop and maintain an energy and resource management policy and plan Coordinate and lead an energy team and energy champions Devise a strategy for reducing energy costs and environmental impact Collect and interpret data, ensure accurate report generation and distribution to appropriate internal and external stakeholders Develop and coordinate a program of energy saving projects Making a corporate commitment is the first step; choosing a corporate energy manager is the second. Still not sure where to start? Check out our upcoming webinar,  Why Every Company Needs a Corporate Energy Manager . Stay tuned for more posts on the role of the energy manger and how this important role can add value to your business. In the meantime, learn more about the work of Ecova's energy managers . Related content: Upcoming Webinar: Why Every Company Needs a Corporate Energy Manager Solution: Program Implementation Services Video: Facility Optimization http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/finding-the-corporate-energy-manager-thats-right-for-you.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/finding-the-corporate-energy-manager-thats-right-for-you.aspx Wed, 15 May 2013 10:28:00 By Chris Wold - Senior Associate - US Program - CLASP http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/research-helps-set-the-stage-for-more-energy-efficient-clothes-dryers.aspx Did you know that approximately 85% of U.S. households have clothes dryers? You might be surprised to learn that clothes dryers account for 6% of residential electricity consumption and cost consumers about $9 billion every year. Despite this, they are the only major household appliance without an ENERGY STAR ® label or utility financial incentive program. The Super Efficient Dryer Initiative (SEDI), launched in 2010 by the New Jersey Clean Energy Program , brings together dryer manufacturers, government agencies, utilities, and appliance retailers in the U.S. and Canada to promote the introduction of advanced clothes dryers into the North American market. Other collaborators include the Collaborative Labeling & Appliance Standards Program (CLASP) and the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) . Since its launch, SEDI sponsorship has expanded to 13 energy efficiency programs across the U.S. and Canada. [1] Drawing on lessons learned from TopTen ’s experiences introducing heat pump clothes dryers into Europe, SEDI conducts technical research, promotes policy measures, and coordinates stakeholder engagement to pave the way for this advanced technology to transform the U.S. and Canadian market towards higher energy efficiency and cost savings for consumers. Under SEDI, CLASP and its consultant Ecova recently published a  study demonstrating that European clothes dryers using heat pump technology are 50-60% more energy efficient than the conventional electric dryers used in North America. Moreover, their peak consumption is approximately one-fifth that of North American dryers, significantly reducing power demand. The study provides the technical evidence necessary for state and local utilities to promote new technology through financial incentive programs that will make new super-efficient dryers more affordable to consumers. In addition to market measures, SEDI has also worked with U.S. EPA to promote energy efficient clothes dryers via ENERGY STAR. In 2012, EPA announced its selection of clothes dryers as a category for ENERGY STAR’s Emerging Technology Award . SEDI provided technical comments to EPA to ensure that the award requirements were set at levels that only highly efficient technology could achieve. An award recipient is expected to be announced later this year.   SEDI expects a manufacturer to introduce a 30% more energy efficient clothes dryer into the U.S. market in 2013. For more information about this initiative, download the report or you can contact me directly . [1] Current SEDI Sponsors: British Columbia (BC) Hydro; Connecticut Light & Power; Connecticut Natural Gas; Efficiency Vermont; Long Island Power Authority; National Grid; New Jersey Clean Energy Program; Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance; Pacific Gas & Electric; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Silicon Valley Power; Southern Connecticut Gas; United Illuminating. Current SEDI Supporters: Cape Light Compact. Related content: Blog Post: Research Helps Make it Easy to Pick the Right LED Bulb Video: Research & Policy Solution: Research & Policy http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/research-helps-set-the-stage-for-more-energy-efficient-clothes-dryers.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/research-helps-set-the-stage-for-more-energy-efficient-clothes-dryers.aspx Tue, 14 May 2013 11:44:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/energy-dashboards-that-meet-your-needs.aspx An overview of Ecova’s energy dashboard was recently highlighted in Energy Manager Today . The article discusses dashboard types, how they differ, and how companies can choose the right one for their needs. Facility and energy managers need to understand their site portfolio’s energy use, but unfortunately, not all dashboards are created equally. DASHBOARD EVOLUTION The article describes the evolution of dashboards, paired with the needs of the user. Dashboards can be very simple and still serve end user needs, or be incredibly complex, with multi-variable algorithms built in to compare and measure corporate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The most basic energy dashboards can be built on an Excel spreadsheet. Set up correctly, it can provide insight into energy use by site, region, or any other variable that can be populated into your data set and manipulated with a pivot table. And while an Excel spreadsheet can be a useful tool, it typically requires time to digest, as it can often be more cumbersome than an intuitive and graphically-designed dashboard. Data is just that; data. What you do with the data unlocks its value. A dashboard is valuable for providing insight into energy consumption, equipment health and behavior by site personnel. If you don’t do anything with the data, it’s a dead end. It is important to have a solid understanding of what you are looking for in order to find a dashboard that best fits your needs. For example, if you only have a handful of sites and you’re at the beginning of defining your energy strategy, gathering your historical utility bill data and analyzing it via Excel is a great first step. If you have numerous sites that you need to roll-up into a portfolio or regional view, and want to identify outliers at a glance, a more sophisticated dashboard like Ecova’s new Meter Dashboard would certainly serve your needs. And if you have a strategic energy management program with company-specific KPIs, a custom dashboard solution would probably be the best route for you. TEST DRIVE A DASHBOARD TODAY I encourage you to read the Energy Manager Today article for additional information into the value of energy dashboards. If you’d like a demo of Ecova’s new Meter Dashboard, let us know . Related content: Blog Post: Three Key Benefits of Continuously Monitoring Your Building Systems Blog Post: Maximize the ROI of Your Energy Management Systems Video: Facility Optimization http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/energy-dashboards-that-meet-your-needs.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/energy-dashboards-that-meet-your-needs.aspx Mon, 13 May 2013 11:45:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/73-percent-of-the-fortune-500-are-doing-it-are-you.aspx Currently, more than 3,000 companies, including 366 of the Fortune 500, disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project). Although reporting is voluntary, there are business rewards for companies that integrate climate change risks and opportunities into their strategy. The CDP evaluates corporations on their climate change risks, opportunities, impacts, associated business strategies and performance. Not only does reporting assist companies in responding to growing stakeholder expectations (shareholders, current and future customers, supply chain partners, etc.), it also gives companies an opportunity to view risks and opportunities for future business strategies through a carbon lens. REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT While no federal legislative framework has been created for regulating GHG emissions, in 2011 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began regulating GHGs using the authority of the Clean Air Act . As of now, this nationwide program targets only the largest single-source emitters. Similarly, at the regional level, programs like California’s cap and trade system are also regulating only the largest emitters. So the bulk of U.S. companies today that are reporting to CDP have no regulatory mandate to report. Instead, most reporters choose to do so voluntarily . WHY REPORT TO CDP? Prior to 2010, companies earned a ‘disclosure score’ from CDP based mainly on the quality and completeness of their disclosure. Now, CDP also has a ‘performance score’ that ranks the actions of companies to integrate climate change risks and opportunities into their business strategy, including the development of specific emission reduction targets. This information is used by a mix of stakeholders as an indicator of corporate management strength and vitality, including investors, industry peers, reporting agencies such as Bloomberg and Google Financial, and Newsweek’s annual Green Rankings report. Responding to the CDP questionnaire is very much a collaborative effort within an organization that typically involves cross-departmental team members from the energy, sustainability, marketing and legal teams. The teams are responsible for providing qualitative responses to a variety of questions alongside their emissions inventory and performance.  There are many reasons to participate in CDP reporting, including: Fulfilling increasing disclosure requests from investors and financial analysts. In 2013 more than 722 institutional investors representing over US$87 trillion in assets supported CDP in engaging with companies to disclose and manage climate change issues. These stakeholders view these data points as a valuable metric by which to evaluate the risk of investing in a given business. More often, CDP scores are reported to investors by Google Finance and Bloomberg, and businesses with the highest (best) scores are included in the new Carbon Performance Leadership Index . The  Ecova Blueprint™  whitepaper takes a deeper dive into investor expectations, click  here  to request the Blueprint toolkit. In a B2B (business to business) capacity, large and influential corporations are beginning to request, and in some cases require, their business partners and suppliers report carbon emissions associated with the goods and services they provide, which are in turn reported as part of the requesting corporation’s supply chain emissions. There is inherent brand value to showing your employees and customers your company is a leader by disclosing carbon as an integral part of your larger business strategy. In an age of Big Data and even bigger and growing transparency expectations, employees and consumers want to know they are engaging with a good corporate citizen.   Understanding your company’s emissions performance can assist companies in making better informed business decisions. If carbon is a growing corporate risk, understanding the carbon impacts of specific business strategies is critical to making the best-possible long-term investments.    If your company chooses to report your carbon emissions, you will be joining a forward-thinking group of businesses who are doing the same. Ecova’s Carbon Management team can help you get started with developing your inventory, forming CDP responses that best tell your organization’s story, and developing roadmaps toward a more efficient business strategy. Related content: Blog Post: Carbon Reporting and the CDP Webinar Recording: Carbon Reporting Infographic: The Ecova Blueprint Journey Video: Know Your Carbon http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/73-percent-of-the-fortune-500-are-doing-it-are-you.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/73-percent-of-the-fortune-500-are-doing-it-are-you.aspx Fri, 10 May 2013 22:44:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/boston-latest-to-require-building-energy-reporting.aspx In an effort to drive down energy consumption and promote sustainability, seven cities and two states have passed legislation that requires buildings of a certain size to report energy consumption via ENERGY STAR ® ’s web based reporting tool, Portfolio Manager. Some municipalities will even charge a fine if a company fails to report energy performance. With a 9-4 vote yesterday, Boston’s City Council approved the Mayor’s Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance, becoming the eighth city to require commercial buildings to annually report energy consumption. According to today’s article in Energy Manager Today , “As a component of the City’s Climate Action Plan to meet Mayor Menino’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, the ordinance will encourage building owners to participate in Renew Boston and local utility energy efficiency programs including a variety of incentives and rebates, and educate tenants on building performance.” The regulation will go into effect in 2014 for commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet, with the building size shrinking to 35,000 square feet by 2016. This reduction in building size is in-line with what we’re seeing in the other regulatory areas. REQUIREMENTS WILL GROW AND BUILDING SIZE WILL SHRINK Looking to the future, we foresee that energy consumption reporting and audits will become standard regulations in more cities across the US and at the state level. For example, several cities such as Cambridge, Chicago, Boulder, and Santa Monica have policy interest in or are considering similar regulatory requirements. A number of states, including Oregon, Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and Vermont are also proposing legislature to require reporting. Not only will the cities and states where reporting is required grow in number, but the building size required for reporting will continue to get smaller. As an example, this year Washington, D.C. brought its minimum building size down to 100,000 sq ft from 150,000 sq ft for annual energy reporting. Next year that will reduce to 50,000 sq ft. Minneapolis passed regulations this year requiring buildings of 100,000 sq ft or greater to report beginning in May of 2014. In 2015, the building size will reduce to 50,000 sq ft. Ecova recently held a Regulatory Reporting Webinar, which you can watch online below. If you’d like additional information on how Ecova can help you manage these increasingly complex regulatory reporting requirements, contact your Ecova client manager or click here to fill out a contact us form. Energy efficiency is Ecova’s core competency! We work every day to help companies improve their environmental footprint while also increasing their bottom line. Related content: Solution Spotlight: ENERGY STAR Blog Post: ENERGY STAR Reporting - What it Means for your Company Blog Post: ENERGY STAR Reporting Required? http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/boston-latest-to-require-building-energy-reporting.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/boston-latest-to-require-building-energy-reporting.aspx Thu, 09 May 2013 11:22:00 Ben Taylor - Energy Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/energy-managers-your-swiss-army-knives-of-saving-money.aspx What’s all the buzz with energy management and why should we care? In the not-too-distant past, energy was simply considered a ‘cost of doing business’―another expense. Business is driven by profit, and profit is driven by revenue vs. expenses. So, improving the bottom line means increasing the gap between revenue and expense. Are you still with me? Good. Energy management is all about evolving our perception of energy from a ‘cost of doing business’ to a controllable expense. If you reduce expenses, profit increases and everybody wins. A wonderful light bulb moment is the realization that a $2 million reduction in energy costs goes directly to the bottom line, whereas sales revenue would have to be increased by much more than that to have the same effect. Sounds great in theory, but we still need to get from recognizing energy as a controllable expense to taking action to reduce energy spend. Cue superhero music Out of this desire to cut energy expenses, the energy manager was born. Combining knowledge of the energy industry with technical expertise and good business sense, energy managers guide companies down a path to achieve their energy goals. They are your ‘Swiss Army Knives of Saving Money.’ Time out. Pause superhero music. It’s not all glory, and it’s no small task. The path to success is very different from company to company. The energy manager must have a keen understanding of the specific industry challenges the company faces, as well as the ability to tailor an energy program that easily integrates with the company’s culture. Energy managers begin with an assessment to understand the business and identify opportunities. For example, irrigation may be the biggest concern to a golf course wanting to reduce expenses while keeping the fairway beautifully green for an upcoming tournament. Electricity may be the primary focus at an auto shop where the energy users are power tools, air compressors, and lights. Retailers want to keep customers comfortable and happy. How old are the facilities? What is the weather like at each location? What equipment works? What doesn’t? Is there an energy team? Energy programs can vary dramatically and are based upon a thorough understanding of the unique challenges the company faces. The good news―facing these challenges is where energy managers thrive. An energy manager carries a large tool belt and is expertly equipped to assess, implement, evaluate, and correct the course to make energy savings goals a reality.  Stay tuned for more posts on the role of the energy manger and how this important role can add value to your business. In the meantime, learn more about the work of Ecova's energy managers . Related content: Upcoming Webinar: Why Every Company Needs a Corporate Energy Manager Solution: Program Implementation Services Video: Facility Optimization http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/energy-managers-your-swiss-army-knives-of-saving-money.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/energy-managers-your-swiss-army-knives-of-saving-money.aspx Tue, 07 May 2013 09:01:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corp. Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/lets-hit-the-green-button.aspx Today is a really exciting day for us at Ecova. In collaboration with the White House and San Diego Gas & Electric , we’ve joined the Green Button initiative! Green Button has the potential to truly transform the energy efficiency industry. While we are in the early stages of this initiative, we are already looking forward to working with both our commercial and utility clients to investigate how Green Button can help them. One way that we already know about is through bringing Green Button data to our products like the Meter Dashboard. You can read more about today’s news here . Related content: Product: Meter Dashboard Video: Facility Optimization Blog Post: Interval Data from Electric Meters - Every 15 Minutes Baby! Webinar Recording: Continuous Monitoring & Management http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/lets-hit-the-green-button.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/may/lets-hit-the-green-button.aspx Thu, 02 May 2013 09:40:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/carbon-reporting-and-the-cdp.aspx I recently had the privilege of co-presenting a webinar with Max Weiss from CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) titled, ‘ Carbon Reporting: The Benefits of Carbon Accounting & Disclosure .’   As a nonprofit organization backed by signatory investors holding in excess of $85 trillion dollars, CDP leverages the weight of its financial backers to create that ‘secret ingredient’ necessary for the effective functioning of markets―transparency. By asking major corporations around the world to disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation plans, CDP is changing the way the corporate world understands and takes action on climate change. Far from being a niche player or interest group, the responses and scores generated by CDP’s processes are becoming commonplace metrics used in investment evaluations―so much so that CDP scores can be found on Bloomberg ‘terminals’   and Google Finance . As a company that understands the importance of data management and reporting, Ecova could not appreciate the efforts of CDP more. As a CDP accredited Carbon Accounting Partner , we work diligently to help our clients not only account for, but cost effectively and strategically mitigate operational impact. Why? Because it makes business sense in a world where climate change is real , resource scarcity threatens energy, raw material and supply chain stability , and consumers are asking for products and services that do not erode social or environmental capital. We are excited to learn that CDP is not limiting its influence to climate change. Over the past few years, CDP has expanded its focus to include water, forests, supply chains, and cities and public procurement. More data and transparency will inevitably lead to better business actions. Thank you CDP for being what the world needs― a global leader in carbon disclosure and reduction strategies. If you missed our Carbon Reporting webinar , you can watch it online below. If you’d like additional information on how we can help you with carbon accounting, contact your Ecova client manager or visit our carbon management  page. We also encourage you to learn more about the Ecova Blueprint™ your guide to developing a proactive, strategic and actionable Total Energy & Sustainability Management (TESM) plan. Related content: Blog Post: CDP Investors Increase 10 Percent This Year Press Release: Ecova Earns 2013 Accreditation from Carbon Disclosure Project to Help Companies Calculate Carbon Data Blog Post: Guiding Principles for Carbon Disclosure http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/carbon-reporting-and-the-cdp.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/carbon-reporting-and-the-cdp.aspx Tue, 30 April 2013 09:52:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/energy-star-reporting-what-it-means-for-your-company.aspx In an effort to drive down energy consumption and promote sustainability, two states (California and Washington) and seven cities (New York City, Austin, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and San Francisco) have passed legislation that requires buildings of a certain size to  report energy consumption  via ENERGY STAR’s web-based reporting tool,  Portfolio Manager . Some municipalities will even charge a fine if a company fails to report energy performance. Ecova recently hosted a  webinar  to discuss the new ENERGY STAR legislation, the importance of it, and steps you can take to comply. TWO KEY QUESTIONS ASKED DURING THE WEBINAR:   1.) “Are reporting requirements the obligation of property owners, or tenants (as far as the jurisdictions are concerned)?” The requirement by the jurisdictions is that the building owners are responsible for providing the energy consumption information. In the seven cities currently requiring this, reporting is required annually; for the two states requiring ENERGY STAR reporting, it is required only at the point of sale. 2.) “Any insight regarding how the government entities will use the reported data?” We anticipate that the municipalities will use the data as a benchmark and then a year-over-year comparison with the end goal of sharing the information, and any energy reduction progress, with their communities. Requiring energy consumption reporting could encourage companies to implement energy efficiency projects, which could create jobs within their local communities. REQUIREMENTS WILL GROW AND BUILDING SIZE WILL SHRINK Looking to the future, we foresee that energy consumption reporting and audits will become standard regulations in more large cities across the US and at the state level. For example, several cities such as Boston, Cambridge, Chicago, Boulder, and Santa Monica have policy interest or consideration in similar regulatory requirements. A number of states, including Oregon, Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, Tennessee, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and Vermont are also proposing legislature to require ENERGY STAR reporting. Not only will the cities and states where reporting is required grow in number, but the building size required for reporting will continue to get smaller. As an example, this year Washington, D.C., brought its minimum building size down to 100,000 sq. ft. from 150,000 sq. ft. for annual energy reporting. Next year that size will shrink to 50,000 sq. ft. Minneapolis has just passed regulations this year, requiring buildings of 100,000 sq. ft. or greater to report beginning in May of next year. In 2015, the building size will shrink to 50,000 sq. ft. Energy efficiency is a core component of Ecova’s  vision ; our team's mission is to help companies improve their environmental footprint while also increasing their bottom line. I’m happy to speak with clients about this directly and would welcome discussion. Related content: Blog Post: ENERGY STAR Reporting Required? Blog Post: Why an ENERGY STAR Rating Matters Webinar: ENERGY STAR Regulatory Compliance http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/energy-star-reporting-what-it-means-for-your-company.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/energy-star-reporting-what-it-means-for-your-company.aspx Thu, 25 April 2013 09:48:00 Patrick Everitt - Manager - Business Analysis at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/energy-star-reporting-required.aspx Did you know that if you operate or own commercial buildings in certain parts of the country you are now or may be soon required to track your building’s energy performance through the EPA’s ENERGY STAR ® program?    In an effort to drive down energy consumption and promote sustainability, many cities, counties and states have passed legislation that requires buildings of a certain size and ownership type to report utility consumption via ENERGY STAR’s web-based reporting tool, Portfolio Manager. Some municipalities will even charge a fine if a company fails to report energy performance. WHAT'S COMING AND WHERE IS REPORTING REQUIRED? Many municipalities are passing legislation that mandates ENERGY STAR benchmarking and reporting. New York City was the first to require participation in ENERGY STAR reporting; since then, we’ve seen a significant increase in requirements by other major cities. Seattle, Austin, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia now require, or will shortly require ENERGY STAR benchmarking and reporting. Several of these cities necessitate reporting for commercial buildings that are larger than a certain size, and each year the building size required to report decreases. Visit ENERGY STAR for a complete listing of all federal, state, and local governments requiring the use of ENERGY STAR tools. WHY IS ENERGY STAR REPORTING BENEFICIAL? ENERGY STAR reporting provides an opportunity to benchmark your buildings, which brings visibility into how your sites are performing, a great first step in targeting those sites that should be reviewed further and potentially designated for efficiency improvement or best practice recommendations. Just like comparing your sites against other sites in your portfolio is beneficial, so is comparing your sites against your peers. Reporting will allow you to see how your buildings are performing relative to similar building types by industry, and will give you a good idea where to focus your energy efficiency efforts. And, ENERGY STAR designations can help you improve your brand and reputation with the 72% percent of consumers who are looking for sustainability-minded companies . WHAT IF I BENCHMARK MY BUILDSINGS VIA ENERGY STAR AND THEY DON'T RECEIVE A FAVORABLE SCORE? If your buildings don’t receive an ENERGY STAR score greater than 75, there are a number of things you can do to improve energy efficiency. And the good news is you’ve already completed the first step in knowing where to focus your efforts – on those buildings with the lowest scores. If you are located in one of the areas in the map above, or if you are responsible for buildings located in the areas above, it’s time to start thinking about reporting your energy usage in order to fulfill requirements and avoid potential fees. An ENERGY STAR partner since 2005, Ecova benchmarks over 25,000 buildings a month in Portfolio Manager and has been recognized by the EPA for nine consecutive years—twice as Partner of the Year and now a seventh time for Sustained Excellence. Our team of Professional Engineers can work with you to improve the efficiency of your buildings and help with the labeling process. For additional information on those states leveraging ENERGY STAR tools and resources, visit: Minneapolis New York Austin San Francisco Seattle Philadelphia Washington D.C.   Related content: Article: Get the Most from Utility Rebates & Incentives Blog Post: Why an ENERGY STAR Rating Matters Webinar: ENERGY STAR Regulatory Compliance http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/energy-star-reporting-required.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/energy-star-reporting-required.aspx Tue, 23 April 2013 12:00:00 Virginia Ulrich - Senior Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/drive-utility-customer-engagement-and-better-savings-through-sem.aspx If you’ve attended any of the national conferences the past few years, you’ve likely seen the sessions on strategic energy management, continuous energy improvement, integrated energy management, energy management and information systems, and whole building performance. Well, forget everything you’ve heard―from buzz words, to nomenclature, to definitions. Instead, think about the experiences of your large commercial and industrial utility customers. Think about their satisfaction, but also think about how you engage with them and how they engage with you. Think about how much their experience matters to the success of their organization and, ultimately, to yours. Work back from their perspective and you will get to the essence of strategic energy management. Utilities have historically engaged with customers in the most fundamental way―transactionally. Customers use a service, utilities issue a bill, and customers pay it. In the past decade, however, the dynamic between customers and service providers has changed dramatically across all industries; customers demand greater control of the experience, and satisfaction is central to their purchase decisions. Through this behavior shift, we have learned that we have to prioritize customer experience above other motivators in order to drive adoption of energy efficiency programs. It is almost by necessity that we have learned to teach customers that the cost of their energy is in part within their control. It’s not surprising, then, that we are seeing increased focus on utility programs designed around the behavior and practices of the individuals who impact energy use. In the first paragraph, I mentioned a list of utility program concepts. The commonality between each item in that list―whether it’s been executed successfully in our industry or not―is behavior change. For simplicity sake, we call the overarching utility program design strategic energy management, or SEM. As a utility program design, SEM is a management system approach based on continuous improvement where top management: Establishes and communicates long range energy reduction performance targets Ensures there is a plan and resources (monetary and staff) available to achieve those targets Requires regular reporting of progress toward achieving those targets                                                          The term ‘strategic’ helps to differentiate this utility program design from the energy management many commercial and industrial customers, rightfully, say they have been doing for 30 years. While it’s true that customers have been managing their energy use for 30 years, SEM is really more about persistent energy savings over time―with most utility customers realizing energy intensity reductions of 2-5% annually from low-cost and no-cost behavior and process change solutions alone, and some realizing as much at 10-15% by the end of the second year of SEM implementation. SEM moves utility customers from a project-by-project approach to energy efficiency to thinking more strategically and longer-term. This means having a steady pipeline of energy savings opportunity, and effectively engaging their entire employee population to drive even deeper efficiency. SEM allows customers to become industry leaders, develop a unique competitive advantage, and grow the skill sets of their employees. SEM allows utilities and those working on their behalf to become the customer’s trusted advisor. The utility/customer relationship becomes that much stronger as they proactively fill their project pipelines and publish their energy efficiency successes. As our industry explores the pros and cons of linking energy efficiency with customer experiences and satisfaction, SEM can get us there faster. SEM provides a unique way to engage with utility customers, fundamentally changing a historically transactional relationship to a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership.   LEARN MORE Ecova is the industry leader in developing and implementing SEM. Since 2005, when we partnered with Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) to develop and pilot one of the first SEM programs in the United States, we have been able to find real energy savings for many clients and commercial and industrial customers through strategic energy management. Want to know more about Ecova's utility program solutions ? Contact us today ! Related content: Video: Utility Program Solutions Data Sheet: Utility Solutions Whitepaper: Methodology for Assessing Energy Efficient Products and Utility Program Design http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/drive-utility-customer-engagement-and-better-savings-through-sem.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/drive-utility-customer-engagement-and-better-savings-through-sem.aspx Thu, 11 April 2013 09:44:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/breaking-down-the-complexity-of-energy-sustainability-management.aspx I recently co-presented a webinar titled, The Ecova Blueprint: Breaking Down the Complexity of Energy & Sustainability Management  with Indigo Teiwes, Senior Manager of Strategic Planning Services , on Ecova’s newly-released Ecova Blueprint. The Blueprint helps clients develop a total energy and sustainability program that performs. It is one thing to have a program that looks good on paper; it is another thing to develop a program that drives real business value that minimizes current and future risk, as well as maximizes operational and product opportunities in a changing business landscape. During the webinar, we discussed two of the main challenges that many organizations face when developing a sustainability program―vaguely articulated value propositions and complexity in putting it all together. Executives are hard-wired to maximize organizational upsides while minimizing risk. Energy and sustainability management, often commonly understood as something companies should be doing, often lacks rigor when it comes to quantifying the organizational opportunity and risk that accompanies it. Unless companies take the time to define the opportunity and risk for their specific industry and business, it is unlikely to attract the leadership focus necessary to develop, launch, and sustain an impactful program. A strategic program is cross functional and based in continual improvement processes―both of which can instill a certain level of trepidation for many managers today. Ecova developed the Blueprint to help clients address these core challenges. The Blueprint was developed from years of experience working with many diverse clients where we learned what is and is not working. The Blueprint addresses both the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of energy and sustainability management. You can learn more about the Blueprint by watching this video or you can watch the webinar below. In future blog posts, I’ll dive deeper into Blueprint details and how this important framework can benefit your company. In the meantime, Ecova’s Sustainability team is available to answer your questions and help get your energy and sustainability program off the ground. Related content: Blog Post: The Ecova Blueprint Video: The Ecova Blueprint Press Release: Ecova Announces the Ecova Blueprint http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/breaking-down-the-complexity-of-energy-sustainability-management.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/breaking-down-the-complexity-of-energy-sustainability-management.aspx Tue, 16 April 2013 11:35:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/three-key-benefits-of-continuously-monitoring-your-building-systems.aspx Ecova recently hosted a webinar on Continuous Monitoring Solutions . Continuous Monitoring helps clients manage energy consumption and maintain optimal performance by ensuring that critical building systems, such as HVAC, lighting and building controls, function properly. Three themes discussed during the webinar deserve additional discussion: Continuous Monitoring can save clients money (and that's just the beginning!)   Transparency into monitoring performance provides an extra level of service   System monitoring is not just an ‘energy play,’ there are benefits to equipment lifecycles as well 1. CONTINUOUS MONITORING SAVES CLIENTS MONEY Managing a portfolio of sites can be a challenging task. Ecova’s Continuous Monitoring services, which include both Responsive Monitoring and Proactive Monitoring, are designed to save our clients money, in both energy and maintenance. By focusing on the following, Ecova can reduce energy expenses for our clients and also help avoid maintenance and operational costs: Reduction in the need for additional staff Resolution of site alarms and issues Efficient management of portfolio wide Energy Management System (EMS) settings Minimization of costly service calls, including call-backs and unnecessary calls Identification of inefficiently operating HVAC systems Attention to issues before they become emergency equipment failures   2. TRANSPARENCY INTO PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE Ecova has a 24/7/365, fully staffed Operations Control Center (OCC) based in Atlanta, Georgia. Within the OCC, there is a systematic, proven process to triage and prioritize alarms, queue up phone calls and emails, and manage the issues against specific business rules and Service Level Agreement (SLA) response times. For example, when a work ticket is generated and a technician is engaged, the specific SLA terms for the issue needing to be addressed accompanies the work ticket. The technicians know exactly what the client is expecting of them from the moment they begin working. One of the most valuable aspects of Ecova’s Continuous Monitoring services is that the client has dashboard visibility into Ecova’s performance against those SLAs. With this level of transparency, the client can see if Ecova is meeting the resolution requirements for Urgent, Immediate and Critical issues. This is a simple measure of the service we provide to clients. 3. IT'S NOT JUST AN ENERGY PLAY! Ecova continuously collects data from each client’s portfolio of sites into its data warehouse. The data collected from EMS systems, alarms and on-site requests allows us to control various systems thus managing energy consumption. In addition to managing energy consumption, the data offers valuable insight into equipment health. The client’s energy management system is the enabling technology for acquisition of equipment and energy data. This data is the foundation for analyses that help facility managers understand what is happening at each of their numerous sites within their portfolio. For example, using equipment data, we are able to verify that HVAC set points and business rules around lighting schedules are being followed. In addition, we can draw conclusions around the health of equipment by identifying outliers based on energy usage, or by measuring open/close or on/off settings of equipment. This analysis helps clients extend the life of equipment or identify problems before they become larger maintenance issues. I encourage you to take a half hour watch our recent webinar below, as it will help you better understand how we save clients money and provide an unparalleled level of service. Related content: Blog Post: Maximize the ROI of Your Energy Management Systems Solution: Continuous Monitoring & Management Video: Facility Optimization http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/three-key-benefits-of-continuously-monitoring-your-building-systems.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/three-key-benefits-of-continuously-monitoring-your-building-systems.aspx Thu, 18 April 2013 11:33:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/maximize-the-roi-of-your-energy-management-systems.aspx One of the primary objectives of an Energy Management Systems (EMS) is to reduce costs through improved operational and energy efficiency. An EMS is particularly beneficial for large, multi-site companies. Once your organization has installed an EMS, it is important to ensure that the system is managed to maximize your company’s return on investment (ROI). There are a number of challenges in maintaining the value of an EMS―each greatly impacts system performance and bottom-line savings: System Overrides Lack of Documented Standards/Enforcement Sensor Location Nuisance Alarms Improper Maintenance While implementing an EMS is a crucial piece of a larger energy management strategy, there are certain best practices that must be followed to maintain and operate these systems over time, as well as to overcome the above challenges to achieve a strong ROI. Ecova recently published a white paper on the Best Practices for Maximizing ROI of Energy Management Systems . The white paper shares recommendations for the optimization of EMS performance and proven suggestions that extend its overall life and value to your organization. It addresses the most common reasons for EMS system failure and makes recommendations for the resolution of these issues through a properly executed System Management Program. You can download the Best Practices Guide here. Related content: Blog Post: Energy Management Systems Best Practices Blog Post: Interval Data from Electric Meters - Every 15 Minutes Baby! Data Sheet: Meter Dashboard Video: Facility Optimization http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/maximize-the-roi-of-your-energy-management-systems.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/maximize-the-roi-of-your-energy-management-systems.aspx Wed, 10 April 2013 13:03:00 Don Hobbs Dir of Prod Mgmt - Telecom Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/wireless-policy-first,-technology-second.aspx Last week I hosted a webinar entitled ‘ Wireless Policy First, Technology Second. ’ The webinar focused on the importance of establishing a corporate policy before launching a wireless program and key elements to include in your policy. Establishing a corporate policy begins with defining business objectives. Unfortunately, mobile environments are relatively incompatible with the highly structured world that other IT services operate in. Mobility is diverse, personalized, and dynamic, while ‘fixed’ IT tends to be uniform, localized, and controllable. Reconciling the differences between the two is an initial challenge when developing a wireless policy. Given the increasing complexity of mobile environments (e.g., multiple devices, platforms, vendors) and its rapid expansion in the corporate environment, a company must first determine how a policy will serve its objectives. During the webinar, we looked at several key objectives including cost control, productivity, user/culture satisfaction, data protection, and liability. In addition, the webinar explored best practices when designing a wireless policy. As a general rule, a policy should be user-friendly (easy to understand), communicated broadly to all employees, as well as supported by executive management. And any good policy needs to be enforced if it is to succeed! Other important elements to consider include who gets a device, what platforms will (or will not) be supported, acceptable use for the device, security issues, and procurement and end-of-life procedures for the phones. If you need or are considering an update to your corporate wireless policy, I encourage you to watch this important webinar below, as it provides the underlying groundwork to creating a policy that works for your company. Related content: Webinar: Wireless Policy First, Technology Second Video: Telecom Lifecycle Management   Solution: Wireless TeleManagement http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/wireless-policy-first,-technology-second.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/wireless-policy-first,-technology-second.aspx Mon, 08 April 2013 11:18:00 Shannon Scheiwiller - Sr. Director - Marketing Operations at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/ecova-congratulates-progressive-retailers.aspx Congratulations to our clients and the many other companies who were recognized for their commitment to sustainability and were honored with a 2013 ENERGY STAR ® Sustained Excellence Award. A recent article published by Green Retail Decisions highlights Kohl’s, Lowes, Delhaize America, Sears Holdings, J.C. Penney, and Staples and summarizes their significant efforts to earn this prestigious honor. These progressive companies were selected from nearly 20,000 organizations as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recognition process for outstanding leadership in energy efficiency. These retailers have demonstrated significant accomplishments to achieve ENERGY STAR building certification, in addition to implementing a variety of innovative steps to minimize overall energy usage. Read more about what each of these retailers have done to earn the award, including undertaking a variety of energy efficiency programs, facility improvements and employee programs. Ecova partners with 24% of North America’s multi-site retailers to manage and improve energy efficiency. Read more about Ecova’s work with Staples  and other retailers  in support of this important strategic objective. Related content: Case Study: Staples Blog Post: Why an ENERGY STAR Rating Matters Blog Post: Staples Guest Blogger Talks ENERGY STAR and More http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/ecova-congratulates-progressive-retailers.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/ecova-congratulates-progressive-retailers.aspx Wed, 03 April 2013 10:02:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/to-voip-or-not-to-voip-that-is-the-question.aspx For many of us, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has become so much a part of our daily lives that we don’t even give it a second thought. However, for others, it’s still somewhat of a questionable service. While not all VoIP implementations and services are alike, the basic technology is ‘solid as a rock’ and in many ways, less susceptible to network problems than more traditional Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) . This blog post will dispel some of the VoIP myths and offer guidance to help minimize potential pitfalls. There are two basic types of VoIP services―Premise based and Network or Cloud based, just as there have been since the days of analog lines. For over 35 years, virtually all Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems utilized digital switching as their core fabric, which pre-1990 was exclusively TDM, however, today it's mostly VoIP. Given that most of our daily phone calls use VoIP technology, we can dispel two myths about the system upfront:   VoIP is a very reliable technology VoIP is capable of delivering true toll quality voice (assuming it is properly configured)   MORE VOIP MYTHS Computer crashes are a normal annoyance of modern life that we learn to live with; however, a telephone crash is unacceptable. Based on this fact you could say that telephone systems tend to be more reliable than computers, right? Wrong! All telephone switches for the past 40 plus years have been controlled by a computer, which dispels another myth that computers are not as reliable as telephone systems. Telephone systems (TDM or VoIP) are highly reliable as long as they use a reliable operating system, such as UNIX. Another myth is that TDM calls are less likely to drop than those running VoIP. Since TDM utilizes circuit switching, any failure within the transmission path will cause the call to fail. VoIP on the other hand, utilizes Packet Switching so a failure on the transmission path will only result in the loss of some packets (which may go unnoticed).   Hosted services are not as reliable as having your own PBX. The choice of Premise or Network based services is strictly a financial and support decision having little to do with reliability. If you have a distributed workforce, a Cloud based solution might be your best choice. If the majority of your employees are located in a few main locations or campuses, you might want to consider your own system(s).   VOIP KEY POINTS So now that we have covered a few of the most common myths, here are a few key points to ensure a positive VoIP experience. Regardless of whether your deployment model is Premise or Network based, you need to do your homework, as there are huge differences between offerings and the wrong choice can be very expensive, potentially leading to significant quality or integration issues. Be sure to properly engineer your environment for system redundancy and sufficient connectivity (with failover) to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and your internal data network. If voice quality and the ability to complete fax and/or modem calls are a big concern, you should not consider anything other than G.711 encoding , which is the same used for most TDM transmissions. Going to a lower bit rate will require less bandwidth. Make sure your cabling infrastructure, Local Area Network (LAN) and  Wide Area NetworK (WAN)  can handle the extra load and support Quality of Service (QOS) , as VoIP can really put your network to the test. The best way to know is to have your network certified by a qualified network engineer. Invest in some VoIP troubleshooting and network performance tools or at the very least acquire some of the free shareware offerings so you can keep track of call quality and spot potential problems before they have significant impact. Ecova's Telecom Lifecycle Management team is available to answer your questions and help you create best practices to manage your telecom network. Related content: Webinar: Your Network Has a Voice Internet Protocol: It’s a Game Changer in Telecommunications !   Solution: Telecom Lifecycle Management http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/to-voip-or-not-to-voip-that-is-the-question.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/to-voip-or-not-to-voip-that-is-the-question.aspx Fri, 05 April 2013 13:21:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/the-x-factor-the-fine-art-of-negotiating-telecom-contracts.aspx While many organizations have internal resources that understand the nuances of procurement and contract negotiation, looking outside of the organization for assistance has many benefits. Successful telecom sourcing and negotiations require expertise and specialized knowledge in the following areas:   TELECOM TECHNOLOGY You need to understand exactly what you are shopping for, potential alternatives and options, and which providers have the best offerings for your particular needs.   PRICE BENCHMARKS AND TRENDS Knowing the ‘going rate’ is not enough, you have to understand where a technology falls within its lifecycle, as pricing can quickly erode as the product matures. Being unfamiliar with these types of issues could result in a long-term agreement with out-of-market rates.   TELECOM CARRIER CONTRACTS Most telecom contracts, particularly from larger providers, are comprised of multiple documents that make reference to service guides and tariffs which can change numerous times within the term of the agreement, all the while binding you to those changes. Furthermore, these agreements can be very onerous, putting all the liability on the customer. It is critical to understand how these agreements are structured, how to limit your liability, and how flexible a provider might be in agreeing to any change requests. While the above areas are critical in any contract negotiation, the best reason of all to bring in a qualified independent consultant is what I refer to as the ‘X Factor.’ Understanding the fine art of contract negotiation is their strength; it’s what they do all day. Organizations that try to negotiate directly with a telecom provider may find themselves at a disadvantage, particularly if the relationship with the provider has been long-term. Using a third party to represent your interests can eliminate the provider’s advantage, resulting in better pricing and business terms. The X Factor also allows the consultant to work with individual telecom bidders on specific areas of the offer that need improvement to win your business. Ecova's Telecom Lifecycle Management team is available to answer questions about telecom contract negotiation and procurement.   Related content: Blog Post: Telecom Reverse Auctions and Your Procurement Tool Box Blog Post: Telecom Sourcing―Negotiating Costs & So Much More!   Solution: Strategic Sourcing & Contracts http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/the-x-factor-the-fine-art-of-negotiating-telecom-contracts.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/april/the-x-factor-the-fine-art-of-negotiating-telecom-contracts.aspx Mon, 01 April 2013 09:36:00 Micheal Albert - Sr. Business Solutions Engineer at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/the-benefits-of-waste-management.aspx Ecova recently hosted a webinar to discuss our unique approach to managing waste and how it benefits clients. More and more of our clients are asking us to assist them with waste management , as it can be complicated and is typically a forgotten expense. We’ve been extremely successful decreasing waste-related costs and increasing recycling rates for our clients, and are excited to help more clients gain benefits in this area.   A UNIQUE APPROACH TO WASTE MANAGEMENT Ecova is not a broker or a hauler―we are your partner in ensuring you pay the lowest rates and retain savings over time, while increasing landfill diversion rates. Our Waste Management Solution includes invoice paying and monthly auditing to contracted rates. We supply clients with a 24/7 help desk and reporting, while helping clients achieve lower rates through procurement, monthly optimization, and zero-waste consulting.  Are our waste solutions effective? You bet―clients are seeing 15-25% savings from procurement and savings up to 20% from monthly optimization. Additionally, our team of experts helps achieve greater diversion rates through recycling, organics, and waste prevention.   TWO KEY QUESTIONS ASKED DURING THE WEBINAR “Our contracting process was decentralized and we have no idea what contracts are out there. How can you help?”    When onboarding new waste clients we go through a comprehensive data gathering exercise. Our team works with local haulers servicing each client location. We verify and capture container sizes, frequencies, and contracts.  “How do you get paid―is it shared savings?”   Ecova prefers a pay-for-service model, as we look forward to long-term partnerships. You can read about our Alaska Airlines partnership in our recent case study . We reduced Alaska Airline’s waste expense by over 73%! We prefer to have our clients retain the lion’s share of savings, and we’re thrilled to be a part of win-win success stories. If you missed our Waste Management webinar , you can watch it online below. If you’d like additional information on how we can help you better manage your waste, contact your Ecova client manager or visit our waste management  page.  Sustainability is a core component of Ecova’s vision and it is rewarding to help companies improve their environmental footprint while also increasing their bottom line. I’m always happy to speak with clients directly and I hope we talk soon.   Related content: Solution: Waste Management Solution Webinar: Waste Management Case Study: Alaska Airlines http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/the-benefits-of-waste-management.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/the-benefits-of-waste-management.aspx Fri, 29 March 2013 11:37:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/show-me-the-green.aspx A recent article on GreenBiz.com indicated that the 20,000 ENERGY STAR ® -certified buildings in the United States save “$2.7 billion in annual utility bills and prevent more than 2 million homes' worth of greenhouse gas emissions.” I’m going to point out the obvious here (because it makes me feel smart) and say that not only does becoming more energy efficient save companies LOTS of money, but it reduces harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Becoming more energy efficient is really just a smart thing to do.   GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR…YOUR ENERGY CONSUMPTION How can you gain these kinds of financial and environmental benefits? In addition to ENERGY STAR certification, many cities, counties and states have passed legislation that requires buildings of a certain size and ownership type to report utility consumption; many are even charging a fine if a company fails to report energy performance . There are vendors, including Ecova, who can help you keep up and get started with certification and tracking these kinds of requirements. In fact, Ecova benchmarks thousands of buildings through ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager each month, and is ranked in the top three companies that provide ENERGY STAR labeling services. We also want to congratulate and say hats off to Los Angeles, which ranked first , for the fifth time in a row, as the U.S. city with the most ENERGY STAR-labeled buildings. Washington D.C., Chicago and New York followed behind. Regulations like these are a great step in the direction toward energy efficiency and sustainability. Nice job, Angelinos! I was recently part of a sustainability and business panel at a local university where students in the school of business posed a number of questions surrounding business and sustainability challenges. One question that stumped me was “Will we be sustainable in my lifetime?” What a terrific question―and just the fact that young students are asking this question is a move toward that sustainability. While I don’t know the answer to her question, I do think that regulations like mandatory reporting, energy efficiency benchmarking, and projects by multi-site companies and services that Ecova provides are all means of getting us there. Related blog posts: Why Should I Care About ENERGY STAR Labeling? Interval Data from Electric Meters - Every 15 Minutes Baby! Energy Management Systems Best Practices http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/show-me-the-green.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/show-me-the-green.aspx Tue, 26 March 2013 10:17:00 Shelby Roberts - Program Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/kissing-a-llama.aspx To take advantage of Ecova’s Community Service Day benefit (a day off for employees to volunteer in their community), my colleague, Annie Collins and I joined forces this past February to raise money for Heifer International , whose mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. To do this, we participated in Miami University Hamilton Center for Civic Engagement’s ‘Kiss a Llama’ event! Staff and students at the university voted to have their favorite person ‘Kiss a Llama’ (it was actually an alpaca they kissed, but I won’t tell if you won’t). Their ‘votes’ were monetary donations to raise the $150 to donate a llama to a community in need. Dr. Theresa Kulbaga had the honor of being the lucky winner and certified alpaca kisser!   As the owner of two alpacas, I brought down our friendliest one (meaning the one that rarely spits), Blossom. With Annie’s help, I loaded Blossom into the family mini-van and made the 45-minute journey to the Hamilton Campus. Imagine the looks we got driving down the highway with an alpaca in the back seat! As you can imagine, an alpaca wandering around a college campus attracts a lot of attention, which worked to our advantage. We had plenty of volunteers who wanted to get in on the fun.  Even though Dr. Kulbaga was the actual winner, Blossom was very willing participant and gave out over 50 kisses to lucky students and faculty members. Blossom’s final kiss of the day was for a young man, who came running across the quad yelling, ‘Llama’―he couldn’t wait to get out of class to kiss a llama! All in all, it was a successful day―we raised enough money to donate a llama to a community in need, while providing stress relief for the Miami students and laughs to those passing by—not to mention all the great photo opps for hilarious online profile pictures! Related blog posts: Making an Impact Gardeners for a Day in Philly Ecova Does Good Deeds for Durango Trails http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/kissing-a-llama.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/kissing-a-llama.aspx Fri, 22 March 2013 13:32:00 Patrick Everitt - Manager - Business Analysis at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/why-should-i-care-about-energy-star-labeling.aspx According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , “Energy use in commercial buildings and manufacturing plants accounts for nearly half of all energy consumption in the U.S. at a cost of over $200 billion per year, more than any other sector of the economy.” Working toward ENERGY STAR ® labeling is a positive step in reducing energy consumption and cost, which will benefit your bottom line and the environment.   WHAT IS ENERGY STAR? ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) helping us save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices . According to the DOE, 18% of all the energy produced in the U.S. is used to cool, heat, light, or accomplish other functions within commercial buildings. ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager captures cost and consumption information from a building’s utility bills. Using this information, ENERGY STAR measures the performance of a building against the national average for similar building types and applies a rating from 0 to 100.    WHY DO THE RATINGS MATTER? Simply stated, a good score can provide a building’s owners with bragging rights via an ENERGY STAR label, which can result in motivating potential tenants to lease space in their building, or marketing a company’s ‘greenness’ and sense of corporate responsibility. If a site receives a rating of 75 or higher, that building is eligible to apply for an ENERGY STAR label . If an application is approved, the building will receive a decal with the ENERGY STAR logo that can be placed in a visible location. For companies receiving multiple labels or showing a significant energy reduction, they can also apply for one of ENERGY STAR’s recognition awards, including its top honor, Partner of the Year. One example of a company benefitting from labeling its buildings is Staples, Inc.  Ecova and Staples have worked together for nearly 15 years and in 2012, Staples was honored as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year . Ecova helps submit data from over 2,000 facilities directly into the ENERGY STAR program each month, helping Staples efficiently participate in the ENERGY STAR program.   HOW DO I START THE PROCESS FOR LABELING MY BUILDINGS? The process is started by reporting your building’s consumption data to ENERGY STAR via its Portfolio Manager application. This can be done by establishing a Portfolio Manager account at www.ENERGYSTAR.gov and uploading each of your individual sites, or having a Data Exchange Provider to do it on your behalf. Using a Data Exchange Provider, such as Ecova, can save you a considerable amount of time and eliminates the potential for manual errors. Ecova benchmarks over 25,000 sites in Portfolio Manager each month. The next step in certification, for those buildings scoring a 75 or higher from ENERGY STAR, is for a Professional Engineer (PE) to visit the site and verify that the attributes and consumption information are correct. An ENERGY STAR partner since 2005, Ecova has been recognized by the EPA  for nine consecutive years—twice as Partner of the Year and seven times for Sustained Excellence. Our team of Professional Engineers can work with you to improve the efficiency of your building and help with the labeling process. Related content: Blog Post: Why an ENERGY STAR Rating Matters Blog Post: Staples Guest Blogger Talks ENERGY STAR and More Solution: Intelligence & Benchmarking http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/why-should-i-care-about-energy-star-labeling.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/why-should-i-care-about-energy-star-labeling.aspx Tue, 19 March 2013 10:58:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/energy-management-systems-best-practices.aspx I recently hosted a webinar on continuous monitoring and management , which covered best practices around maximizing return on investment in Energy Management Systems (EMS). I was joined by our very knowledgeable client, Neal Sivie, Senior Manager of Energy Management Systems Design & Development with JC Penney . To start off the webinar, I gave a quick overview of the challenges that Energy and Facility Managers face, and provided some best practices to combat these challenges. Neal dove right into the core of the challenges facing multi-site companies: Numerous facilities with a multitude of equipment, a serious need for integration of operations and information systems, and typically a small energy management team. For example, JC Penney’s portfolio consists of 850 mixed-use facilities with an average infrastructure age of 26 years, approximately 80 million gross square feet of floor space, three call centers and 25 servers. Managing buildings and systems on this scale requires monitoring, policies and standardization. Below are best practices to consider when managing a large portfolio: 1. Monitor & Manage Human Interaction Monitor your systems so you know when they have been overridden and are not operating according to business rules.   2. Standardize Proper Alarm Management Actively monitor alarms, prioritize them to identify the critical versus the non-critical alarms and ensure a timely and effective response is performed when needed.   3. Minimize Access to Systems Establish proper levels of access by authorized, knowledgeable personnel.   4. Document Standard Configurations and Sequences of Operation Establish effective configuration standards for system sequences of operation. Include some level of ongoing system audit, whether it’s live or analytics, to ensure that configurations are maintained at their proper settings.     5. Pinpoint Sensor Location for Powerful Tracking Results Make certain that sensors are placed in optimal locations that truly reflect the conditions being controlled.     6. Implement Variance/Change Management Program Develop a check-list to ensure that EMS settings are returned to the proper standard configurations and implement the proper procedure to periodically review the check-list against current conditions.   7. Back-up Configuration and Program Files Implement a schedule of periodically backing-up the configuration and program files for the EMS at every site.   8. Re-Commission Energy Management Systems Evaluate the need for a re-commissioning program and implement a schedule of periodically re-commissioning the EMS throughout the entire portfolio.   Apply a System Monitoring Program System monitoring provides visibility to alerts and data from all types of systems to allow you to respond to equipment issues before they escalate into larger comfort issues or expensive maintenance or operational concerns. The best practices listed above are crucial to achieving optimal ROI on your EMS investment, as well as implementing a cost effective system monitoring program. There is still another level of enterprise integration that is the ultimate vision – whether you consider it an Enterprise Management System, cloud or integration. It all falls under the approach of bringing multiple systems, services and data into an 'overarching' platform that allows for fewer individuals to actively manage a multi-facility portfolio. Ecova provides the BEST best practices for maximizing EMS ROI. For additional information on Energy Management Systems, I encourage you to watch our webinar  recording below. Related content: Blog Post: Interval Data from Electric Meters - Every 15 Minutes Baby! Data Sheet: Meter Dashboard Infographic: Facility Optimization Video: Facility Optimization http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/energy-management-systems-best-practices.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/energy-management-systems-best-practices.aspx Mon, 18 March 2013 08:33:00 Jessica Frazier - Proposal Lead at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/fresh-breeze-pillar-awards-inspire-renewed-commitment-to-ecova-mission.aspx In many ways last year reminded me of the big winds I encounter sailing in the Columbia River Gorge east of Portland—winds that blow a solid 25 knots and are punctuated by even bigger, sustained gusts. Like any growing company, Ecova has faced some stiff headwinds and 2012 was a foundational year for us. It was a year in which we delivered industry-leading energy management services to hundreds of clients on both sides of the meter, while also developing new and innovative solutions to ensure we continue to meet those clients’ needs for years to come. That’s why the Pillar Awards, Ecova’s employee recognition program, felt like a much-needed opportunity to take a breather and gain a little perspective. It was a chance for all of us to share stories of the past year and our hopes for this year; a chance to meet colleagues only known through their email signature or the sound of their voice on the other end of a conference call; a chance to revel in a sense of connection and common purpose that is too easily lost in the day-to-day. Most importantly, it was a chance to recognize those members of our Ecova crew who serve as individual, daily examples of the Pillars on which our organization is founded. I feel incredibly lucky to be counted amongst the 12 finalists—particularly my Utility Solutions colleagues Virginia Ulrich, Dan Coté, Bill Rectanus and, Results Pillar Award Winner, Katy Cagle. Watching my story play out on a screen alongside those of the other finalists was a humbling and inspiring experience. In their stories, I was reminded of my enthusiasm for Ecova and its mission. I remembered how excited I felt when I first started at the Portland office as the receptionist—like the opportunity to make a world of difference was just waiting for me to take it. Those feelings came rushing back as I listened to the Ecova Executive Team explain the meaning of each Pillar—Client Focus, Results, Innovation and Unparalleled People—and to the words of my colleagues in the finalists’ videos. They ignited in me a renewed sense of commitment to our mission and to the positive impact we are poised to make in this world. So even though I didn’t ‘win’ my category in the end, I consider the experience my reward. The Pillar Awards gave me the new vantage point I needed and reminded me of why I felt so passionate about our mission and our people in the first place. Going forward, I may not have a shiny plaque on my desk, but I have the words of my friends and my peers, I have the memories of the problems we have solved and the clients we have served—time spent and goals accomplishedtogether. So when the waves get choppy and the wind starts blowing again—as it inevitably will—I’ll remember the feeling I got reading the nominations and watching those finalist videos. I’ll remember the sense of being buoyed by my colleagues’ passion, drive and commitment to one another, to our clients and to our mission. Armed with this inspiration I will steady my rocking boat, trim my sails and head straight for the finish.   Pictured above from left to right: Back row: Sue McVicker, Zach Bassett, Kathryn Kemme, Leilani Quinata, Jennifer Garcia and Katy Cagle. Front row: Craig Evans, Virginia Ulrich, Jessica Frazier, Trish Olk and Dan Cote. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/fresh-breeze-pillar-awards-inspire-renewed-commitment-to-ecova-mission.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/fresh-breeze-pillar-awards-inspire-renewed-commitment-to-ecova-mission.aspx Fri, 15 March 2013 11:37:00 Patrick Everitt - Manager - Business Analysis at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/nine-consecutive-energy-star-awards.aspx For the ninth consecutive year, Ecova has received an award from ENERGY STAR ® ― twice as Partner of the Year and now a seventh straight time for Sustained Excellence ! The 2013 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award recognizes Ecova’s long-term commitment to energy efficiency and is reflective of our expertise in energy and sustainability management. Several of my peers will attend the ENERGY STAR ceremony on March 26 th to accept the award on behalf of Ecova. We’re excited to see which of our clients will also win this year, as several have in years past. We are very proud of our partnership with ENERGY STAR, as well as the work we do with our clients to promote this important program. Both ENERGY STAR and Ecova strive to promote sustainable resource consumption through benchmarking and tracking of energy data. Over the past nine years, Ecova has continued to grow the number of buildings we submit to Portfolio Manager, ENERGY STAR’s web-based reporting tool, and we now work with our clients to send over 25,000 individual buildings to Portfolio Manager every month! We’ve helped several of our clients earn ENERGY STAR labels for their buildings by performing site audits. We are also actively engaged in supporting our clients’ need for complying with Portfolio Manager benchmarking requirements implemented by numerous local jurisdictions, a trend gaining momentum across North Amercia. We’re looking forward to our continued relationship with ENERGY STAR and the release of its completely re-vamped Portfolio Manager tool on June 1, 2013. For more information on the new Portfolio Manager release, visit the ENERGY STAR website.   Related content: Blog Post: Why an ENERGY STAR Rating Matters Blog Post: Staples Guest Blogger Talks Energy Star® and More Webinar Recording: Benchmarking with ENERGY STAR Solution: Intelligence & Benchmarking http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/nine-consecutive-energy-star-awards.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/nine-consecutive-energy-star-awards.aspx Wed, 06 March 2013 09:24:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/a-look-inside-the-changing-telecom-environment.aspx Given the current economy and regulatory atmosphere, there are many myths about pricing and technical issues. It is important for customers to have a strong understanding of these myths and their potential impact on budgets and the quality of their networks.      PRICING, TARIFFS, AND SERVICVE GUIDE MYTHS Telecom is rapidly becoming more deregulated―Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved tariffs are giving way to carrier Service Guides, which can be changed at anytime without approval from regulatory bodies. As a result, it is important to consider the following: Review Service Guides (SG) prior to executing any agreement, making sure the ‘Order of Precedence’ doesn’t override negotiations.   Never accept percentage discount pricing that refers to a table in the SG, as these guides are subject to change at any time. Fixed pricing allows you to know exactly how much you will be paying, which will help control your budget. If your carrier does not provide fixed pricing, have them specify the prices that the discounts will be applied to, which will lock-in your pricing for the term of the contract. Challenge any carrier claims that they cannot do something because of the tariff of other legal documents, such as Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) ; if the claim is legitimate the carrier should be able to show you the actual language that they are referencing. Be aware that many State PUCs are no longer willing to enforce telecom tariffs, so you need to identify billing errors as soon as possible.   THE TRUTH ABOUT REGULATORY CHARGES While regulatory charges are on the rise across the board, few, if any are mandated to be paid by the end user. These charges are paid by the carriers, who are allowed to pass them on to customers.  Not only can carriers choose if and how much to pass on, there is a lot of confusion regarding the applicability of older fees, such as the Federal Universal Service Fund (USF) as it applies to newer services, such as Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). A few helpful reminders: Always get written clarification of all fees and how they are calculated before you execute an agreement. Your best opportunity to get a carrier to waive a regulatory fee is when they first start assessing it. If they come back with a reasonable answer to validate the charges, you should ask that they consider waiving it on your behalf. The changing telecommunications environment is creating both challenges and opportunities, and unfortunately, the onus to assess the shifting landscape falls to the customer. Monthly bills can be hard to read and understand, so it is important to ensure that someone is auditing them on a monthly basis. Get more information and best practices for managing your telecom network. Related blog posts: Internet Protocol: It’s a Game Changer in Telecommunications To Infinity and Beyond: The Changing Telecom Environment Telecom Sourcing―Negotiating Costs & So Much More! http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/a-look-inside-the-changing-telecom-environment.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/a-look-inside-the-changing-telecom-environment.aspx Thu, 14 March 2013 09:35:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/interval-data-from-electric-meters-every-15-minutes-baby.aspx I’m not talking about painful interval training here. And I’m not talking about the type of intervals that my piano teacher would test me on and then rap my knuckles with the proverbial ruler when I couldn’t pass the auditory test and tell the difference between a fourth and a fifth. I’m talking about interval data from electric meters. Every fifteen minutes. That’s right. Every. Fifteen. Minutes. It’s the kind of data that can alert you to bad behavior at your sites BEFORE you would have learned that the lights at 20% of your buildings have been left on overnight for the past 45 days. How can we do that, you ask? With connections to Energy Management Systems, Smart Meters, Pulse Devices and Green Button Data, we can provide multi-site companies with actionable insight to their portfolio of sites. Ecova’s Meter Dashboard identifies those sites that are performing outside standard day/night operating ratios and gives you visibility to site usage at a moment in time, compared to the previous month or the previous year. This visibility allows multi-site clients to make necessary adjustments in operational processes, address a failing piece of equipment, and identify trends with enough granularity to act quickly, all while avoiding excess costs that may accumulate if gone undetected through less frequent reporting.   PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS So what does the new Ecova Meter Dashboard look like? In a word―simple. We want to provide you with at-a-glance actionable insight into how your portfolio of sites is performing. By collecting and mining vast quantities of interval meter data from your various systems, Ecova’s Meter Dashboard consolidates the data and cuts through the complexity to help you identify outliers, at-a-glance, before they escalate into larger financial, operational or comfort problems. Using interval meter data, you are able to quickly: Identify those sites within your portfolio that are performing outside of the norm. Compare demand and consumption trends throughout your portfolio, allowing you to drill down to usage during date ranges or specific time ranges. Trend energy usage from previous years against year-to-date. Ecova is experienced in managing both historic AND interval meter data, and has helped many companies achieve their goals of sustainability and efficiency, including multi-site retail chains, quick serve restaurants, hotels, banks, airlines and more. No matter which industry you are in, Ecova has the expertise to support your energy data management goals. Request a demo  of the Meter Dashboard today.   Related content: Data Sheet: Meter Dashboard Infographic: Facility Optimization Video: Facility Optimization http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/interval-data-from-electric-meters-every-15-minutes-baby.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/interval-data-from-electric-meters-every-15-minutes-baby.aspx Wed, 13 March 2013 05:02:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/waste-your-newest-controllable-expense.aspx Did you know you might be able to save between 20-70% on your waste bills? No miraculous super-seed from the Amazon needed, I promise. Just the realization that how you’ve historically managed your waste stream needs to change in response to two of the business world’s most beloved and feared words: market disruption. If big savings in waste are truly on the table, something must have changed, and changed they have. Ecova has been investing heavily in its waste management solutions for two major reasons: 1) the service provider model for the industry is in upheaval, and 2) the entire concept of what waste management entails is changing. These two disruptions are opening the door to significant savings for those willing to take a different approach to the management of their waste stream. Regarding the first disruption―changes to the service provider model―over the past 5 years the waste hauling industry has seen massive consolidation . No longer do we have a market with many local waste haulers. The scene is now dominated by two major national haulers, a handful of regional players, and niche local providers. Consolidation hasn’t even been limited to just haulers buying haulers. Last year Waste Management purchased the dominant North American waste broker, Oakleaf. These changes consolidate and professionalize waste hauling, with professionalization coming from national and regional providers being attentive to national account needs, as well as through their ongoing efforts to improve data availability and accuracy for their more sophisticated clients. Let’s now turn to the second disruption―the definition of waste management. Years ago waste was simply called, ‘waste’ and it went to a landfill. Now people throw around words like raw material, technical and biological nutrients , and even profit center (so profitable it gets stolen ) when talking about their waste stream. Waste is now sorted into untold different categories of materials, each of which may have its own unique end life. This transformation creates economic opportunity for some, and complexity for all. If your company is managing waste the same way it was managed it 10 or even five years ago, you’re likely overpaying for your waste services. The good news is that the longer it’s been, the larger the savings opportunity you’re likely sitting on. Take a look at our case study with Alaska Airlines for an example of potential waste savings opportunities. Ecova’s Sustainability team is available to answer your questions about waste and how our services can help unlock savings for your program. Our recent webinar ―Savings Through Integrated Waste Management―provides helpful information to get you started.   Related content: Whitepaper: A Four Step Guide Zero Waste Infographic: Waste Solution: Waste Management http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/waste-your-newest-controllable-expense.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/march/waste-your-newest-controllable-expense.aspx Mon, 04 March 2013 10:45:00 Hester Yorgey - Manager - Corp Sustainability and Emp Value at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/making-an-impact.aspx In October 2011 we become Ecova and initiated our companywide sustainability program called Ecova Impact . The goal of the program is to use our energy and sustainability experts for our own benefit—and follow the same recommendations around social and environmental responsibility we give our clients. Ecova Impact’s mission is to educate, empower, and motivate employees to improve the environmental and social sustainability of our business operations. We work together with colleagues throughout the organization to increase community involvement and improve Ecova’s environmental impact across all of our locations—essentially, to make sure that we’re ‘walking our talk.’ 2012 was a big year for Ecova Impact—a year full of growing and learning, certainly, but a huge amount of progress. To demonstrate our commitment to our communities, we launched a new Community Service Day benefit, giving all Ecova employees a full day to volunteer at a nonprofit or educational organization of their choice . To help get over the logistical hurdles, the Ecova Impact team organized company- and office-wide volunteer opportunities for anyone interested—or staff chose to get their own groups together. We finished out the year with an astounding 73% involvement―890 employees took advantage of the benefit, which equates to nearly 3 ½ FTE giving back to their communities for an entire year! While there is always more to do, we have also made good progress on reducing our environmental impact. Following the mantra, “you can’t manage what you don’t measure,” we spent time baselining our environmental footprint, particularly our energy and water consumption, and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Based on the results, we implemented a number of energy- and water-saving capital improvements in several offices, including occupancy sensors, daylight controls, efficient water fixtures and dual-flush toilets. These efforts have already reduced our annual consumption by 43,000 kWh and 213,500 gallons of water. Now, we’re looking forward to another action-packed year for the Ecova Impact team—and it’s exciting to see Ecova taking advantage of the opportunities available to us when we look at our business through the ‘sustainability’ lens. As an example, we recently had our annual Sales Summit, bringing 130 employees together to discuss our sales strategy for 2013. This year, we ‘virtualized’ the entire event, utilizing videoconference technology instead of an in-person venue. This not only saved us over $50,000 in avoided travel costs, but reduced our environmental footprint by roughly 65 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO 2 e) of GHG emissions—equivalent to powering 8 homes for an entire year! What’s more, 100% of the attendees said that their experience was ‘good’ or ‘exceptional’ in a post-summit survey, and 97% said they would recommend a virtual summit in the future. Given this success, we’re in the process of developing corporate guidelines on videoconferencing and business travel—and have a lot of other plans in the works as we continue to hone our operations. As we know all too well, there’s always more progress to make, and a lot to learn along the way.    Related blog posts: Gardeners for a Day in Philly Ecova Does Good Deeds for Durango Trails Ecova Employees Tackle the Tangle on Portland Trails http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/making-an-impact.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/making-an-impact.aspx Tue, 26 February 2013 12:40:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/the-ecova-blueprint.aspx For every company receiving accolades for industry-leading sustainability programs, in my experience, it feels there are 10 that still struggle to get off the ground with a strategic, cost-effective, and relevant energy and sustainability management effort. The result? It’s as if there are two separate marketplaces―one in which companies are preparing for a resource constrained, de-carbonized economy ―and another in which energy and sustainability management remains largely relegated to a hollow policy statement and general conversations for marketing departments. Building on Ecova’s 17 years of experience helping clients save money and resources, we developed the Ecova Blueprint™ , a framework for total energy and sustainability management. The Blueprint is built on five Keystones and is a holistic approach to energy and sustainability management that serves as a guide to companies working to develop a proactive, strategic and actionable sustainability program―the type of program grounded in deep data analysis that engages people throughout the organization from the boardroom to the front lines―in continual improvement processes. The Blueprint guides clients to identify and execute cost-effective capital improvement and behavior change projects that create demonstrable ROIs, while not leaving them stranded after the low-hanging fruit has been plucked. And, perhaps most importantly, it highlights the criticality of reporting transparency and stakeholder engagement that truly distinguishes the leaders from the laggards. Perhaps there are not two separate marketplaces―perhaps there is just one, and the distinction I should be making is between likely marketplace winners and losers. I encourage you to take the Ecova Blueprint Journey to ensure your company has a place in the market of the future.   Related content: Video: The Ecova Blueprint Press Release: Ecova Announces the Ecova Blueprint http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/the-ecova-blueprint.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/the-ecova-blueprint.aspx Thu, 28 February 2013 07:35:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/cdp-investors-increase-10-percent-this-year.aspx Still on the fence about whether you should report to the Carbon Disclosure Project? The CDP recently announced even more investors are using their service to evaluate companies. A record 722 investors with $87 trillion in assets have become signatories to the CDP climate change program in 2013, up 10 percent from last year’s 655 investors with $78 trillion. Companies have until May 30 to report their emissions and emissions-reducing activities to CDP, and June 27 to submit water and forest information. If you want access to this third of the world’s invested capital, we can help. Ecova is one of only 8 partners worldwide who have been certified in carbon calculation by the CDP.   Related content: Blog Post: Ecova Helps Client Quantify and Track Supply Chain Savings Solution: Carbon Management Press Release: Ecova Earns Accreditation from Carbon Disclosure Project http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/cdp-investors-increase-10-percent-this-year.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/cdp-investors-increase-10-percent-this-year.aspx Wed, 13 February 2013 11:35:00 Kristen Nave - EFT Specialist at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/ecova-recognized-at-spokane-awards-dinner.aspx There are few things as vital as the safety and well being of children in our community. Ecova employees have demonstrated how important this is by supporting the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery , an organization dedicated to keeping children safe. I had the pleasure of accepting the Heart of Gold award on behalf of Ecova at the 26 th Annual Awards & Recognition Dinner. Ecova received this award for the time, monetary and space contributions made over the years by its employees to this important organization.  Ecova has supplied office space for the organization’s annual telethon, sent volunteer crews out on Martin Luther King Jr. day, and organized supply drives to collect needed items for the nursery. Many of us are able to dedicate time to volunteering through Ecova’s Community Service Day, which is one day each year that Ecova allows its employees a paid workday to go out into the community to be a part of such vital organizations like Vanessa Behan. The Community Service day benefit is encouraging each and every one of us to find a cause that we are passionate about and make a difference in our community. There are several easy ways to contribute to the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery mission: drop off any item on its wish list , make a donation either online or by mail, volunteer in the nursery, or ‘gift’ your birthday to benefit the nursery. A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE VANESSA BEHAN CRISIS NURSERY The nursery was founded in 1987 in memory of Vanessa Behan who died as a result of abuse at the age of two. Vanessa’s death outraged and saddened the Spokane community and the nursery was created to serve as a safe haven where parents could bring their children any time they are having a hard time providing them with safe and nurturing care.  Every year the nursery keeps over 4,000 children safe, loved and nurtured. In addition, the nursery strongly believes that strengthening families through parent education and support programs enhances the outcomes for the children. Parents and caregivers should never have to feel alone in parenting or feel ashamed of asking for help. For further information please visit the Vanessa Behan website. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/ecova-recognized-at-spokane-awards-dinner.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/ecova-recognized-at-spokane-awards-dinner.aspx Mon, 18 February 2013 15:15:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/making-a-good-telecom-expense-management-program-great.aspx The 2013 AOTMP conference was held last week in Orlando, Florida. The highlight was the Industry Excellence Awards that recognizes companies for outstanding performance in telecommunications management. The competition was fierce, but I am happy to share that Ecova’s client, GameStop, was this year’s winner in the Fixed & Mobile Business category. Last year, Ecova celebrated 24 Hour Fitness’ recognition for the Environment Optimization Excellence Award . Most telecommunication professionals have been involved in a structured Telecom Expense Management (TEM) program at some point during their careers with varying degrees of success, so it begs the question “why are some TEM initiatives more successful than others?” As a longtime telecommunications professional myself, the AOTMP conference inspired me to explore what makes a good TEM program GREAT! I have been pondering this question for a while, and have come to the conclusion that it’s not the size of the company, the industry sector, or even the TEM program or provider a company uses (as long as it is a reputable one)―the difference can be attributed to five keys areas that any company can adopt. Over the next several weeks, I’ll write about each of these areas separately, but wanted to start off with a quick overview so that you can see them together in context:   1. WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE Einstein is often quoted as saying that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If you don’t have a TEM program in place today, you need to implement one and change your processes to work in concert with the platform or provider you selected. If you have a program in place, you need to continually change to refine the program and adapt it to changing business needs and the telecom environment. 2. COMMITMENT WITHIN THE ENTERPRISE Managing complex telecom networks and controlling expenses requires multiple departments to work as a team towards a common goal. If your TEM program ‘belongs’ strictly to one department, such as finance or IT, you will not get the same results than if it was managed by a cross functional department, such as the Process Improvement or Cost Management departments, with the clout to initiate change. 3. BIG PICTURE, LONG-TERM THINKING Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither are telecom networks. It takes time to develop, implement, and continually improve on a great TEM program. True success requires a holistic approach that integrates all aspects of telecom management, not just invoice processing and auditing functions, for example. Strategic Sourcing and Service Order Management needs to part of the solution as well (more to come on this later).  4. TREAT YOUR TELECOM NETWORK AS A BUSINESS ENABLER, NOT JUST AN EXPENSE Telecom infrastructure and network services have always been a considerable expense. However, with the maturity of Unified Communications and IP-based services, companies have the ability to leverage their investments to help drive business objectives in ways never before possible.  5. PARTNERING WITH A TRUSTED ADVISOR While selecting the correct TEM provider is important, developing a true partnership with your provider is critical. A company that hires a TEM provider and then take a hands-off approach often limits its overall ROI; whereas a company that leverages its partnership will benefit from a much higher ROI and as a result, will develop a best-in-class program benefiting from the collective knowledge of other companies. I look forward to sharing additional thoughts with you on telecom expense management. In the meantime, learn how Ecova can help you navigate the ever-changing telecom environment .  Related blog posts: Telecom Reverse Auctions and Your Procurement Tool Box Internet Protocol: It’s a Game Changer in Telecommunications To Infinity and Beyond: The Changing Telecom Environment http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/making-a-good-telecom-expense-management-program-great.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/making-a-good-telecom-expense-management-program-great.aspx Tue, 19 February 2013 13:35:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/nemo-storm-resources.aspx As the Northeast continues to dig out from #Nemo , our concern remains with our clients and everyone affected by the storm. We have created a Storm Resource Center webpage, which will be updated frequently with information on utility companies in the impacted areas, as well as other relevant information. The Storm Resource Center provides quick links and valuable resources on the following: Local utility service outages and contact information Telecom vendor contact information Information about pre and post storm safety Utility social media links, when available For everyone impacted by the conditions in the NE, if you are able to get online, we encourage you to visit your utility company’s website, as it is likely to have important safety information. Additionally, the American Red Cross has many important resources to assist you, including a searchable emergency shelter database. Please stay safe. If you are a client, your Client Service Representatives are available to help you, via phone or email, during normal business hours.  http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/nemo-storm-resources.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/nemo-storm-resources.aspx Mon, 11 February 2013 13:47:00 Kylene Fickenscher - Sustainability Analyst - Strategic Planning at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/ecova-helps-client-quantify-and-track-supply-chain-savings.aspx The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) recently published the 2012-13 Supply Chain Report, Reducing Risk and Driving Business Value , highlighting the value gained by member companies―such as Walmart , Dell , Ann Taylor , Bank of America and Ford Motor Company ―who are collaborating with their suppliers to improve environmental performance. CDP ― the global non-profit that works with businesses to measure and disclose greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions  and water-related impacts and actions ― launched the CDP Supply Chain program in 2008. Through this program, suppliers of CDP Supply Chain Member companies respond to a questionnaire on emissions and water related issues, specifically addressing risks and opportunities, reporting, reduction targets, and governance. The report also highlights opportunities for those just beginning to evaluate the impact of their supply chain. CDP reports that designing an effective communication strategy is often a tough hurdle to overcome, as companies begin to work with suppliers to report on environmental performance. However, the key to achieving success in supply chain sustainability is cross-functional communication, collaboration and stakeholder engagement. Those companies that have well-established communication strategies are able to effectively implement supply chain best practices, identify operational efficiencies, and reveal new opportunities to gain emissions and resource reductions as well as cost savings. Specifically, the CDP Supply Chain report notes of the 678 companies making investments in emission reductions efforts, 73% are realizing monetary savings. While there remains a performance gap between members and suppliers, better collaboration can drive success in making reductions. For example, 29% of suppliers are reporting $13.7 billion in savings ― a significant impact on the suppliers’ bottom line. But identifying and quantifying such savings is also a challenge for many companies. Ecova partnered with one of our clients to tackle this exact challenge. The objective: to track the resource savings projects implemented within the company’s supply chain. Similar to the results reported by CDP, our client’s supply chain initiatives ― such as reductions in packaging, sourcing of post-consumer materials, energy efficiency efforts, and right sizing of truckloads ― helped to build a supply chain with a lower environmental impact as well as recognize operational efficiencies, energy savings, and costs savings. During a 5 year period, projects implemented by our client's suppliers resulted in avoided GHG emissions of 700,000 MTCO2e (metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents), the equivalent of over one and a half million barrels of oil, representing a significant contribution to the overall reduction in environmental impact. These initiatives also resulted in almost $50 million in savings, some of which have been realized by our client. Despite the challenges of engaging with suppliers , leading companies are working on effective communication strategies and data collection processes imperative to improving their supply chain efficiency and impact. Those prioritizing tracking and disclosing their environmental performance are achieving more than cost savings ― they are recognizing valuable benefits such as increased consumer recognition and heightened brand value, as highlighted in the report. Go read the full report ― it is great to see how companies are working to address the source of up to 80% of their environmental impacts ! Related content: Press Release: Ecova Earns Accreditation from Carbon Disclosure Project Solution: Sustainability http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/ecova-helps-client-quantify-and-track-supply-chain-savings.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/ecova-helps-client-quantify-and-track-supply-chain-savings.aspx Fri, 08 February 2013 10:18:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/telecom-reverse-auctions-and-your-procurement-tool-box.aspx Reverse auctions have been around for a long time and have proven their value in many areas of sourcing, from office supplies to raw goods for manufacturing. In recent years, I have seen some telecom services become more commoditized, allowing companies to procure telecom services with reverse auctions, significantly reducing telecom expenses and procurement time.   PROCUREMENT TOOLS Reverse auctions can be an effective and powerful tool in the right situation; but they are not always the best tool to deliver the results you want. Instead, think of reverse auctions as just one of the procurement tools in your toolbox. Here are four additional procurement tool options: Request for Information (RFI): As the name suggests, this procurement tool is used to gather information. RFIs are best suited for evolving technologies where you need to get educated on the industry or a certain technology and are not planning to implement for at least 18-24 months. Bidders are typically offered wider liberties with their responses, and an RFP will usually be required as a follow-up prior to selecting a provider or solution. The information provided in this stage will be useful in later supplier negotiations.    Request for Proposal (RFP): This is the most common procurement tool, yet it is one of the most time consuming and complex procurement processes. RFPs are best for purchasing mainstream products where you want bidders to provide innovative or creative approaches to problems as part of their responses. If managed properly, you can acquire some free upfront engineering while securing the best price under the most favorable business terms by using RFPs.   Request for Quote (RFQ): Typically used for smaller projects and/or when you are forced to either operate on a shorter timeline, know exactly what you want, or understand (and can accept) the differences between the bidders you invite to participate. An RFQ lends itself to products or services that are standardized or delivered with little variance.    Reverse Auctions: Reverse auctions require extensive work up front in order to get significant savings in the end. Now that reverse auctions have found a place in telecom procurement, keep in mind that their use should be limited to: True commoditized or non-mission critical services, such as basic outbound long distance or conferencing when price is the most important deciding factor, or    As a final round where you have already evaluated the service offerings from preselected bidders and have determined that any of the bidders can meet your technical and business requirements. Each of these tools can be leveraged individually or in combination with one another to achieve a successful sourcing solution to drive real savings opportunities. Whether you choose to use reverse auctions, or another procurement tool, choosing the correct one for your project will save you time, money, and effort. Ecova's Telecom Lifecycle Management team is available to answer questions about procurement and best practices as it relates to your telecom network.   Related content: Blog Post: Telecom Sourcing―Negotiating Costs & So Much More!   Solution: Strategic Sourcing & Contracts http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/telecom-reverse-auctions-and-your-procurement-tool-box.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/telecom-reverse-auctions-and-your-procurement-tool-box.aspx Tue, 05 February 2013 10:15:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/the-cost-of-34-minutes-without-power.aspx For anyone watching yesterday’s big game, it was quite apparent the value that keeping the lights on has for business. Officials are saying the 34 minute blackout in the Superdome appears to be linked to an equipment abnormality. And many are wondering what could have been done to avoid the #SuperBowlBlackOut . If you want to create an energy management plan that monitors and alerts to equipment failures before they happen, give us a call. Our work in Facility Optimization does just that – and perhaps we can help you avoid your next blackout before it happens! Related content: Video: Facility Optimization Solution: Facility Optimization http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/the-cost-of-34-minutes-without-power.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/february/the-cost-of-34-minutes-without-power.aspx Mon, 04 February 2013 11:26:00 Kevin Simonson - Technical Consultant at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/research-helps-make-it-easy-to-pick-the-right-led-bulb.aspx Electric light has been with us for about 130 years, and though you might not know it, we are now in one of the most exciting times in its evolution. Long dominated by the incandescent lamp, residential lighting has recently benefited from the rapid development of light emitting diode, or ‘LED’ bulbs that are performing equally, and in some cases better than incandescent lamps in nearly all aspects. You might have already heard that LEDs save a great deal of energy, last thousands and thousands of hours longer than other bulbs, remain cool to the touch and are available in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. One of the most successful uses for LEDs has been reflector lamps. Reflector lamps are used where you want the light to shine in a particular direction, and provide either a narrow cone of concentrated light (spot lighting) or a broader cone of more diffuse light (flood lighting). Because LEDs already tend to produce their light in one direction, they are a great fit for this application. Found in recessed ceiling downlights for lighting rooms, in track lighting to light walls and accent paintings, and in outdoor fixtures to illuminate walkways, driveways and property at night, the benefits and uses of LEDs have brought opportunity to manufacturers. And with this opportunity comes increased consumer choice. So how do you choose? What features do you look at to make sure you’re getting the best quality LED product? The answer is…look at everything! In partnership with  IEE , the Edison Foundation’s Innovation, Electricity and Efficiency institute and TopTen USA , Ecova’s Research and Policy team has done just that. We took a look at all 472 LED reflector lamps on the ENERGY STAR ® Qualified LED Light Bulbs list. To identify the absolute best reflector lamps on the market today, we developed a screening and testing methodology to narrow that list down. Our researchers purchased 63 models for testing in our laboratory, and produced a final list of the 20 top performers. Earlier today, we announced the results of our findings with IEE in this press release . The Ecova team rated each lamp on its energy efficiency, cost effectiveness and physical properties such as color, quality and dimmability. A diverse group of observers then judged each bulb by its appearance, identifying the most preferred lamps out of the collection. By ranking the lamps on their total scores in five overarching categories—energy, economics, laboratory measured performance, human factors and physical—we identified 20 Best-in-Class LED reflector lamps. Details on this procedure, and the LED bulb lists can be found on TopTenUSA ’s website. What we discovered was that the most efficient lamps were not always the best. Rather, it was not enough for a winning lamp to excel at only one thing, it had to do many things reasonably well. We found that certain LED reflector lamps consistently rose to the top because they: Saved a good deal of energy, relative to their retail price. Had controlled light beams, uniform and free of shadowing or color problems. And in general, we discovered that: The winning lamps were not always the brightest lamps. People expected to see light bulbs that they simply liked, and they wanted to receive good value for their investment. As we pointed out in our last entry, the US Department of Energy has also been working to evaluate LED light bulbs in its CALiPER Program , and their recommendation remains the same—try before you buy. Although in this round of Ecova’s testing we found that the quality and performance of LED reflector lamps had definitely improved, and that the category is getting better, we still agree with this advice. So if you’d like to purchase a best-in-class LED reflector lamp, consider the lamps that our researchers have tested for quality, performance and efficiency, and choose TopTen bulbs!   Related blog posts: LED Reflector Lamp Evaluation Published   Lighting Programs: Still One of the Most Important Parts of Your Energy Efficiency Portfolio Next Generation Lighting Programs: What’s All the (Lighting) Fuss About? http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/research-helps-make-it-easy-to-pick-the-right-led-bulb.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/research-helps-make-it-easy-to-pick-the-right-led-bulb.aspx Thu, 10 January 2013 09:29:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/leo-berz-joins-ctems-board-of-directors.aspx I’m thrilled to be joining the CTEMS Board of Directors , and view this as my opportunity to pay back this great industry for all it has given me over the years.  CTEMS is one of the industry associations helping to shape, develop, and disseminate collective knowledge throughout the telecom industry. Along with TEMIA , CTEMS is helping to improve the products and services offered by vendors in the industry, create a community to help drive change, and address common problems. As a provider to many Fortune 500 companies, Ecova can play a critical role in shaping the industry for the benefit of our clients. And I’m so honored to be part of the group helping to evolve the industry. Together, we hope to create a network of knowledge that spans enterprise, vendor, carrier, regulatory and other areas to inform decision making and the marketplace. Today, the need for a unified Telecom Lifecycle Management solution is more important than ever as companies navigate their way through the myriad technical and regulatory changes that are before them. I’m excited to be part of the CTEMS Board of Directors to tackle these challenges.   Related blog posts: Internet Protocol: A Game Changer in Telecommunications To Infinity and Beyond: The Changing Telecom Environment Telecom Sourcing―Negotiating Costs & So Much More! http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/leo-berz-joins-ctems-board-of-directors.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/leo-berz-joins-ctems-board-of-directors.aspx Wed, 09 January 2013 10:40:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/guiding-principles-for-carbon-disclosure.aspx Reporting your company’s carbon emissions can be a tricky process. Whereas some large emitters are required to disclose their emissions to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or regional greenhouse gas accounting programs, the vast majority of business owners in the US have no disclosure requirements, making carbon accounting and disclosure a voluntary effort. If your company falls into this category, you have more flexibility with what to report and how. With that flexibility, however, comes many more decisions and choices about how to best implement a carbon-reporting program. A resource to draw heavily on as you decide how to approach your reporting effort is The Greenhouse Gas Protocol   ― the most widely used emissions reporting standard developed by the World Resources Institute in partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development . The Protocol lists five accounting and reporting principles that should guide your reporting efforts: Relevance:  Ensure the GHG inventory appropriately reflects the GHG emissions of the company and serves the decision-making needs of users―both internal and external to the company. Completeness: Account for and report on all GHG emission sources and activities within the chosen inventory boundary. Disclose and justify any specific exclusions. Consistency: Use consistent methodologies to allow for meaningful comparisons of emissions over time. Transparently document any changes to the data, inventory boundary, methods, or any other relevant factors in the time series. Transparency: Address all relevant issues in a factual and coherent manner, based on a clear audit trail. Disclose any relevant assumptions and make appropriate references to the accounting and calculation methodologies and data sources used. Accuracy: Ensure that the quantification of GHG emissions is systematically neither over nor under actual emissions, as far as can be judged, and that uncertainties are reduced as much as practicable. Achieve sufficient accuracy to enable users to make decisions with reasonable assurance as to the integrity of the reported information. While each of these principles is important, if I were to pick a ‘favorite,’ it would be the principle of Transparency. While all companies strive for completeness and accuracy, reporting is a process of change and continual improvement. By being fully transparent about your organization’s assumptions, omissions, and inclusions, stakeholders will benefit from a clear line of sight into your process and consequent results. Ecova's Carbon Management team can help you identify opportunites and reduce and report your GHG emissions. Related content: Video: Know Your Carbon Video: Ecova Carbon Accounting http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/guiding-principles-for-carbon-disclosure.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/guiding-principles-for-carbon-disclosure.aspx Wed, 30 January 2013 07:34:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/internet-protocol-a-game-changer-in-telecommunictions.aspx Internet Protocol, or IP, isn’t new―it’s been the most commonly used Local Area Network (LAN) protocol and a worldwide standard for almost 40 years, and to communicate outside of this network required the use of other protocols. Today, continued advancements in technology and new standards have extended IP capabilities to connect one computer to another anywhere in the world. Only 10 years ago, Ethernet distances increased from around 300 feet to about 30 miles, transporting data at 1 gigabit per second. Today, carriers rely on Ethernet for their nationwide backbone networks to carry data across the country with speeds exceeding 100GB. Since the late 1950’s, telecommunications transport networks relied on time division multiplexing, or TDM, technology; and for many forms of communication and transmission, that technology is still in use today. But now many carriers are deploying pure Ethernet backbone networks to replace the more expensive and less fault tolerant TDM networks. Over the past 5 years most businesses have already migrated—or are in the process of migrating—their private networks from Frame Relay and/or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) to Multi Packet Label switching (MPLS), which is a form of IP. So what does this pot of ‘alphabet soup’ mean for your business? There are plenty of benefits to adopting IP as the ‘technology of choice’ for your wireless and wireline backbone networks: Since IP is the native protocol of most computers, the network doesn’t need to encapsulate or convert the data, so it can be delivered at the other end with less overhead. IP is capable of true 'any-to-any' connectivity using IP addresses, without building complicated routing tables in the transport network. IP over Ethernet is capable of higher speeds than Frame Relay or ATM, and is much simpler and less costly to deploy and maintain; thus, it is priced accordingly. Ethernet networks are less susceptible to data loss than traditional TDM networks. Our insatiable need for more and more data at faster speeds has also opened up the market to fierce competition. Relatively new providers, as well as cable companies, are able to compete head on with the traditional Tier 1 providers, resulting in price drops across the board. This new wave of competition truly is a game changer for businesses, increasing functionality at a lower bottom line.    Ecova's Telecom Lifecycle Management team is available to answer questions about strategy and best practices as it relates to your telecom network. Related blog posts: To Infinity and Beyond: The Changing Telecom Environment Telecom Sourcing―Negotiating Costs & So Much More! Strategic Sourcing: The Key to Telecom Lifecycle Management http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/internet-protocol-a-game-changer-in-telecommunictions.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/internet-protocol-a-game-changer-in-telecommunictions.aspx Tue, 08 January 2013 10:17:00 Don Hobbs - Director of Product Mgmt - Telecom Solutions http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/five-benefits-to-automating-your-wireless-support.aspx First smartphones, now tablets! Deployment and usage of these network-connected devices has exploded in the last couple of years. And along with an increasing number of units in service, the methods of managing these devices are getting more diverse as well, from straightforward corporate-liable programs to more complicated ‘Bring your Own Device’ (BYOD) models―and don’t expect the trends to abate anytime soon! Wireless environments are expanding―your user count has no doubt been climbing and will continue to do so. Devices will become more complex, with more variety and applications, both desired and damaging, finding their way onto these devices. As a result, support will become increasingly challenging to provide. Recognizing these trends and installing an automated solution to address the needs that these changes will bring is the key to running a successful wireless program. Your costs of managing wireless are only going to increase as demand increases. The sooner you implement automated wireless services at your company, the sooner you can begin to save money and take control. Below are five key areas that provide benefit to both your IT department and organization by freeing up resources, reducing wireless costs, and increasing control over your wireless environment. 1. ASSET MANAGEMENT With many companies deploying thousands of devices, just knowing who has what is a challenge in itself. The key to success is capturing and validating all devices and related information within a centralized database, ensuring accurate data management for the large number of wireless devices in the company. 2. PROCUREMENT Requests to upgrade, procure new equipment, add accessories, and more are likely pouring into your office. To handle all of these requests, a ‘rules-driven, automated shopping cart’ and approval system is critical, allowing you to significantly reduce manual work efforts while maintaining tight authorization and processing controls. 3. BILLING ANALYSIS/OPTIMIZATION   By automating the analysis of usage data, including recognition of seasonal swings, and matching it up against the thousands of published and unpublished plans available through carriers, companies can often wring huge costs out of their wireless programs. And because the system is automated, it doesn’t have to be a once and done activity. In fact, regular monthly review is the key to long-term lowest cost.  4. COST ALLOCATION/REPORTING   Managers aren’t going to pay much attention to their wireless costs if they aren’t accountable for the expense on their budget. By automating the allocation of charges, and providing a secure, easy-to-use reporting system, you can have managers help you catch mistakes in your cost assignments, as well as help you identify users who violate policy or flagrantly abuse their usage plans. 5. EMPLOYEE SERVICES If your day is filled up with taking support calls from diverse wireless users and their diverse problems, you’re probably not left with much time to manage your wireless environment. Setting up a more automated ‘Help Desk’ that captures service requests, responds efficiently, and tracks performance outcomes can reduce the cost of supporting your users and make them happier customers as well! Once you’ve tackled the above matters, you’ll be in a position to reap the benefits of a well-run program―you will have the necessary data about your users, devices, usage, contracts and more to truly address and roll out a unified approach to wireless lifecycle management. Equally, the accurate reporting on costs and usage will allow your organization to make better management decisions on technology and policy. Finally, you will have made great strides in what is looming as an ever-larger need, setting and managing the necessary security and performance programs that make wireless network control on par with your traditional wireline network and in-office computing environment. Related content:  Solution: Wireless Telemanagement Data Sheet: Telecom Lifecycle Management http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/five-benefits-to-automating-your-wireless-support.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/five-benefits-to-automating-your-wireless-support.aspx Thu, 17 January 2013 10:20:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/congratulations-gamestop.aspx We wanted to send a big “congratulations” to our client, GameStop , for their selection as a finalist in the AOTMP annual Industry Excellence Awards. We nominated GameStop for their outstanding performance in the overall financial and operational impact of their Telecom  environment. And, an AOTMP panel of judges agreed, selecting GameStop as one of two finalists in the Fixed & Mobile Business Excellence category. Winners will be announced in February at the AOTMP 2013 Conference in Orlando, Florida. AOTMP is a leading authority on driving efficiency and performance into enterprise fixed & mobile telecom environments. We wish GameStop the best of luck, and look forward to seeing many of you at the AOTMP event next month! http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/congratulations-gamestop.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/congratulations-gamestop.aspx Tue, 22 January 2013 10:30:00 Dan Olson - Director - Product Mgmt - Sustainability Solutions http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/waste-management-alaska-airlines-finds-big-savings-in-a-changing-industry.aspx Looking to find a 73% utility cost savings? Want to know how Alaska Airlines had this impact with their waste expenses? This blog introduces you to their story, which you can read about here . More and more companies are starting to pay closer attention to their waste stream, both to drive down operational costs and find more sustainable waste management options. On the cost side, many companies haven’t focused on waste spending due to its relatively smaller overall cost, particularly when compared to energy. Many also have felt that waste bills were just a cost of doing business, not a controllable expense. The good news is that because this area has been neglected, the percentage savings possible in waste far surpass savings potential in other areas. Alaska’s results happened during a time of great transformation in the waste industry. This transformation has done a few things, including professionalizing the service provided by haulers to their customers. No longer (in most cases) are bills from Joe’s Hauling scrawled on the back on a napkin and sent through the mail. Service level visibility, billing, and data capture have all vastly improved. This consolidation and data visibility have enabled companies to gain a new level of control over their waste accounts. Alaska Airlines is the perfect example of how to maximize this unrealized savings potential. By first deeply understanding the composition of their waste stream through audits, Alaska Airlines was able to reduce their waste spend by a staggering 73% through a combination of waste diversion and the rebidding of contracts. This financial gain was also accompanied by a 20% increase in waste diversion (by volume) – benefiting the environment as well. Learn more about Alaska’s process working with Ecova. Related content: Case Study: Alaska Airlines White Paper: There's Money in the Trash Data Sheet: Waste Solutions http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/waste-management-alaska-airlines-finds-big-savings-in-a-changing-industry.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/waste-management-alaska-airlines-finds-big-savings-in-a-changing-industry.aspx Thu, 24 January 2013 10:04:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/five-steps-to-find-savings-in-your-trash.aspx Let’s face it; businesses generate waste. From paper waste at corporate offices to food waste at restaurants, many factors impact the amount of waste a business generates each year. However, businesses that aren’t monitoring waste and optimizing their service levels could be paying nearly double what they need to. That’s throwing money in the trash! According to the U.S. EPA, about one million extra tons of solid waste is created nationally each week between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. This is just one example of how businesses that do not consistently right-size their service levels are at risk of paying for unanticipated extra pick-ups or charges associated with overflowing dumpsters. As a result, they may have welcomed in the New Year with excess and avoidable service fees. If you find yourself constantly adjusting service levels, or frequently paying penalty fees for extra pick-ups and overflowing bins, the solution is to actively manage your waste portfolio . Here are five tips to uncover hefty savings for your organization through a comprehensive “right sizing” program:  Ensure you have accurate, timely visibility into service levels. Compile the number of containers, container size, pick-up schedule and costs for each location. Identify a key business variable that closely correlates to waste generation. For example, if you are in hospitality, you may use nights booked, or if you are in food service, you may use number of meals served. Calculate volume per variable unit across your entire portfolio to develop an operational average. Identify outliers—sites that diverge significantly from the portfolio average—and investigate why. Are the outliers caused by a valid business purpose or a unique business case?   Corrective action to resolve outliers and watch the savings roll in! Recently, Ecova partnered with a client to facilitate a right-sizing effort in order to reduce waste costs. The initiative started with a review of existing utility waste bills to collect relevant data, and then several visual audits and further analysis was conducted to determine the appropriate baseline service level to support the business need. This effort identified savings opportunities of 50 percent at impacted sites. Adjusting the service levels for the client’s outlier sites resulted in an annual savings of 20 percent of total waste expenses across the total portfolio.   Because waste levels are not static, but fluctuate over time, active management is key to maintaining savings. If you are not actively managing your waste expenses, it is more likely than not that your service levels are not optimized and you, too, are throwing money away.  Read more about finding savings in your trash, here , or contact us today. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/five-steps-to-find-savings-in-your-trash.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2013/january/five-steps-to-find-savings-in-your-trash.aspx Tue, 15 January 2013 08:55:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/ecova-aclara-redefining-utility-customer-engagement.aspx Last week, Verdantix, the independent analyst firm, published a report on our work helping utilities reach and engage their customers to create more efficient homes. The report entitled, 'Ecova and Aclara Help Utilities with Customer Engagement,' outlines our partnership with Aclara which we announced in early 2012. In the report, Verdantix analyst Ray Crowley highlights the four key things our home energy work is designed to do: Alter consumer perceptions and experiences of energy efficiency Use big energy data to inform home owners of their energy consumption Improve accuracy of analysis with data from in-house audits Redefine consumer engagement through multichannel lines of communication Crowley goes on to say that he expects our approach will differentiate us in the crowded home energy market: “Through the use of big energy data analytics, in-house audits, consultations and varied means of follow-up communication, Ecova’s partnership with Aclara brings an added dimension to the crowded home energy management market.” Specifically, Crowley calls out three areas that he expects will lead to our work being well received by utilities: Evolving nature of utility and consumer relations Integration of software, hardware and field services in the customer journey Use of varied methods of communication in the sales cycle Ecova recognizes similar themes in the market, which is why we completed the partnership with Aclara and are working on additional behavioral-based approaches to home energy management. We are moving toward a new era in energy efficiency; one that will see more comprehensive programs for consumers which take into account their whole home perspective and reach them in the way that they are most likely to act on. This combination of in-home services and technology improvements that enable big data approaches to behavioral change, along with Ecova’s long history of implementing successful energy efficiency programs with utilities, will be a powerful force for change. Related content: Case Study: Home Energy Improvement Solution Overview: Home Energy Improvement http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/ecova-aclara-redefining-utility-customer-engagement.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/ecova-aclara-redefining-utility-customer-engagement.aspx Wed, 12 December 2012 09:53:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/carbon-reporting-101.aspx A company’s carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions created by a company’s operations. In light of shareholder, consumer, and regulatory concerns, more and more companies are measuring carbon emissions. Unfortunately, many companies struggle to determine the right level of internal and external disclosure. Today, leading companies are choosing to disclose greater amounts of information and to increase transparency. If you are looking to understand the basics about carbon reporting, then this post is for you. WHAT IS CARBON DISCLOSURE? Carbon disclosure is a process by which companies produce a report to disclose quantitative and qualitative information about their carbon emissions. Typically this exercise is conducted annually and details the company’s emissions, evaluation of associated risks and opportunities, and management oversight/accountability. Included in these findings is information related to corporate reduction initiatives and a roadmap for how the company will tackle each initiative. Common questions addressed include: How are you accounting for your carbon emissions? What methodology did you use to define your organizational boundaries and what emission scopes are you reporting on? What process do you use to evaluate material risks and opportunities? What are you doing to reduce your carbon emissions? How do you incentivize key stakeholders responsible for achieving your carbon reduction goals? MANDATORY VS. VOLUNTARY REPORTING In 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act . As with regional programs, such as California’s Assembly Bill 32 (which established in California a now-operating cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions), regulated entities that must mandatorily report their GHG emissions are typically limited to large single-point emitters. The vast majority of businesses in the US are not required to account for and disclose their emissions―leaving them in a voluntary reporting category. Since no federal or local regulatory framework requires disclosure, these organizations must weigh the pros and cons of voluntarily reporting their emissions. WHY YOUR COMPANY SHOULD VOLUNTEER Companies that choose to voluntarily report do so for a variety of reasons. The first and most important reason is to meet the increasing disclosure requests from investors and financial analysts. These stakeholders view these new data points as another metric by which to evaluate the risk of investing in a given business. In a B2B capacity, large and influential corporations are beginning to request and, in some cases require, that their business partners and suppliers report the carbon emissions associated with the goods and services they provide, which are in turn reported as part of the requesting corporation’s supply chain emissions. Supply chain reporting requirements such as this are primarily found in the consumer packaged goods sector. Second, there is inherent brand value to showing your employees and the public that your company is a leader by voluntarily reporting carbon emissions. In an age of Big Data and even bigger and growing transparency expectations, employees and consumers want to know they are engaging with a good corporate citizen. EVERYONE'S DOING IT If your company chooses to voluntarily report your carbon emissions, you will be joining an elite group of businesses who are doing the same. While many companies in the S&P 500 participate in carbon reporting, we are seeing more and more companies, both large and small, following suit. If you are interested in identifying how to voluntarily report your own carbon emissions, contact our Carbon Management team to get started. Related content: Blog Post: Sustainability Reporting: Convergence & Expansion Video: Know Your Carbon Video: Ecova Carbon Accounting http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/carbon-reporting-101.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/carbon-reporting-101.aspx Fri, 14 December 2012 08:07:00 Nate Bellino - Director of Prod Mgmt - Utility Solutions http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/overcoming-hurdles-to-successful-multifamily-programs.aspx As utilities look to expand energy efficiency savings while navigating increasingly complex legislation and regulations, few areas are as rich with potential as the multifamily segment. In a recent study conducted by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and CNT Energy, retrofit programs were shown to improve the efficiency of multifamily buildings by 30% for natural gas and 15% for electricity. At Ecova, we’re hearing more and more interest from utilities wanting to reach this market, and for good reason―the savings are impressive. Despite the growing interest, proven savings potential, and the fact that funding for energy efficiency programs is projected to increase dramatically by 2025, few utilities have programs designed to address the specific needs of the multifamily market. Two common hurdles can prevent utilities from running successful multifamily programs: Convincing property owners to participate and developing the program independent of commercial programs. Property owners are sometimes hesitant to invest when they are not fully responsible for energy costs and may not understand how they can benefit from the savings. On the utility side, multifamily initiatives often fall under commercial programs, which may not be tailored to the specific energy efficiency needs of multifamily properties, leaving a lot of savings on the table. Effective programs overcome these obstacles through comprehensive service both to tenants and property owners. A focus on customer engagement that brings multiple disparate contractors under one simple contact point increases customer participation and satisfaction. Also critical to the comprehensive service solution is strong relationship management. Once relationships are developed and nurtured, early results from smaller measures like CFLs can help property owners become less hesitant to invest in more capital-intensive projects which are where the larger savings are realized. Whether you’re thinking of implementing a new program or wanting to expand a current multifamily program, be sure it’s comprehensive and that you’re thinking long-term. Customer engagement, satisfaction and relationship-building can ultimately pay off in big savings. LEARN MORE For six years, Ecova has partnered with Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to run a successful comprehensive multifamily program which boasts 34,057,769 kWh savings from direct install measures alone. The program now sees most of its savings from larger shell measures. For more information, read our recent PSE Multifamily Case Study . Learn more about Ecova's solutions for utility companies . Watch a recording of our recent Multifamily Programs webinar below and subscribe  to receive evites to our new Smart Energy Efficiency  webinar series. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/overcoming-hurdles-to-successful-multifamily-programs.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/overcoming-hurdles-to-successful-multifamily-programs.aspx Fri, 07 December 2012 09:34:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/what-are-your-energy-and-sustainability-goals.aspx Sustainability innovation, marketing and employee engagement all rank as initiatives big businesses will invest in during 2013. How does this compare to your 2013 sustainability strategy? According to a recent industry report from Verdantix , corporate spending on energy, environment and sustainability management in 2013 will grow by less than 10 percent. Based on interviews with 250 sustainability decision-makers, the survey found that sustainability innovation, marketing and employee engagement will receive the biggest boost in budgets in 2013. We want to hear from our clients, who comprise nearly 25% of the Fortune 500, as well as readers of our blog. Take our quick, two-question survey to share and compare your energy and sustainability goals for 2013. Thank you! http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/what-are-your-energy-and-sustainability-goals.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/what-are-your-energy-and-sustainability-goals.aspx Wed, 19 December 2012 09:03:00 Craig Schilling - VP - Energy Supply Management at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/2012-election-the-energy-markets.aspx On Tuesday, November 6, 2012, President Barack Obama defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney in his bid for a second presidential term. One of the President’s top objectives during his first term was to invest in clean energy technology to “build the foundation for a clean energy economy, tackle the issue of climate change, and protect the environment” ( http://www.whitehouse.gov/energy ). But with a divided Congress, the Administration will have some difficulty implementing the full scope of their energy policy. So what are some of the policies, regulations, and market dynamics that the energy markets could face during the next four years? Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Obama Administration allocated over $90 billion in tax benefits, contracts, grants and loans, and entitlements to promote clean energy ( www.recovery.gov ). With the injection of new capital and increased incentives, renewable sources for electric generation benefited, especially wind and solar, which soared 63% and 104% higher from 2009 to 2011, respectively ( http://www.eia.gov/electricity/ ). Although wind and solar made up just 3.5% of the total electric generation mix in the first 8 months of 2012, there will be a continued push for these sources to capture a greater share in the coming years as many states have already implemented standards requiring a certain percentage of the state’s electric generation to come from renewable sources. In addition to promoting the development of renewable electric generation sources, a cornerstone of President Obama’s Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future is the introduction of the Clean Energy Standard (CES). The CES would set an annual target for electricity from clean energy sources and require utilities to have enough clean energy credits to meet the target. Credits would be able to be transferred, traded, or sold. U.S. Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), introduced the Clean Energy Standard Act in March 2012. Although this type of legislation may not gain traction, a carbon tax could gain strength as a measurable and sustainable practice with the looming fiscal cliff ahead. Economists at Resources for the Future , a nonpartisan think tank, believe that this could bring in as much as $125 billion in annual revenue to the Federal Treasury. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will remain active and look to protect policies put in place over Obama’s first term. Some, but not all, of those policies include the National Ambient Air Quality Standards act, the new Boiler MACT rule , and the Mercury and Air Toxins Standards legislation. The EPA will also look to revise and revive its Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) that was recently struck down by the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit. Rate increases will likely continue on the regulated side of the utilities market, with the implementation of new infrastructure and regulatory compliance. Regional electric markets will also battle capacity constraints as older coal-fired plants fall out of regulation and are retired. Natural gas, however, is a beneficiary of the election. The drive for a clean carbon resource, coupled with abundant domestic supplies, makes it a natural fit. Natural gas consumption by the power sector reached an all-time high in 2012, making up 33% of the total generation mix in July ( http://www.eia.gov/electricity/ ) . But the increased reliance on natural gas for generating electricity raises the concern over available pipeline capacity. Several states are attempting to temper that concern with increased drilling and new pipeline projects to ensure resources can reach end users. Ultimately, this should force natural gas prices up in the longer term, but hefty storage levels and meager GDP growth will keep prices in check in the near term. On its face, the recent election appears to maintain “status quo” of a government divided. The impending “fiscal cliff” will be the focus the markets take action on in the near term. If intervention by congress fails this month, the Bush era tax cuts will expire on December 31 and the sequestration process will begin January 2, 2013. The combination of tax increases and government defense and non-defense spending with the inability to borrow money to pay for existing programs due to debt ceiling restrictions may lead the U.S economy into a recession by Q3 of 2013. If this were to align with another warmer than normal winter there will be a good opportunity to lock in low energy costs.  Your dedicated Energy Procurement Account Manager is standing by to keep you informed and help execute timely purchases that coincide with your energy purchasing strategy. Stay tuned it’s going to be an interesting “lame duck” session. Related blog posts: The 2012 Election & Energy Efficiency Five Steps to a Strategic Energy Procurement Plan EIA Annual Energy Outlook 2012: Market Trends & Projections http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/2012-election-the-energy-markets.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/december/2012-election-the-energy-markets.aspx Wed, 05 December 2012 08:32:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/to-infinity-and-beyond-the-changing-telecom-environment.aspx While I have no doubt that our friend Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story had something in mind other than Telecom Expense Management (TEM) when he first uttered those now famous words, “To Infinity and Beyond,” I still think it’s applicable to the discussion of telecom. Most of us early TEM adopters who helped shaped the industry in the late 80’s and early 90’s thought that TEM was the end all approach to controlling telecom costs, but we were proven wrong as our world started to change.  THE CHANGING WORLD OF TELECOM First, the wireless revolution exploded as phones small enough to carry emerged, while service expanded and usage rates dropped so that average income earners could afford them.  Next, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 opened up competition for local service providers, C-LECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) increased, and number portability made it easy for users to switch to a new carrier while still keeping their same phone number. Additionally, telecom consolidation of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s resulted in a few pre-dominate providers of telecom services. And of course, we can’t forget to mention the technology revolution that brought us high speed IP networks, the ability to watch streaming movies in HD on phones, the proliferation of cable TV providers delivering phone, long distance, internet and Toy Story in a single bundle, or that local tariffs are giving way to negotiated agreements in more and more markets. MANAGING A COMPLEX TELECOM NETWORK In today’s complex telecom environment, TEM falls short of the MARC (Minimum Annual Revenue Commitment) in cost control, which is why best practice companies are implementing Telecom Lifecycle Management (TLM) programs as a holistic approach to be proactive in managing telecom investments. TLM is a never-ending revolving process that layers strategic sourcing, order management, and contract management into traditional TEM. As you evaluate your TLM program, keep in mind the following: Strategic sourcing consists of technology evaluations and a series of procurement activities as part of a long-term plan for accruing the right solution at the best price and under the best contractual terms. Order management is the critical policy enforcement process to ensure that your employees are ordering services per pre-defined policies and established contracts to get the best price while minimizing the risk of shortfall penalties. When errors or disputes arise, as they often do, it’s the order management program that provides the documentation to quickly resolve the issue in your favor. Contract management tracks contracts, business terms and pricing and makes them readily available to anyone who may need to access this information. Another key attribute of contract management is tracking and notification of expiration dates to prevent unwanted auto-renewals and ensure sufficient time to negotiate a favorable agreement with any supplier. Traditional TEM is still the cornerstone of any cost control program, as it provides the critical audit, inventory, cost allocation, bill payment and reporting functions.    While a TLM program can on the surface be more expensive than traditional TEM since you need to cover the costs for added functionality and coordination (regardless of this being done in-house or through trusted partnership), the value and return on investment is considerably higher. This approach will result in increased efficiencies and a lower total cost of ownership that will continue to perform year-over-year as you fine tune your network and procedures. Since I started this blog with a quote from one of my favorite personalities, I thought it’s only best to end with a quote from another one so, “That’s all folks!” Learn how Ecova’s Telecom Lifecycle Management service can help you navigate the ever-changing telecom environment. Related blog posts: Telecom Sourcing―Negotiating Costs & So Much More! Strategic Sourcing: The Key to Telecom Lifecycle Management The Changing Telecom Regulatory Environment http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/to-infinity-and-beyond-the-changing-telecom-environment.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/to-infinity-and-beyond-the-changing-telecom-environment.aspx Wed, 21 November 2012 09:26:00 Francine Chinitz - Project Lead at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/ecova-rocks-the-bike-commute-challenge!.aspx Congratulations to our Portland team for another successful Bike Commute Challenge (BCC) ! Sponsored by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) , the BCC is a friendly competition―workplace against workplace―to see who can get more employees biking to work during the month of September. Ecova has participated in the BCC since 2005 to ‘walk our talk’ (reduce our transportation/carbon footprint), show company pride, foster friendly competition, reward seasoned riders, and help employees rediscover the pure joy of riding a bike! A highlight of this year’s successes includes: 3 rd place out of 196 companies 44.14% participation rate 77 riders (12 more than last year) 880 rides (at least 50 more than last year) 6,152 miles logged Raised $3,750 for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA)! With the provocative theme of ‘Polar Bears are Epic,’ Ecova’s 2012 BCC kicked off with the distribution of ‘Bike Pledges’ to all interested employees, as well as helmets and bike lights to any employee that needed them. Ecova’s spirited BCC Captains held several workshops throughout the month to encourage employee participation and drive momentum. Workshops ranged from navigating traffic/bike safety to what to wear to proper helmet fitting, as well as a demonstration for putting a bike on a city bus rack (it can be stressful putting a bike on the rack for the first time when a bus full of people are waiting!). One employee didn’t even own a bike, but that didn’t deter her co-workers from encouraging her to participate! As a result, one generous employee lent her a bike and she was off ―and as luck would have it, the two were neighbors, making it easy for her to have an escort to and from work. And it only got better for her―as an enthusiastic new rider, she was awarded a one-year membership to the BTA―her appreciation is evident by her response at the end of the challenge: “Thank you all so much for the support for the Bike Challenge, including this awesome surprise. I look forward to shopping for a new bike this winter!” All in all, it was a successful BCC challenge and I can’t wait until next year! I’m proud to work for a company that promotes healthy lifestyles for employees and fun activities like the BCC! http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/ecova-rocks-the-bike-commute-challenge!.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/ecova-rocks-the-bike-commute-challenge!.aspx Thu, 15 November 2012 06:29:00 Rick Clough - Director of Resource Analytics at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/three-pillars-of-utility-budgeting.aspx Budgeting for utility costs is a key exercise to building your overall energy plan. When building your utility budget, you need to make sure that it is comprehensive, defendable, and accountable. Keeping these three characteristics in mind will ensure that your management team and other stakeholders will approve and support your utility budget. 1. COMPREHENSIVE The first component when building your utility budget is to make it comprehensive, which includes: Determining the appropriate source of baseline data Budgeting for energy expenses and consumption against your fiscal calendar Considering the company’s specific energy goals and ensuring that budgets can be rolled up to specific responsibility centers, including any additional expenses that need to be addressed Save yourself some time by involving the appropriate stakeholders early in the utility budget process; these partners in the process will help you forecast budget areas that directly impact them. When getting utility budget buy-in, include your finance team, as they are responsible for helping you execute your budget and maintain and update the budget for changes, or re-forecasts. Because they are your partner in this exercise, it is important to communicate how you’ve developed your assumptions. Make sure that your utility budget gets the acceptance of the budget implementers (e.g., divisional and/or regional management). They are unlikely to have a major influence in how you design your budget, but they can help you control usage volatility. Facility and operations managers will also be impacted. They will be helping you forecast operational changes, such as capital improvements and planned site openings and closings. These expenses can be rather large numbers and will bust your utility budget if they are not included appropriately. 2. DEFENDABLE Any budget is going to get scrutinized by management, so make sure that your utility budget is built in a way that will alleviate any stakeholder concerns. The best way to defend your budget is by making sure that your baseline is well-defined. Clearly documenting your base assumptions and showing the ability to identify and separate key cost drivers will provide you with instant credibility. The baseline needs to be justifiable to divisional and regional site managers. The best way to build your baseline is by starting with the 12 most recent months of expense and consumption data for each of your buildings. Make sure to analyze the data for outliers and identify missing invoices and overlapping service periods. These are key accuracy measures that constantly get overlooked. Finally, ensure that expenses and energy consumption represent standard recurring conditions. 3. ACCOUNTABILITY One of the big challenges with utility budgeting is diving into the variances between actual vs. forecast. Building a budget that displays variances from the corporate level down to the regional or site level will help you identify where the added costs originated. If you know where the costs are originating from, then you can hold stakeholders accountable. Since you involved your stakeholders early in the budgeting process, you can hold them accountable for budget variances. They can also inform you if you need to adjust your budget going forward or if there was an isolated cost increase. Presenting site, regional, and corporate level views that are tied to expected organizational and financial performance demonstrates that you truly understand the business. Utility budgeting is a complex and challenging endeavor. Understanding the budgeting process is critical to knowing how your company works and how your department acts as a corporate contributor. You can’t forecast for every scenario, but if you build a budget based on these three pillars, you can proactively manage your utility expenses. Learn about Ecova's budget and accruals solution. Related blog posts: Utility Budgeting for Internal & External Changes Stay Under Budget by Managing Data Variances Building your Energy Budget for Optimal Performance Utility Budgets: To Accrue or Not Accrue? http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/three-pillars-of-utility-budgeting.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/three-pillars-of-utility-budgeting.aspx Fri, 09 November 2012 14:31:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/telecom-sourcing―negotiating-costs-so-much-more!.aspx Maintaining a healthy business relationship between telecom carriers and their clients requires both organizations to work as partners to achieve their individual goals―the buyer’s goal is to get the best service at the lowest price, while the carrier’s goal is to keep revenue without eroding profit margins.  NEGOTIATING NEW TELECOM CONTRACTS As you prepare to renew an existing telecom contract or are considering a new partnership all together, here a few things to keep in mind when negotiating your telecom contract’s terms and conditions: Setting the commitment level too high (at or near your current spend level). This will inevitably cause you to look for additional spend to throw towards the agreement regardless of price points and whether it aligns with business needs or be forced to accept a less favorable extension if you fall short. Non-concurrent contract terms sharing a combined commitment level. This makes it very difficult to shop for individual telecom services since doing so can force you into a shortfall. Placing individual components of a service on separate agreements. Carriers will sometimes place Ports and Access on separate non-associated agreements, making it more difficult to leave their network. Leveraging ‘cozy‘ relationships. After contracting with a carrier, relationships form and vendors may take this as an opportunity to pass through less than competitive pricing and terms.  Burning the clock. The clock is always on the carrier’s side―unless you take control. Don’t let incumbents delay negotiations and be sure to allow yourself time to migrate to a new provider prior to contract expiration. Tie the issuance of billing error credits to a contract extension; you need to keep these two issues separate.   Withholding critical information necessary to go to market. Individually these issues are relatively easy to resolve, but if you let them become combined or compounded over time, the situation can become challenging and the longer you wait to take control, the worse it could become. Don’t be caught off guard. Prepare and document a telecom sourcing strategy capable of servicing your organizational needs―and don’t forget, pricing is just one part of negotiations, consider your options and allow yourself time to manage the process.  Over the next several months I will be blogging on various telecom procurement topics to provide a good roadmap for obtaining world class agreements with your vendors. In the meantime, I would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to reach out to me personally if you have any questions or comments at lberz@ecova.com . Whether or not you are renewing a contract or negotiating a new one, Ecova's Telecom Lifecycle Management  solutions offer support in all areas of running your telecom network. LEARN MORE Watch the Strategic Telecom Sourcing webinar recording below to learn more about winning strategies for optimal telecom contract pricing and terms. In this recording GameStop shares how this approach helped them achieve over $1.5 million in annual telecom savings. Featuring special guest presenters from AOTMP & GameStop. Related blog posts: Strategic Sourcing: The Key to Telecom Lifecycle Management The Changing Telecom Regulatory Environment Are you Paying for Unused Telecom Services? http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/telecom-sourcing―negotiating-costs-so-much-more!.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/telecom-sourcing―negotiating-costs-so-much-more!.aspx Tue, 13 November 2012 09:46:00 Ian Bowman - Product Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/five-steps-to-a-strategic-energy-procurement-plan.aspx Managing your company’s energy supply procurement and contracting can be complex and challenging. Having a reasonably up-to-date plan saves time and reduces friction throughout the process, allowing you to be more proactive and take full advantage when market conditions create opportunities for savings. Managing energy procurement plans take time, so lean heavily on your team or energy supply consultant for help. 1. ASSESS YOUR CURRENT PORTFOLIO The best place to start with your energy procurement plan is by assessing your current energy portfolio. You will want to know the breakdown of your energy use by asking a few key questions: How much of your portfolio’s energy spend is electricity vs. natural gas? How much of the portfolio is in regulated vs. deregulated markets? What percent of your spend within the deregulated markets is actually controllable? How does volatility affect your final price? Your answers to these questions will frame where your energy portfolio has the biggest cost and risk reduction opportunities. 2. REGULATED VS. DEREGULATED MARKETS In regulated markets, energy costs have historically tended to be a bit more stable, but as more utilities add quarterly or semi-annual fuel cost adjustments, that stability is eroding over time. It is best practice to make sure you are on the most advantageous rate that the utility offers―utilities are required to put you on an applicable rate, but not necessarily the best rate. Many commercial businesses find millions of dollars per year of savings by ensuring that they are getting the best rate possible. Make sure your plan addresses how you will deal with managing deregulated rates. Competition for your business in deregulated markets means you have more choices among various suppliers and types of price products. More choice also means more due diligence is necessary to choose well among various offers, and seemingly lower prices are rarely a guaranteed slam dunk. Make sure your plan includes details about how you will thoroughly evaluate energy supply offers against each other and against your default utility options.  3. CLARIFY YOUR RISK APPETITE Deciding how much budget variance you can comfortably absorb will impact your approach to purchasing energy in deregulated markets. If your risk appetite is low, negotiate your energy contracts to include fixed rates while considering risk variances by term. If you have a higher risk appetite, take more risks with your contract terms or language. Using this strategy allows you to benefit from market declines. 4. REVIEW CONTRACT STATUS AND RATIONALE The next step is to review your existing contracts. Consider these factors: When does each contract expire and how much money is at stake within each contract? Do the types of contract (fixed, blended or variable) fit well with your company’s risk appetite? Is there a reason that a specific type of contract was chosen in a specific market? 5. BUILD YOUR TACTICAL PLAN Maintaining summary documents about current contract expiration dates, rationale for contracted products in each market, and planned timing to pursue each opportunity helps stakeholders understand the portfolio, and have confidence that the process is well managed. A few helpful tips: Keep yourself from focusing on offers that are out of sync with your company’s risk appetite. Have a strategy in place before existing markets start to fluctuate. Knowing your strike prices for certain market conditions will keep you hedged from an accelerated spike in the price. Energy markets can be unpredictable and volatile. Consider how each potential contract would be affected if the wholesale market moved up by 20 or 30%. Managing your company’s energy supply procurement can be challenging – however, it doesn’t need to be. The suggestions and guidelines referenced above can be used as a starting point to help you think about and create a long-term strategy for energy success. Learn about Ecova's Energy Supply Management Solution. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/five-steps-to-a-strategic-energy-procurement-plan.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/five-steps-to-a-strategic-energy-procurement-plan.aspx Wed, 07 November 2012 07:48:00 Mike Bailey - Director of Engineering at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/the-benefits-of-an-experienced-energy-auditor.aspx While few of us try to diagnose our own illnesses beyond the common cold or flu, many attempt to diagnose their own building systems. Most attempts are met with limited success. Even though facility staff is very competent and qualified, too many systems need inspecting and evaluation. It is easy to overlook problems that are seen every day. However, to a fresh set of eyes, such as an experienced energy auditor, these problems are seen as opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. ENERGY AUDITORS A good energy auditor follows a three-step process: Observes the facility’s equipment and condition, Gathers the site’s unique information, and then Identifies the opportunities that will save the facility money. A great energy auditor is a great listener; they appreciate that the staff is at the facility every day and knows what is going on. A good energy auditor takes advantage of the gut-instinct issues that the staff is aware of but doesn’t have time, or the specific equipment, to evaluate in detail. The best energy auditors use the specific knowledge possessed by site staff to get additional information ― information that goes beyond what they physically witness during the site visit. The process that an energy auditor uses to diagnose savings opportunities in a building is similar to the process a doctor uses during a check-up to evaluate a patient. Just like a doctor, an experienced energy auditor combines years of formal education, time spent training on-the-job, and their knowledge from examining a large variety of patients (buildings). During an on-site visit, they make direct observations and take measurements―height, weight, temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. A skilled doctor asks questions of their patient to discern any underlying issues similar to an energy auditor asking questions of the facility staff. The auditor then makes his diagnosis based on the observations, data, and dialogue he gathered during the exam. In some cases, a single piece of data can be telling, or the overall condition, observations, and symptoms may lead to a diagnosis. In other cases where the data is inconclusive, additional testing may be required. ENERGY AUDITS An energy audit evaluates how a facility uses (or wastes) energy and then identifies opportunities for improvements. These opportunities, often referred to as measures or projects, can be implemented to reduce energy waste and save money. Without an assessment to identify where waste is occurring, the energy waste is very likely to continue and often increases over time as the equipment continues to deteriorate. SELECTING AN ENERGY AUDITOR A word of caution―it is important to use qualified and experienced energy auditors. While it is obvious that you would not go to a doctor without a medical degree; as an industry, there is no certification or licensing standards established for energy auditors. However, industry standards are improving. For example, the Certified Energy Manager (CEM ) certification recognizes basic facility energy knowledge, but that alone doesn’t make a good auditor or auditing company. It is important to evaluate the experience and qualifications for both the firm and its staff. To ensure that the partnership is a good match, review examples of their work, client recommendations, and read a sample energy audit report to confirm it includes the information you will need to evaluate each recommendation. Like a sick patient, ignoring a building that is wasting energy will not make the problem go away. The longer you wait to fix it, the MORE MONEY it will cost to fix, and that is more money wasted―money that could be used to pay for other repairs, buy new equipment, fund additional salaries, or improve company profits. If the problems are not addressed in the first place, the money can just as easily continue to be spent on wasted energy. Related blog posts: Efficiency in the Data Center: Recent Conversations http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/the-benefits-of-an-experienced-energy-auditor.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/the-benefits-of-an-experienced-energy-auditor.aspx Wed, 28 November 2012 10:31:00 Seth Nesbitt - SVP/GM - Marketing and Technology at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/the-2012-election-energy-efficiency.aspx Businesses working to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs find themselves in an enviable position during this election season. In a time when our political parties can agree on little, they do agree on the importance of helping businesses become more energy efficient. Consider the following quotes from our presidential contenders: “The easiest way to save money is to waste less energy.” – President Barack Obama, State of the Union 2012 “I’d like to see us in our vehicles, and in our homes, and in our systems of insulation and so forth become far more efficient. I think that’s happening and believe that we have a role in trying to encourage that to happen.” – Mitt Romney, Manchester, NH town hall event Both candidates have sponsored policies to help businesses save money and become more competitive through energy efficiency. For example, Obama initiated the Better Buildings Challenge to help building owners reduce energy use 20 percent by 2020. In addition, his administration has partnered with more than 1,400 manufacturing plants to improve energy efficiency by 25 percent over a decade. Romney, in Massachusetts, pressed for what he called a “no regrets” climate change policy that emphasized enhancing business growth through energy efficiency. It offered financial incentives and technical assistance from government and made it easier for businesses to secure permits for certain efficiency installations. STATES BOOST EFFICIENCY TOO  Federal support is only part of the equation when it comes to energy policy. State support for energy efficiency is growing at a rapid pace and here again businesses working to improve energy efficiency win.     Twenty states now have energy efficiency resource standards (EERS ) , which set targets to achieve certain levels of energy savings over time. For example, Arizona has set targets for 22 percent reduction in electricity consumption by 2020; Illinois 8.6 percent in natural gas reduction; and New York has set both electric and natural gas reduction goals.  BUSINESSES WIN WITH TAX AND REBATE INCENTIVES TO HELP FUND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS State regulators typically hold utilities accountable to achieve energy demand reduction standards and goals. As a result, utilities often develop innovative programs and financial incentives to help businesses and homeowners pay for efficient lighting, motors, windows, heating/cooling, demand response, behavioral programs and energy management and monitoring. Utility spending on energy efficiency grew 27 percent from 2010 to 2011, reaching $7 billion for the year, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Businesses investing in energy efficiency can gain additional capital to support these incentives by making improvements based on published rebates and incentives, or creating custom programs to capture available funds. Learn how to identify and capture incentives in your area through our educational webinar, Utility Rebates and Incentives.   Consider the $176,000 plus in annual savings achieved by Calistoga Beverage with the help of a $100,000 incentive arranged by Ecova for a new and efficient air compressor. Or take a look at the analysis we conducted for the National Bank of Arizona that showed how incentives would make a solar installation quickly cost effective.  WINNING ON ECONOMICS In an age of fiscal austerity, why do politicians from both parties support energy reduction? Simply stated, it’s economical. Installing energy efficiency equipment costs less on average than building new power plants. Energy efficiency costs about 3 cents/kWh, while wholesale electricity averages 5.7 cents/kWh, according to government data . So everybody wins with energy efficiency. The customer installing the system sees reductions in energy bills, and the overall utility grid becomes less expensive to operate, saving money for everyone it serves. It’s easy to see why energy efficiency is coming out to be a winner in this election season. The wisdom of saving energy crosses party lines. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/the-2012-election-energy-efficiency.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/november/the-2012-election-energy-efficiency.aspx Fri, 02 November 2012 13:39:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/ecova-assisting-clients-in-wake-of-hurricane-sandy.aspx The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy continues to cause much damage and concern. Ecova is helping our clients in the mid-Atlantic and Eastern zones affected by the storm. We have created a Storm Resource Center webpage, which will be updated frequently with information on utility companies in the impacted areas, as well as other relevant information. The page can serve as a resource for our clients and everyone affected by the storm. We anticipate that there could be delays in mail that may impact service at your locations. We are already helping many of our clients to help ensure there are no service interruptions due to payments not reaching utilities due to the storm. Additionally, our Energy Supply Management team is helping clients in the region procure diesel fuel for immediate needs to keep operations going. For everyone impacted by Sandy, if you are able to get online, we encourage you to visit your utility company’s website, as it is likely to have important safety information. Additionally, the American Red Cross has many important resources to assist you, including a searchable emergency shelter database. Please stay safe and if you are a client and need to contact us, please call us directly at 800-767-4197. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/ecova-assisting-clients-in-wake-of-hurricane-sandy.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/ecova-assisting-clients-in-wake-of-hurricane-sandy.aspx Tue, 30 October 2012 13:40:00 Jeremy Mohr - Manager - Carbon Management Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/sustainability-reporting-convergence-expansion.aspx As fall begins to set in around the nation, corporate sustainability teams have the opportunity to reflect before next year’s reporting season gets underway. Yesterday, Newsweek released their fourth annual Green Rankings on the tail of last month’s Carbon Disclosure Project’s S&P 500 report . Despite little national action and near silence on climate change during our presidential campaign ― from both sides of the aisle ― these reports contend businesses are moving the ball forward. But, let’s not get confused as to why all of this matters. Reporting for the sake of reporting won’t get us to where we need to go, and as Bill McKibben explains, the math to get there can be daunting. Therefore, it makes sense to ensure reporting is straightforward and standardized while continuing to give customers, investors and other key stakeholders the information they need. In other words, we need convergence in reporting requirement nuances so resource-thin sustainability departments aren’t spending their precious time focusing on the report’s words as opposed to making sure those words mean something. Furthermore, we need expansion in reporting minimum expectations to broaden and deepen the information conveyed. For example, are the company’s carbon accounting practices sound? Have they considered their value chain? Are they setting meaningful targets and working towards them? Are they serious about the investments decisions they face in a transition to a low carbon economy? To be sure, expanding reporting to include much more than the minimum expectations is intended to get to the root question ― are we doing our best to make Mr. McKibben’s “math” less terrifying? The good news is these needs aren’t lost on the big three ― Newsweek, CDP, and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Since 2010, CDP and GRI have been working to link up their questionnaires “to lead to more and better quality reporting.” And, with the long awaited supply chain guidance released last year, the industry has also converged on how to report more holistically on enterprises’ entire impact. Because of this maturing, some companies continue to expand their efforts, and they are doing a better job of telling their story. For example, GRI is seeing record feedback on their evolving guidelines and CDP reports disclosure and performance scores among the S&P 500 are up 13% and 44% in 2012, respectively. For more evidence on the importance of sustainability reporting, look no further than this year’s largest movers in the Newsweek Rankings ― Target and Apple. While Target, moving up 151 spots, is setting goals and actively working towards those public statements, Apple, who lost 68 spots, continues to not disclose to organizations like CDP. So, while national efforts are moving too slow even though some bipartisan carbon legislation quietly moves through congress , leading companies’ sustainability reporting and, more importantly, their actions are moving ahead to address climate change. Learn about Ecova's Sustainability and Carbon Management Solutions. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/sustainability-reporting-convergence-expansion.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/sustainability-reporting-convergence-expansion.aspx Tue, 23 October 2012 09:14:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/how-to-identify-take-advantage-of-utility-incentives.aspx Because our world economy is growing and evolving like never before, the demand for energy is rising at record rates. The rise in energy demand is putting additional strain on an already aging utility infrastructure. With large price tags attached to capital investments, utilities are looking to reduce overall energy consumption. To help offset this rise in energy demand both utility companies and the government are offering energy efficient incentives and rebates. Utilities WANT you to learn how to participate in these rebate and incentive programs. Billions of dollars in incentives are being allocated at the federal, state and local level across the U.S., with 48 states providing one or more energy efficiency programs. There is a wealth of money available for businesses to tap into to help offset the cost of energy efficient capital investments. If you are looking to reduce your energy consumption, taking advantage of incentives and rebates will allow you to upgrade old equipment for newer, better designed and more efficient equipment. Common examples for incentives include: Changing out inefficient HVAC equipment Lighting change outs (to CFL’s or LED’s) Installation of energy management systems   Improvement of the building envelopes (cool roofs, window films, insulation) Installation of ENERGY STAR ® rated products (washers, driers, refrigerators, ovens and other appliances) Installation of renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal) Water management Though businesses have plenty of program opportunities available to them, there are several challenges that you will face. There are multiple program providers who each have different standards, timelines and requirements. To complicate things even more, these programs are constantly changing; just keeping up with what opportunities are currently available can be overwhelming, especially for multi-site operators. HOW TO GET STARTED To ensure that these obstacles don’t deter you from chasing the money, consider building a strong rebate incentive strategy. To do this, you have to ask questions like: For the activities that I want to pursue in the coming period what does my capital budget look like? How much will these rebates and incentives offset the initial cost? Which facilities and technologies offer the biggest return on my investment? What are the time limits for implementing these initiatives? What are the rebate and incentive deadlines and what is the application process? Do I have the appropriate paper work? Do I have to conduct a pre-audit? A common mistake that companies make when evaluating their ROI is that they don’t take into account the cost of inspections, metering, or anything else that might be required to receive that incentive. Once you add in these costs into your final calculation, you may find that other projects offer a better return on your investment. MANAGING THE PROCESS The next step to acquiring utility rebates and incentives involves creating an essential flow of information that evaluates and prioritizes opportunities. When prioritizing the best opportunities, consider how your contractors, your internal team, and even equipment suppliers will be involved. SUBMIT AND FILE Be extra careful when you submit the paperwork; companies easily miss out on opportunities because they didn’t correctly complete the forms. Designate someone to manage the rebate approval process and double-check your work. Don’t forget to plan for any pre-audits that may be required. If you have a portfolio with many different sites, consider partnering with a service provider, like Ecova , that will research available rebate and incentive opportunities for you, help determine which opportunities would be the best to pursue and document the Measure and Verification (M&V) process to demonstrate and prove your ROI. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/how-to-identify-take-advantage-of-utility-incentives.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/how-to-identify-take-advantage-of-utility-incentives.aspx Wed, 17 October 2012 09:00:00 Rick Clough - Director of Resource Analytics at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/utility-budgeting-for-internal-external-changes.aspx Developing a budget around your utility costs can be a tricky and time consuming exercise. If completed incorrectly, you could open yourself up to a busted utility budget that has higher than expected costs. Building an accurate utility budget can feel like you are aiming at a moving target, as your company’s operational and energy requirements change all the time. Proper accounting of internal and external changes that happen throughout the year will enhance your chances for maintaining your utility budget. INTERNAL CHANGES There are a few common internal changes that will take an extra effort to approximate. Estimating the impact of energy consumption changes like demand-side projects (lighting, HVAC, etc.), operating hours, and production schedules need to be conducted periodically. Implementing a demand-side project will lower your company’s energy consumption. If these projects are not scheduled before you create your budget, then they will certainly impact, in a positive way, how your budget will turn out. Operating hours and production schedules are another factor that could either increase or decrease your energy consumption. These operational decisions are impacted by hard to predict market events, and thus, need to be accounted for accordingly. Taking a look at the changes in your site portfolio is another step to consider. As new locations turn from forecast into reality, your budget will need to be updated. Additionally, make sure to update the budget when locations are added or removed from the portfolio. Facilities located in deregulated markets can expect a lot of variance. Because markets are more competitive, opportunities to switch providers, contracts and rates can force you to modify your existing utility budget. Before making any changes to your budget, be sure to evaluate current contracts and look into fixed- versus indexed-pricing. EXTERNAL CHANGES When looking at changes that could happen outside of company operations, make sure that your utility rate projections have accurately accounted for future events. Energy markets are unpredictable and can rise or crash at any instant. Facilities located in regulated markets have more stability than those facilities located in deregulated markets; however, there are still a few steps that both types of markets should follow. First, make sure that your electric and gas rate projections are applied at a site or utility level. This will guarantee that the most accurate adjustments are being made. Second, be on the lookout for the time of rate increases by the utility. Some of your facilities might not be on this type of a rate, but it is important to make sure that you account for any change in pricing. If your facilities are located in deregulated markets, make sure that you are looking at the term of your procurement contracts. Knowing when these contracts end will have an impact on future terms and future budgets. Regardless of whether your facilities are located in a regulated or deregulated market, you will need to be able to defend the utility budget that you develop with your management team. The finance department will want to understand how the unit prices were determined. Having the ability to track and document how you arrived at your numbers will be critical to successfully answering any questions and concerns that senior management or stakeholders will have about budget variances. Accurate utility budgeting is critical to maintaining a healthy cash flow, reducing budget variances, and promoting effective energy management. Learn about Ecova's budget and accruals solution. Related blog posts: Stay Under Budget by Managing Data Variances Building your Energy Budget for Optimal Performance Utility Budgets: To Accrue or Not Accrue? http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/utility-budgeting-for-internal-external-changes.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/utility-budgeting-for-internal-external-changes.aspx Mon, 22 October 2012 09:50:00 Rick Clough - Director of Resource Analytics at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/stay-under-budget-by-managing-data-variances.aspx Most companies are used to seeing variances between budgeted and actual costs in their utility financial reporting. However, because companies lack well-established energy reports, they miss out on critical visibility into their operations. Putting the appropriate reporting in place is actually very easy to do; however, understanding the variances that come from the data is a whole different ballgame. When looking at variances in your financial reports, you will need to identify what is driving your cost. Is it unit price? Changes in energy use? Where are these occurrences happening within your portfolio? Once you discover these answers, you will be able to report and resolve variances and take the appropriate action going into the future. In terms of the information needed to resolve, identify, and analyze those variances, there are three areas where you will want to focus your attention. DOCUMENT BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS  When building your utility budget, make sure to budget for both consumption and unit cost. As the year unfolds, you can track how much energy you have consumed compared to what was estimated. You will also be able to see present energy costs against the budgeted benchmark. Another set of budget assumptions that you will want to consider tracking are the rate change assumptions that you made on a state or utility level. Energy markets are unpredictable and volatile, so making assumptions around your contracts is important to staying under budget. ACTUAL & ACCRUAL DATA You will also want to look at your actual bills as they are received. It is advised that you make a consistent effort to look at these every month. You will be receiving utility bills throughout the year and you will want to make sure that you are tracking rebills or credits from prior billings so that you can accurately analyze your variances. Accruals are also an important component of your utility financials to monitor. Many companies have numerous levels of financial accruals that also include utilities each month. Understanding how the utility numbers are incorporated into the accruals is key. Consider that each month you will have a new accrual that you're booking while also reversing the accrual from the prior month. If there's fluctuation in the prior month, then there will be a variance for the current month. Having insight into this process is something that can often be necessary to know because of the impacts your accruals have on your overall utility financials. ANCILLARY DATA Once you become consistent with correctly inputting, understanding, and removing any issues with your energy bills, you’ll have the visibility you need to look at the ancillary data. It’s important to have an open mind as to what is causing these types of variances to occur; it could be driven by outside forces, such as weather. Another example could be if a new facility becomes a part of your portfolio a few months earlier than planned, then you will need to account for the additional expense. Operational changes, like changing how a site is used or going from operating 12 hours each day to 18 hours, are another set of information that help you track, identify and explain those variances. Managing your budget with built in data variances can be both tricky and time consuming. It’s important to work smart and communicate your findings to your stakeholders so that your company can make educated decisions about its energy use and cost and take appropriate action. Learn more about Ecova's Budget & Accruals solution. Related blog posts: Building your Energy Budget for Optimal Performance Utility Budgets: To Accrue or Not Accrue? http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/stay-under-budget-by-managing-data-variances.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/stay-under-budget-by-managing-data-variances.aspx Mon, 15 October 2012 10:01:00 Paige Kindell - VP Sales and Client Management at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/national-retail-tenants-associations-(nrta)-annual-conference.aspx Tomorrow I’ll be speaking at the 17 th annual National Retail Tenants Associations (NRTA) conference . This annual conference brings together the industry’s leading retailers to share best practices, while offering professional development opportunities through curriculum-rich courses. This year’s theme is Expanding Knowledge: Unlock the Power of Your Leases. I’m excited about this opportunity, as my colleague, Tony Pandolfo and I will be joining forces with Debbie Ravel of Gap Inc., as we focus on the management of energy and waste expenses, a critical component of the lease management process. Our presentation will help attendees gain a better understanding of energy and waste terminology and establish a lease audit program for these types of landlord pass through charges. Our course will help you get started by assessing the strength of your leases to better understand the types of savings opportunities available, culminating with case studies where we’ll apply what we’ve learned by looking at landlord billed utility audits to understand energy usage and rate savings opportunities. We’ll also discuss how landlords often pass through waste expenses and creative ways your company can meet sustainability objectives.  In the world of helping businesses improve their efficiency, there’s nothing better than sharing our knowledge and the positive results our clients can achieve― join us at NRTA to hear more about Ecova’s Lease Management Solutions as we dive a little deeper into landlord billed utility expenses. Related Blog Posts: A Best Practice Guide for Capturing Cost Savings from Landlord-Billed Utilities Reducing Energy Consumption in the Retail Sector http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/national-retail-tenants-associations-(nrta)-annual-conference.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/national-retail-tenants-associations-(nrta)-annual-conference.aspx Tue, 09 October 2012 09:17:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/three-tips-to-normalize-your-energy-bills.aspx Are you wondering why your energy bills show that your recent energy efficient retrofits haven’t created the kind of energy savings you had forecasted? Changes in weather, operations, or sales volume may be obscuring your energy savings. To truly understand how each site is performing, you need to normalize your data, removing major drivers of fluctuations in your facilities’ energy consumption. Normalizing your energy bills allows you to compare how much energy you would have used with actual consumption to identify circumstances for abnormal energy use. The key ingredient to normalizing your energy bills is the creation of a benchmarking process: 1. COMPILE CONSUMPTION & EXPENSE DATA One of the most critical items of benchmarking is the data. The first step is to identify the appropriate data sources. It is important to get consumption and expense information from reliable and consistent sources. This information can be acquired at the site or regional level on a monthly or quarterly basis, and smart meters are becoming an efficient way to gain access to the data in real-time. 2. IDENTIFY RELEVENT FACILITY CONSUMPTION DATA The next step to building a benchmark is learning what facility information you can get access to that is accurate and up to date. Questions you will want to answer include: Do I have corporate information from my facility (hours of operations, number of employees, equipment)? Do I understand the characteristics of my facility (stand-alone building, multi-story, drive-through, hours of operations)? When looking at your benchmark data, be sure to use per square-foot basis metric to help you group your company’s facilities into performance tiers.  3. UNDERSTAND THE OPERATIONS OF THE FACILITIES YOU ARE BENCHMARKING The last piece that drives consumption and changes in consumption is operations. Facility operations can vary by location and use. As an example, some locations could be open during the week while others stay open only on weekends. Within operations, you also need to account for the various equipment that is in use at each site; e.g. pizza ovens, washing machines, or walk-in freezers. There could also be variances in occupancy, production units or sales volumes that could potentially drive consumption of a specific building. Once you gather all of your critical information, your data, facility characteristics and other operating information, the next step is to understand what you need to normalize results for. There are many common variations in how utility companies bill their customers. For example, energy bills can be invoiced for up to 34 days. A common normalizing technique to handle this irregularity is to conduct calendar normalization. So for benchmarking for a specific month that has 30 days, you will want to make sure each building has been analyzed only for the 30 days of the targeted month. Another common normalization exercise will be for weather. If your facilities are located all over the country or the world, then you will want to be able to benchmark them accurately by removing the impact weather had on each of your facilities. Typically weather is normalized in per square footage or production units. Other examples of normalizing your energy bills include analyzing operating hours or sales transactions. While normalizing energy bills is usually conducted for financial reasons, you can also experience operational efficiencies. One of the most common excuses site managers make for higher energy is either their geographic location or foot traffic. Once you normalize the ways those activities are conducted, you can then hold people accountable for what's going on in their facility and you get more accurate comparisons between the sites. This step makes stakeholders more aware of their performance and drives everyone to become more responsible about their energy use. If you have decided that you want to normalize your energy data, make sure you have access to the appropriate data. You will end up spending some time looking at variables and the correlation between changes in occupancy, sales transactions, equipment purchases, and other variables that impact your energy use and operations. Watch this short video below to find out how Shari's Restaurants leverages Ecova's solutions to normalize their enegy data: http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/three-tips-to-normalize-your-energy-bills.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/three-tips-to-normalize-your-energy-bills.aspx Mon, 01 October 2012 10:24:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/the-changing-telecom-regulatory-environment.aspx The economic downturn of the past five years and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 created a perfect storm for businesses today trying to control their telecom expenses.  As background information, the Telecommunications Act was designed to open up competition in the local wireline service arena, giving consumers and businesses a choice when acquiring local services. Almost overnight, Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) started popping up to take advantage of the new law, which required the Incumbent LECs (ILECs) to sell business lines at wholesale to CLECs so they in turn can resell the services to end users. Under the authority of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Number Portability Administration Center (NPAC) was established to manage the Porting process of telephone numbers between ILECS and CLECs.   Fast forward to 2011―cash strapped States began reducing or eliminating their Public Utilities Commissions’ Telecom oversight since its role becomes less relevant in a competitive market. Unfortunately, many telecom billing systems are fraught with errors, and as a result, multiple companies end up billing for the same lines of service. This becomes a bigger problem for multisite businesses that ported their numbers to different providers over the past 15+ years. Additionally, securing refunds for complex billing errors may get even harder in the future for businesses as a result of an August 16, 2012 NY PUC ruling on Case 11-C-0048 , which requires business customers to provide support claims for overbilling on disconnected lines. Fortunately, businesses small and large can minimize the impact of this changing regulatory environment by: Keeping copies of all service orders along with any confirmations in writing and in a shared folder to prevent loss if someone leaves the company. Tracking the end of billing for any disconnects to ensure billing for the original service stops on the end of bill date and keeping a copy of the final bill in the event billing starts up again at some future date. Completing an audit every six months at a minimum to ensure you are not being billed for the same Working Telephone Numbers on multiple accounts or through multiple vendors. Having the porting provider provide written documentation that they are the provider of record according to NPAC. Documenting all billing disputed in writing. Learn how Ecova can help you navigate the ever-changing telecom environment . Related blog posts: Strategic Sourcing: The Key to Telecom Lifecycle Management Are you Paying for Unused Telecom Services? Evaluate Your Telecom Contracts and Terms for Optimal Savings http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/the-changing-telecom-regulatory-environment.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/october/the-changing-telecom-regulatory-environment.aspx Wed, 10 October 2012 09:21:00 Scot Davidson – Director - Carbon and Sustainability at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/reflections-insights-at-rila-2012.aspx This past week, Ecova’s Sustainability & Carbon team attended Retail Industry Leaders Association’s (RILA) 2012 Retail Sustainability conference.   The annual conference brings together the industry’s leading retailers to share best practices for advancing sustainability across products and operations―and with attendees such as Safeway, Walgreens, and Gap, we were in great company. Many of the retailers attending the conference are leaders in the industry with significant commitments to sustainability. Others are just beginning their sustainability journey. During the event, it was easy to see that regardless of where retailers may be on their path to sustainability, they all face similar internal and external barriers to their efforts. Throughout the three-day event, two things rose to the top as clear themes in the industry: Sustainability as a business approach is gaining interest broadly within these firms. Today we are seeing talented individuals from across the company― facilities, product design, human resources, finance, environmental, legal, C-suite― engaged in a common goal of creating long-term value for the company.  The increasing visibility of sustainability and the continued convergence of sustainability, cost management and corporate values will continue to increase given today’s business and stakeholder environment. One example of the broad reach of sustainability in these organizations proved to be the high point of the conference. Randy Lewis of Walgreens shared an example of the company’s commitment to community through its extraordinary experience of employing workers with disabilities. Lewis commented that two of its distribution centers  are achieving the highest productivity levels with workforces comprised of up to 40% physically or cognitively handicapped workers. Under a motto of “what is ours is yours” Lewis offered an open invitation to all firms to share what Walgreens has learned through this program , underscoring one of the conference themes―collaborative approaches lead to sustainability successes. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/reflections-insights-at-rila-2012.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/reflections-insights-at-rila-2012.aspx Thu, 27 September 2012 12:04:00 Jonathan Lee - Energy Procurement - Advanced Analytics Manager http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/eia-annual-energy-outlook-2012-market-trends-projections.aspx It’s that time of year again—the time when the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) releases its long-term outlook on energy trends in the United States.   The EIA walks through a wide variety of topics in their Annual Energy Outlook 2012 report , from legislation and regulations to potential efficiency improvements and their impact on end-use energy demand. While the breadth of information in this report is always valuable, it can be challenging to understand what it all means and where we’re headed. The following blog post will explore a few key themes from the report that will ultimately affect the future of energy. EFFICIENCY STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGICAL GAINS REDUCE ELECTRIC ENERGY INTENSITY IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS  Electricity accounted for 52% of the total commercial delivered energy in 2010. By 2035, the EIA expects that figure to grow to 56% as commercial floor space grows and new uses of electricity emerge. However, the good news is that through efficiency standards and technological gains, especially in refrigeration, lighting, electric space heating and cooling, we can slow the growth rate of purchased electricity per square foot. The majority of increased electric consumption will likely come from other areas, such as video displays, medical devices, servers and mainframe computers. With the technological age upon us, finding efficiencies within the building space can help decrease costs while reducing the impact of volatile energy markets. Ecova’s Facility Optimization and Research and Policy teams are well positioned to help identify new energy efficiency opportunities. Learn more in our plug load study results. THE CHANGING ENVIRONMENT FOR FUEL USE IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION Over the next 23 years, a variety of factors will influence how existing power plants are used, which plants are retired, and what types of new plants are built. Coal has been the dominant fuel source for electricity generation in the U.S., accounting for about 45% of the total mix, but with new environmental regulations, such as Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) and the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) , low natural gas prices, and state imposed renewable portfolio standards, coal’s share of the total is expected to decline to about 38% by 2035. At the same time, natural gas-fired generation is expected to grow from 18% to 28% of the total energy mix, while renewable sources are anticipated to surge 46%, to 15% of the total generation share. As the energy generation landscape changes, what does it mean for electric costs? The EIA projects electricity costs to increase by a modest 3% in their Reference Case, which assumes current laws and regulations remain unchanged throughout the projections. In other cases that assume CO 2 emission allowances, with costs passed directly to the customer, prices are expected to be between 25% and 33% higher―that’s quite a difference! In both cases, the shifting reliance to fuel sources that are typically more volatile will lead to more fluctuation in wholesale electricity prices in the coming years. UPDATE: As of August 21, 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals Washington D.C. Circuit struck down the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule ( CSAPR) . The rule has been sent back to the EPA for revision . U.S. BECOMES NET EXPORTER OF NATURAL GAS BY 2022  The U.S. has historically consumed more natural gas than it produces. To make up for the shortfall, the U.S. has relied on imports from other countries; however, with technological advances and changes in shale gas production, domestic production will gradually begin to eclipse the rate of consumption and then some. We are already starting to see the shift toward this 2022 projection. The first liquefied natural gas export facility in the continental U.S. was approved in early July 2012 and is scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2015. As North American natural gas travels overseas, geopolitical events will join the list of market fundamentals driving prices and potentially creating greater volatility.   One thing is for certain, the energy markets are going to dramatically change over the next couple of decades. With energy costs among the top concerns for businesses, many companies are teaming up with a total energy and sustainability management company like Ecova , to help ensure they can stay ahead of changes, prices and consumption. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/eia-annual-energy-outlook-2012-market-trends-projections.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/eia-annual-energy-outlook-2012-market-trends-projections.aspx Wed, 19 September 2012 08:34:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/three-cost-drivers-of-your-energy-bills.aspx Benchmarking your energy performance is a key component to identifying areas of opportunity to save money. Energy benchmarking can also assist with helping to understand the drivers behind your energy costs. Understanding what's driving your energy costs year over year will help you prioritize your areas of focus. There are three cost drivers on your energy bills that you should benchmark to have a true understanding of what is driving costs: consumption, weather and cost. These components will help you identify which techniques are appropriate to analyze for energy saving opportunities. 1. CONSUMPTION Consumption is a key ingredient of your energy bill. An effective way to monitor variances in energy consumption is to compare facilities by site or by a group of sites. Once you pull out a set of site data that you want to analyze, you can make an apples-to-apples energy consumption comparison with other sites. The nice thing about analyzing consumption by group is that you can have sites that, year over year, look completely normal, but are skewed when compared against peers. If energy consumption for a site or group of sites is increasing year over year then you know that there could possibly be an issue happening at those locations. One of the most common ways to compare sites is to look at either a one- or three-month energy benchmark. This frequency will help you accurately determine which sites have the highest potential return on investment for energy efficiency projects. 2. WEATHER The ultimate goal of energy benchmarking is to find outlier facilities and then be able to reduce energy consumption not just at the outlier sites but portfolio wide. It all starts with a site by site analysis. Understanding that a site’s geography is a key component to performance is a crucial step to understanding the cost drivers of your energy bills. Each geographic location experiences different weather conditions at different times of the year. Sites located in Florida will operate differently in the summer than sites located in Maine. So, being able to remove weather conditions from the equation is critical to understanding how each site is performing. 3. COST Being able to quantify savings in terms of how much consumption would have to be reduced to bring any strong return on investment is another key component to understand your energy bills. Capital expenditure budgets are based on where companies can get the highest ROI for an investment in any given year and the cost driver is a key metric to finding this out. The nice thing about cost is that the variances are typically easy to track. Unlike weather or consumption, you can usually put together a compelling scenario that shows how your entire portfolio could benefit from certain opportunities without too much trouble. Understanding how consumption, weather and cost impact your energy bill is a key step to becoming more responsible about your energy use. Knowing what impacts your energy bills will help identify where you have the biggest impact for reducing energy costs and consumption. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/three-cost-drivers-of-your-energy-bills.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/three-cost-drivers-of-your-energy-bills.aspx Mon, 17 September 2012 10:59:00 Rick Clough - Director of Resource Analytics at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/using-energy-data-to-make-informed-decisions.aspx Are you responsible for your company’s energy use and feel like you could use help making daily decisions at the strategic level? Consider putting processes in place that allow you to more easily make informed decisions. Whether you are managing or improving the way energy is purchased or consumed or you are trying to comply with certain sustainability requirements, you will have to use energy data to evaluate and explain numerous scenarios. Enegry data in its raw form can often have little use. But when put into context, you can use energy data to give you the knowledge, action or results that you need to accomplish your objectives. This post will discuss four key insights that offer visibility into your company’s energy spend. 1. IDENTIFY DEREGULATED ENERGY COSTS The first area encompasses looking at how you manage your deregulated energy spend. Your accounts payable department captures energy expenses and codes them appropriately, but additional information is needed to manage your deregulated energy expenditures. The first step to identifying potential opportunities is to review your company’s annual energy usage and spend to develop a deregulated energy procurement strategy. If you are doing RFP’s, key data points should include site information, including the utility that services each site, account and meter numbers, utility specific location ID tags (like Texas ESID numbers) and historical energy usage and demand information. To verify that this energy data is accurate, you will need the actual bills. The bills will also help you verify correct unit pricing, ensure that all sites are enrolled properly and confirm that billing stops from prior vendors. 2. REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION Lowering your company’s energy use is a key driver to saving money. That is why it is important to use energy consumption data to drive energy efficiency projects. There are many ways to use capital dollars to improve energy efficiency. Energy management systems, lighting and HVAC retrofits and other types of infrastructure projects provide a strong return on investment. At the same time, one of the cheapest ways to go about improving your energy performance is through changing behavior. To assess energy performance at a regional or a site level, you need energy consumption data, and you also need to make it meaningful and actionable for your organization. To use energy consumption data to drive behavior you need to look at your entire portfolio of sites or regions. Using the energy data from your utility bills, you can look at benchmarks to help you identify opportunities for capital investment. By looking across regions and exposing your organization to the energy data, you can inspire competition and collaboration for best practices by comparing performance metrics such as kWh/sq. ft. or BTUs/sq. ft. Comparing the year over year energy performance of sites will help drive the accountability down in the organization and make your energy efficiency programs more effective. You can also participate in the Environmental Protection Agency’s  ENERGY STAR ®  Portfolio Manager to rate each building to measure performance across your portfolio. 3. EXPLAIN YEAR OVER YEAR VARIANCES Most companies already produce financial variance reports. Fortunately the same can be done for energy. These reports will help you identify what is driving cost (unit price vs. usage changes). Identifying what is really occurring gives you the visibility you need to take action. 4. ENSURE COMPLIANCE WIH SUSTAINABILITY REQUIREMENTS S ustainability reporting is becoming more and more important for most of our clients. Quite often that involves establishing some level of a baseline in order to measure progress and change from that point of time. You also really want to be in the position where you can confidently report auditable results. External registries such as the Carbon Disclosure Project are good for tracking and monitoring. In conclusion, one of the best practices to implement is collecting energy data as you go. As an example, the indirect emissions that come from the generation of electricity and gas that your facilities use often accounts for 70-80% of your overall green house gas emissions. It is significantly easier to capture all this information in real time, than to go back and collect all of that information at the end of the year. For more information about how energy data is creating new opportunities for companies to rein in the rising and increasingly volatile cost of energy , read our recent whitepaper titled, "A Big Data Look at Energy Trends: 2009-2011" . And, learn about Ecova Technology - a comprehensive data, analytics, and business intelligence system that enables you to see more opportunities, save more money and resources, and sustain more across your portfolio. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/using-energy-data-to-make-informed-decisions.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/using-energy-data-to-make-informed-decisions.aspx Wed, 12 September 2012 10:31:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/managing-volatile-energy-prices-2-ecova-experts-speak-out.aspx Our own Brad Gawboy was interviewed recently by Property Management Insider on managing volatile energy prices. Brad spoke recently at the RealWorld 2012 annual user conference on energy trends, discussing ways to better understand and track energy pricing to lock in favorable rates. Read the full interview . And, Reuters spoke with Jonathan Lee this week – getting insights into U.S. natural gas prices and this week’s temperature impacts. You can read Jonathan’s thoughts on Reuters. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/managing-volatile-energy-prices-2-ecova-experts-speak-out.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/managing-volatile-energy-prices-2-ecova-experts-speak-out.aspx Tue, 11 September 2012 16:11:00 Paige Kindell - VP Sales and Client Management at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/the-impact-of-staples’-energy-strategy.aspx Bob Valair, director of energy and environmental management at Staples, recently sat down with Integrated Solutions For Retailers to share how the office solutions retailer has been able to reduce utility costs and improve facility efficiency throughout its locations. It’s not uncommon for large retailers to receive thousands of utility bills—Staples alone receives approximately 55,000 annually from all of its locations. Valair found that the key to a successful energy management program was separating the kWh and therms—key components of energy bills— from the AP function, as deciphering complicated energy bills was not necessarily the expertise of the AP department. Since 2000, Staples has used Ecova’s Utility Expense & Data Management solution offerings to help the retailer gain control of its utility expenses and create an effective sustainability strategy. The 12-year partnership has produced impressive results—Staples has seen an estimated 7% reduction in its carbon footprint from 2003 to 2010 and has received high honors from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year . Learn more about the Staples story and their path to creating a more efficient and sustainable energy management program. Note: Free registration is required to read the full article. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/the-impact-of-staples’-energy-strategy.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/the-impact-of-staples’-energy-strategy.aspx Fri, 07 September 2012 09:30:00 John Healy - Field Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/gardeners-for-a-day-in-philly.aspx Ecova employees in Pennsylvania recently used our Ecova Impact Community Service Day―a paid day off for every employee to volunteer in his or her community. The day provided an opportunity to not only perform service, but to work as a team, and it was a great experience! My colleague, John Hollinger scouted out various locations and selected Philadelphia landmark John Bartram Gardens , a beautiful botanical garden located in West Philadelphia, as our site. The historic Bartram Gardens was the 18 th century home of America’s first botanist, John Bartram, and today is a showcase of native plants and historic buildings. These beautiful gardens sit on the edge of the Schuylkill River and are preserved and maintained to look much like they did almost three centuries ago. The day started with an overview from the head gardener, Todd Greenberg, explaining the vision for the area in which we would be working—a future orchard on a sunny hillside. Today the site is covered with Japanese honeysuckle, an invasive species that was aggressively growing and spreading across the sloping field, which had to be removed before any trees could be planted. The Ecova team dug, raked and hoed the hillside, and filled wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow with the pulled vegetation. We beautified a large patch on a hillside and left it ready for the Bartram gardeners to take over for phase II of the project. We put in a good day's work and enjoyed the beautiful weather and the awesome location as we worked together. Field coordinators, field managers, program managers―we all joined in to make up a team of 16 working together. Our hours of work in the garden were rewarded with a tour of the beautiful grounds at the end of the day. The team comments at the end of our day summed up our experience best: “It was great to see what the team accomplished in such a short time―to bring a team of 16 together for this project was significant. By the end of the day, the area was cleared and ready for the next phase of the Garden’s project.” “An opportunity to see the efforts of this organization and to support them with much needed labor. Good chance for the Ecova team to spend time together outside, building relationships and getting to know one another better.” “It was a great event. John Hollinger did a great job of organizing the day and I really enjoyed the project, the location and the satisfaction of the work.” “It was hard work and a lot of fun. We got a good amount of the area cleared and it felt like our team really made an impact!” “This was a great opportunity for team building, as well as a day of service. We really enjoyed the day and we're thrilled about the benefit.”  Ecova’s Community Service Day benefit provided a great chance for the Pennsylvania team to give back to the community where we work and live, and making the effort as a team made it fun and fulfilling! http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/gardeners-for-a-day-in-philly.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/gardeners-for-a-day-in-philly.aspx Thu, 06 September 2012 09:03:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/market-drivers-for-benchmarking-energy-performance.aspx Energy is the largest contributor to a building’s environmental footprint. The energy consumed during the lifetime of a building (typically 40-50 years) exponentially exceeds the energy and cost of fuels consumed for the building’s materials and development. Additionally, energy use is the single largest controllable cost in commercial buildings . Effective energy management can bring financial and environmental savings. But understanding what market forces drive these savings is the first step to benchmarking energy performance . Energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions and potential energy legislation are market drivers that get the most publicity. However, there is a growing community of state and local governments across the United States who use and promote the EPA’s ENERGY STAR ® program as a way to lower energy consumption in commercial and industrial facilities. Public utilities serving customers in California and Washington are required to provide ENERGY STAR ratings. And some cities, like New York City and Washington D.C., take it one step further. They require building owners and managers to benchmark their performance using EPA’s online portfolio manager benchmarking tool. The Greener Greater Building Plan in New York City requires public and private buildings to track energy and water consumption using the EPA’s Portfolio Manager. Private buildings greater than 50,000 square feet are now required to benchmark their performance, and this data is published for all to see. Additionally, the number of voluntary initiatives to provide energy performance information to help building owners measure and better manage their energy consumption is on the rise. In some cases incentives are linked to the benchmarking system as in New Mexico where a tax credit is available. In New Jersey, the pay for performance programs offers cash incentives for measured energy savings using these benchmarking tools. Online public listings are also starting to incorporate ENERGY STAR recognition. Dollars from some no or low cost energy saving projects, like efficient lighting retrofits, can be reallocated as these projects provide a very strong return on investment. The money saved from energy efficiency projects can also fund sustainable and green design. Buildings applying for LEED use the EPA’s Portfolio Manager tool to make sure they meet the program’s minimum energy performance rules. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is another key market driver to energy savings. Some companies located in the Northeast are required to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through a program that’s first of its kind. Called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) , this market-based regulatory program is a collaborative effort by Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts , New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont to require states to cap and reduce CO 2  emissions 10 percent by 2018. As part of the program, states are required to auction their emission allowances and use these proceeds to invest in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other clean energy technologies. Finally, the potential for cap and trade legislation and/or federal/state tax incentives while limited in today’s current climate, is another market driver for benchmarking energy performance. Many companies already volunteer to produce a carbon disclosure report, the first step to proactively protecting themselves from any future cap and trade legislation that could jeopardize their image and operations. Register for our September 13th " Benchmarking with ENERGY STAR " webinar where we will discuss the importance of energy performance metrics and benchmarking with ENERGY STAR. Learn  how Ecova helps commercial and industrial clients benchmark energy performance . http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/market-drivers-for-benchmarking-energy-performance.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/september/market-drivers-for-benchmarking-energy-performance.aspx Tue, 04 September 2012 12:40:00 Alison Liaboe - Director of Product Management - Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/why-an-energy-star-rating-matters.aspx ENERGY STAR ® is a voluntary federal government program to help businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy performance. Acquiring an ENERGY STAR rating for your buildings is important because it will provide better visibility into your company’s energy consumption habits. Once you’ve used EPA’s Portfolio Manager to acquire your energy rating, you can use your new rating as a benchmark for future energy saving efforts and exposure. In order to understand the benefits of an ENERGY STAR rating, it is first important to explain how the rating was created. The ENERGY STAR grading system is an unbiased, third-party analytical tool that is easy to understand and communicate to all levels within your company. The rating system was developed using a comprehensive approach that included extensive research and information from the EPA, Department of Energy, and NOAA as well as other universities and organizations. The ENERGY STAR brand has quickly become the industry standard for rating energy efficiency. It is the most widely used energy performance rating system in the United States. More than 160,000 buildings covering 19 billion square feet have benchmarked their buildings using Portfolio Manager. In fact according to the EPA, over 75% of the American public recognizes the ENERGY STAR brand. The logo is prominently featured on thousands of appliances, electronics, equipment and buildings. The awareness and number of products and buildings receiving the ENERGY STAR label are both growing year over year.  An independent study of the commercial real estate market recently found that compared with the national average, buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR label consume around 35% less energy and have operating costs that are 50 cents lower per square foot. The study also found that the energy savings of labeled buildings can increase over time. Building occupancy rates increased and the savings generated from lower energy bills provided higher property values. In addition to receiving the energy and cost saving benefits that an ENERGY STAR rating offers, many companies also leverage the ENERGY STAR brand for exposure. As an example, buildings earning an ENERGY STAR rating of 75 or higher can receive a plaque that certifies the building meets ENERGY STAR standards. The plaque can then be placed in a high traffic area, like an entrance or hallway, so that people walking in and out of your building can see your recognition. Companies can be nominated for the prestigious EPA Partner of the Year Award and featured in the EPA’s online label building registry. This database offers a complete building profile of participating buildings and can be used as case studies for how to make buildings energy efficient.  Becoming an ENERGY STAR partner provides several ways to communicate your organization’s partnership with this well trusted and well recognized program. If your organization is a partner and is actively benchmarking your buildings, you will be able to easily communicate to your customers and other stakeholders the commitment your organization has made and what you're doing to reduce your energy consumption. This communication can be done by including the ENERGY STAR partner logo on your website, any sustainability program, documentation and even the signage within your building. ENERGY STAR also provides numerous resources and communication tools to use online. Some of the tools even help you publicize your energy efficient accomplishments. For example, you can use the template press release to announce your company’s first labeled building or energy rating. Ecova helps many clients receive ENERGY STAR ratings for their buildings. Learn more in this recent blog post, " ENERGY STAR: Strategy, Performance and Value ." For more information about the benefits of ENERGY STAR ratings, please visit energystar.gov . http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/why-an-energy-star-rating-matters.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/why-an-energy-star-rating-matters.aspx Thu, 30 August 2012 15:32:00 Sarah Brown - Marketing Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/energy-savings-hits-home-for-ecova-employee.aspx Interview with Nick Leritz, Ecova Senior Energy Management Consultant I spent time with Nick recently to catch up on how he and his family navigated the complexities of home improvements with thoughtfulness and style to reach their desired outcome: long-term energy and cost savings in a more functional and modern home. Nick’s story was featured in the August issue of Portland Monthly Magazine. Incorporating sustainable practices in his home was not unrelated to the challenges faced by Ecova’s clients to optimize energy consumption. Read more to learn how Nick was able to translate his home remodel experience to his work at Ecova. Q: What improvements did you make to your home? A: For the remodel, we used the following sustainable and efficient practices and products: 2kW solar PV system Argon filled dual pane windows and doors ENERGY STAR® appliances and fans 95% efficient furnace Green Guard insulation FSC lumber FSC countertop Low flow fixtures and toilets Reuse of materials Recycled and donated construction waste Continuous ventilation Radiant floor No VOC paints and finishes Q: Have you applied any learning experiences from your home remodel to your work at Ecova? A: Yes, I apply a lot of my residential energy efficiency experience to my Ecova work with commercial and industrial clients. Knowledge and awareness-building around energy efficient technology and building codes, project management, relationship-building and working with contractors are probably the primary ones. From our client’s perspective, there are a host of factors that ultimately govern the way a successful project’s outcome is achieved. I’d like to think that my own hands-on experience translates well to the guidance I provide my clients. I've been working on houses for almost 25 years, so much of what I’ve learned came from a lot of trial and error! Not to sound too sappy, but how my family and I live, combined with my work for Ecova, it all fits well together. I brought a lot in to my work at Ecova and I continually take things home and share them with others, it is all intertwined.    Q: What was the most surprising part of your home improvement project? A: There were definitely more challenges than expected surrounding costs and staying within the budget when making energy efficiency decisions. Sometimes knowing it’s the right thing to do isn’t enough; the payback needs to be there. Lifecycle cost analysis is paramount to the decision-making. Add to that, some of the best residential efficiency technology is still difficult to implement; there are typically fewer contractors with fewer years experience with a technology. This often translated into more risk and effort as the homeowner/builder.   Q: You had quite a few efficiency improvements. Which one brings you the most pride?  A: The whole thing, creating something together with my wife that balances form and function and a reduced footprint. It is the right size for our family—we use and enjoy all the spaces. From a visible and symbolic standpoint, I feel the solar PV system shows my family’s commitment to live more sustainably and I hope it influences others.    Q: How much are you saving in energy costs since the improvements?  A: It’s about 20 percent on our utility bills. Over the long-term, that really adds up.   Q: Is there an industry thought leader you admire? A: There are so many brilliant people in energy efficiency, sustainability and carbon management industries and yet, I am continually impressed by the talent at Ecova I get to work with everyday. My colleagues are the best!   Q: If you had it to do over again, what would you do differently? A: Hire out more, no doubt. This is the second significant residential project my wife, Risa and I have done together. We're older and hopefully wiser. It’s fun and rewarding being so involved, but there are trade-offs in balancing cost, schedule and work load. Read the Portland Monthly article and view more images . Photo credit: Risa Boyer http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/energy-savings-hits-home-for-ecova-employee.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/energy-savings-hits-home-for-ecova-employee.aspx Thu, 23 August 2012 09:21:00 Brooke Mittermann - Energy Manager I at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/energy-star-strategy,-performance-and-value.aspx The familiar, cool blue ENERGY STAR ® label, born out of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voluntary labeling program, started showing up on a limited number of devices nearly 20 years ago, in 1992, first appearing on computers and monitors and expanding quickly to other office supplies and residential heating and cooling equipment. In 1996, partnering with the Department of Energy (DOE), ENERGY STAR labels began to cover a myriad of consumer electronics, equipment, and, most recently, buildings. STRATEGY Ecova’s strategic approach to energy management includes a strong partnership with ENERGY STAR. Ecova has been an ENERGY STAR partner since 2005 and has been recognized by the EPA for eight consecutive years—twice as Partner of the Year and six times for Sustained Excellence. Several of Ecova’s clients are also ENERGY STAR partners , a testament to our collaborative efforts to lead the way toward more efficient resource use. PERFORMANCE For many facilities, performance can be rated on a scale of 1–100 relative to similar buildings nationwide. This innovative energy performance rating system has been used for more than 200,000 buildings across the country and a growing number of cities and states now require annual ENERGY STAR reporting. Ecova works with its clients and ENERGY STAR to track and assess energy and water consumption across an entire portfolio of buildings – which can be quite an undertaking for large companies with hundreds or thousands of locations. VALUE ENERGY STAR certified buildings meet strict energy performance standards set by the EPA and use less energy, are less expensive to operate, and cause fewer greenhouse gas emissions than their peers. These buildings are also known to have higher occupancies , rental rates , transaction values, and, in some cases, returns. The EPA recognizes these top performing buildings with the ENERGY STAR label . An ENERGY STAR label on a building means more than energy reduction and associated savings; it makes a promise to consumers to uphold cultural values and a dedication to stewardship that goes beyond the bottom line. The ENERGY STAR label is ubiquitous with cost-effective, quality solutions and has been attracting loyal patrons, who shop with confidence and navigate a staggering array of choices knowing that the familiar, cool blue ENERGY STAR label means value. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/energy-star-strategy,-performance-and-value.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/energy-star-strategy,-performance-and-value.aspx Wed, 22 August 2012 09:07:00 Indigo Teiwes - Strategic Planning Services Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/dumpster-diving-to-find-waste-savings-environmental-benefits.aspx Why you ask, would I spend the day sorting through the trash of a Carl’s Jr restaurant? It’s not as crazy as it sounds – it is enabling our client, CKE Restaurants , to see more , save more and sustain more , and is a key component of Carl’s Jr and Hardee’s restaurants Going Green program, which encompass efforts to improve resource efficiency, save money and improve environmental performance.  Essentially, by sorting through the trash (formally described as a “waste characterization study”), Carl’s Jr will have more visibility into its waste stream, which enables us to help Carl’s Jr identify opportunities to divert waste to lower cost material streams (such as recycling and composting), and generate waste management cost savings that can be sustained over the long run. This also provides environmental benefits by keeping more waste from needing to be sent to a landfill. When we were done with the sort, the “eyeball test” showed that at least two-thirds of the waste could be put to better use than being sent to a landfill. Food waste and paper soiled food can be composted and turned into a soil amendment, and the recyclable waste streams (cardboard, plastic, steel, aluminum and paper) can be turned into new packaging products, saving energy and materials. Of course, now that the “dirty work” is done, we have weights and volumes of different materials to analyze, as well as the economic analysis of the costs and savings. But that’s tomorrow’s work. For now, I’ll sleep well knowing we can help Carl’s Jr get dollars and environmental benefits out of its trash! KHQ News, an NBC affiliate located in Spokane, WA stopped by to film as the waste audit took place. Watch the video. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/dumpster-diving-to-find-waste-savings-environmental-benefits.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/dumpster-diving-to-find-waste-savings-environmental-benefits.aspx Tue, 21 August 2012 10:16:00 Rick Clough - Director of Resource Analytics at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/building-your-energy-budget-for-optimal-performance.aspx Budgeting for energy, which can vary erratically from month to month, can be a challenge. Energy managers need to know how much energy their organization will consume and at what rate—when both are moving targets. The following recommendations can help establish an energy spend baseline to help you gain control over your budget. ESTABLISH BOTH A USAGE AND UNIT PRICE BASELINE AT THE SITE LEVEL Build your energy budget on a site-by-site basis. Energy budgeting at the site level unlocks pinpoint consumption and utility price forecasting, reducing variability in your budget. Using your general ledger or a state-by-state approach can be problematic to reach an appropriate baseline for your energy spend; these methods are quickly developed, but do not have a desirable level of accuracy or accountability.  ALWAYS BOOK A FULL PERIOD OF EXPENSE USING ACCRUALS, RATHER THAN BUDGETING BASED ON BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID Use full period accruals to create a more normalized energy spend picture. Full period accruals eliminate variance driven by bill timing and help avoid misleading conclusions in energy budget analysis, resulting in a more complete financial picture. To enhance your accrual’s accuracy, apply site-level adjustment factors that reflect month-over-month expense changes due to seasonality. KEEP TRACK OF UNIT COST AND CONSUMPTION Analyze your performance at each site against budget to provide better insight into sources of variance with regard to unit cost and consumption. Important questions to include: How is my entire portfolio doing in terms of cost drivers?  How are things unfolding with energy spend compared to plan? How are individual sites and regions performing? By exploring these questions, you will be better positioned to know your energy budget against actual, understand where any problems lie, and how they can best be resolved with well documented unit costs and usage. APPLY ADJUSTMENTS TO YOUR BASELINE ACCOUNTING FOR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FACTORS IMPACTING YOUR ENERGY BUDGET Start from your baseline to incorporate internal portfolio factors that estimate the impact of usage changes. Important budget factors include operational changes, capital improvements, and new/closing site information, as well as operating hours and production schedules. Also, be sure to work with procurement to account for new energy contracts in deregulated markets. The volatility of specific energy types varies region-by-region, largely driven by its energy generation profile. These regionally shifting prices will have a unique impact on each site and your portfolio. Therefore, it is crucial to apply rate projections to protect you from future increases. Rate projections for electric and gas should be applied at the site/utility level ensuring the most accurate adjustments are made. By following these recommendations, you can build an energy budget which more closely reflects your actual spend, enhancing your overall financial position, while setting a foundation for broader energy management and sustainability efforts.   Not sure where to start? Ecova has the resources to help you compile and analyze baseline data in addition to applying individualized rate forecasting for each of your sites. We leverage our data warehouse and our knowledge of impending rate changes to provide customized budget reports, which results in an annual and monthly electric and/or gas service budget for usage and spend, with a variance report showing actuals against budget. To learn more about budgeting strategies and how Ecova can help you, watch our educational 30-minute webinar below, “Don't Let Your Budget Drivers Drive You Crazy” from our Inside Energy & Sustainability webinar series. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/building-your-energy-budget-for-optimal-performance.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/building-your-energy-budget-for-optimal-performance.aspx Thu, 16 August 2012 08:16:00 Brendan Trimboli - Research Analyst at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/ecova-does-good-deeds-for-durango-trails.aspx The Colorado Trail embarks from Waterton Canyon, West of Denver, climbing high through the Rocky Mountains across miles of alpine tundra, dipping through stands of pine and aspen, ultimately spanning 486 miles before terminating in Durango, just up the road from Ecova’s Research & Policy office. Heavy use and summer monsoon rain wreaks havoc on existing trails, causing erosion and creating dangerous conditions for travel; convenient as it would be, these trails do not maintain themselves. Through the Ecova Impact Community Service Day benefit—a paid day for every Ecova employee to volunteer in his or her community—we set out to give back and arranged a day of service to benefit the San Juan Mountains Association and the Colorado Trail Foundation . Shortly after sunrise on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, a dozen volunteers assembled at the Junction Creek Trailhead. Our crew comprised of five Ecovians and seven members of the Durango trail running community, friends I’ve met during the past year through the local running scene. After a brief overview of our goals for the day, we armed ourselves with mattocks, McLeods, Pulaskis and loppers , and set forth to fix the trail. In eight hours we cleared massive amounts of brush, repaired dozens of water bars, and received countless “thank yous” from passersby. Eventually, we reconvened at the trailhead for a round of well-deserved refreshments. Now, as I embark on my morning jog up the Colorado Trail and the sun begins to rise above the eastern ridge, I see and appreciate the fruits of our labor, a team effort between Ecova and Durango. We would have had difficulty in coordinating such a successful outing without the Ecova Community Service Day benefit. Not only did our day of service foster a new bond amongst employees, but we made a positive impact on our local community and established new ties with individuals previously unaware of Ecova’s capabilities and accomplishments. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/ecova-does-good-deeds-for-durango-trails.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/ecova-does-good-deeds-for-durango-trails.aspx Wed, 15 August 2012 09:20:00 Nate Bellino - Director of Product Management - Utility Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/lighting-programs-still-one-of-the-most-important-parts-of-your-energy-efficiency-portfolio.aspx With EISA compliance beginning and CFL market penetration improving, some utilities have found themselves defending the value of their lighting programs to regulators and CEOs who question the cost effectiveness of including them in a residential portfolio. The following are common questions utilities are hearing, along with key points to help overcome these objections: WILL EISA DIMINISH THE SAVINGS FROM A LIGHTING PROGRAM TO A POINT WHERE IT IS NO LONGER COST EFFECTIVE? This is a common misunderstanding. While the savings associated with efficient bulbs (CFLs, LEDs, and 2X) will be reduced as a result of EISA, our analysis shows that lighting will still be on par with appliance recycling as one of the most cost effective residential programs in a portfolio. ARE LIGHTING PROGRAMS ONLY FOR GENERAL PURPOSE CFLS? We are entering into the next generation of lighting programs which include LEDs and 2X , both of which are just being introduced into the market. In addition, specialty CFLs carry significantly lower market share relative to general purpose CFL bulbs and need further support. This means lighting programs will become less dependent on general purpose CFLs, and we will see the transition away from them occurring over the next three years. 2013 will focus on introducing the right LED, 2X and specialty bulbs to ensure residential customers have a good experience with the bulbs they use, and in 2014 we project a large percentage increase in LEDs, 2X and specialty bulbs. In 2015 the transition from general purpose CFLs to newer efficient technologies and bulb types will be complete. DOES THE MARKET NEED AN INCENTIVE? Price remains the leading consideration in light bulb purchases for consumers, according to a recent Ecova study of over 2,000 customers across three utilities.  Additionally, new technologies carry large price premiums that will not allow them to cross the early adopter threshold without incentives. However, they need to be the right incentive levels. Recent analysis by Ecova has helped us understand the price elasticity of both existing and new technologies that help identify how incentives move demand. ARE LIGHTING PROGRAMS JUST ABOUT INCENTIVES? The lighting market is going through tremendous change: New laws, new technologies, and new labels with different information. All these changes result in confusion and increase the probability of consumers making inefficient choices until the new lighting options are more familiar. The educational function of lighting programs has become increasingly important, as has choosing the right bulbs to include in the product mix. Comparing lumens and new technologies to what customers understand clearly shows how efficient lighting can meet their needs, while selecting the best-in-class bulbs to incent ensures a positive customer experience with new technologies so utility programs do not make the same mistakes they made with CFLs early on. In closing, a lighting program will continue to be one of the most cost effective options in a residential portfolio for years to come. The importance of lighting has in fact increased as the next wave of technologies attempt to cross the chasm into the mainstream market and there is rampant consumer confusion. A utility is once again poised to be the trusted advisor to their customers, helping them navigate the endless array of options, making it more affordable to purchase efficient lighting, and saving on their energy bills. Want to know more about new LED technology? Check out Ecova’s recent Best-in-Class LED Reflector Lamp research . http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/lighting-programs-still-one-of-the-most-important-parts-of-your-energy-efficiency-portfolio.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/lighting-programs-still-one-of-the-most-important-parts-of-your-energy-efficiency-portfolio.aspx Mon, 13 August 2012 07:24:00 Timothy C. Colwell - SVP Global Business Analytics at AOTMP http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/strategic-sourcing-the-key-to-telecom-lifecycle-management.aspx Today's guest blogger, Timothy C. Colwell, SVP of Global Business Analytics at AOTMP, shares some best practice advice on executing a successful strategic telecom sourcing initiative… Strategic sourcing is rooted in the philosophy that the success of the activity will drive consistent business value for the duration of the established contract. Often, sourcing event objectives are shortsighted in that they seek immediate financial benefits while assuming technical performance and customer care will follow. This does not imply that securing the best rates automatically means that technical performance and customer care will be sacrificed; rather, it suggests that without a plan to secure a well-balanced contract, complete performance is less likely. Approaching telecom sourcing as a strategic event serves to align business objectives with the best possible telecom carrier, which will yield the most effective performance for the contract duration. To execute a successful strategic sourcing initiative, the following should be incorporated into the process: A technology roadmap supporting long-term technology requirements Defined technical, financial and operational business objectives A relationship management plan supporting the contract lifecycle A technology roadmap begins with an understanding of immediate service needs.  This is gleaned from a service inventory, as well as voice and data consumption trending. While technology innovation changes at a pace greater than that of the average telecom contract term, the goal of a strategic sourcing initiative should be to predict communications needs as they relate to business demands. By understanding voice and data usage trends and planned business consumption across fixed and mobile service suites, enterprises can focus their attention on carriers that likely have the ability to support their telecom service needs today and into the future. Addressing technology upgrade and migration contingencies affords the flexibility needed to take advantage of yet to be offered technologies introduced during the contract term. When considering business objectives for the sourcing event, a well-rounded perspective on business needs should be adopted. Technical aspects of service should address availability, compatibility and reliability. Methods that telecom carriers use to deliver service play an integral role in assessing these key technical attributes.  For example, understanding whether or not a carrier controls end-to-end network services will shed light on the ability of the carrier to fully commit to required service availability and reliability. By contrast, carriers reselling services will only commit to technical performance for the portions of the network they control. Exploring the details of how services are delivered increases awareness of potential risks that threaten technical performance expectations. Financial business objectives should be viewed through a total cost of ownership lens. The tendency is to focus pricing objectives on service line item price points.  While this is necessary, a complete understanding of cost enables a better understanding of the financial impact of a given carrier contract. ‘Other’ charges above and beyond line item pricing can account for as much as 40% of the cost of telecom service. For this reason, evaluation of non-recurring charges, one-time and recurring administrative charges, cost recovery fees, and surcharges is just as important as line item service charges when evaluating service cost. Operational business requirements are perhaps the most commonly underappreciated objectives in a sourcing event. These objectives should clearly identify requirements for engineering support, technical design support, help desk support, service ordering support, billing support, and account management. Over the past several decades, operational support and customer service have greatly declined in the telecom market. Carriers are pressed to reduce their prices to compete in the open market and support is typically the first casualty as costs are cut in efforts to reduce prices while maintaining margins.  Establishing clear expectations for operational support requirements and accepting that there is a cost for meeting expectations enables enterprises to be more objective when evaluating carrier cost as it relates to meeting their requirements. As unpopular as the thought may be, enterprises are required to manage their carriers and associated relationships in today’s market. Defining requirements for business relationship management should occur in the sourcing event and before a carrier is selected. Requirements should address account management, customer care and business relationship management objectives. By addressing relationship management objectives within sourcing events, enterprises will be prepared to evaluate carrier capabilities and competencies before selection, which lessens the likelihood of buyer’s remorse. As you plan for your next sourcing event, incorporate these strategic sourcing elements to improve sustained contract value and support telecom lifecycle management for your organization. Want to hear more from Tim Colwell on best practices for strategic telecom sourcing? Register for Ecova's upcoming webinar co-presented by AOTMP. ### Timothy C. Colwell is AOTMP' s Sr. Vice President of Global Business Analytics and is owner and author of AOTMP’s Industry Best Practice Library. AOTMP is a leading authority on driving efficiency and performance into enterprise fixed and mobile telecom environments, working hand-in-hand with both enterprises and industry suppliers. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/strategic-sourcing-the-key-to-telecom-lifecycle-management.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/strategic-sourcing-the-key-to-telecom-lifecycle-management.aspx Wed, 08 August 2012 14:14:00 Bob Zak - VP/GM of Facility Optimization at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/reduce-energy-consumption-through-benchmarking-outlier-investigation.aspx For Ecova’s more than 700 commercial clients, reducing energy is critical to saving costs and resources. One of the best ways that we can help do this is through benchmarking and outlier investigation. However, these can be labor and data intensive efforts, particularly when managing hundreds and thousands of locations. Through our rich data, we’ve been able to develop a benchmarking and outlier investigation program that is a great place to start to gain the kind of actionable data that makes a difference. The way we approach this is in line with much of what Katherine Tweed of Greentechmedia wrote in a recent article . In fact, a study by IMT found that a national benchmarking and disclosure policy could reduce energy costs by approximately $18 billion by 2020. As Tweed says, “It all sounds very simple, but depending on the size of the building and the ease of collecting utility data, getting a benchmark score can be a headache.” We hear this from our clients every day. Benchmarking and outlier identification sound simple, but it’s a complex process that takes time, data, and knowledge. And, it should be the first step in building an energy management and reduction plan. Starting with benchmarking can help you focus on those buildings that have the greatest room for improvement – or the “low hanging fruit”. This allows a company to avoid setting foot in the building as a first step, which is less expensive and easier to do across a very large portfolio of buildings. Technology is helping to make some of this easier - allowing us to identify behavior at a specific building site or group of sites that is outside the norm. This kind of benchmarking is typically done through analyzing utility bill data over a course of time. As the smart grid becomes a reality, building operators have access to more granular data such as 15-minute electrical interval data. Combined with other information such as square footage and weather patterns you can create a benchmark that allows us to see which properties in a certain category are outperforming or underperforming with their energy consumption. This benchmarking process will then inform the next stage – which properties should be the focus of outlier investigation. In the outlier investigation stage, we can assess actual behavioral and operational data from the building. This greatly increases the accuracy of the diagnosis and leads to more targeted solutions. Gathering this data via interviews with employees and building personnel, occupancy or sales data, data from key equipment and mining details from other records can all assist in narrowing down to the specific energy inefficiencies and can increase accuracy when it comes time to crunch the numbers and decide upon courses of action. The accuracy of the benchmarking and outlier investigation can be the difference that drives the correct plan of action. Making sure you have the right data first is essential to ensure you have the measureable and sustainable savings we all seek. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/reduce-energy-consumption-through-benchmarking-outlier-investigation.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/reduce-energy-consumption-through-benchmarking-outlier-investigation.aspx Tue, 07 August 2012 11:36:00 Sheila Johnston - Senior Energy Analyst at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/utility-budgets-to-accrue-or-not-accrue.aspx Energy managers today try to balance utility budgets for a handful, hundreds, or even thousands of locations. Accurately predicting their energy spend across each location becomes a challenge, especially when attempting to compensate for variability introduced by bill cycle timing and seasonality. Incurring two bills or no bills in a single period reduces the accuracy of their budget forecasting and analysis.  Our recommendation is to use full period accruals. You accrue for outstanding expenses on all of your accounts and you accrue out to the end of the period. When the current bill is received, the previous accrual is reversed. Thus, the booked expense in the current period becomes the reversed accrual from the prior period plus the current amount of bill paid and the current accrual. Full period accruals eliminate variance driven by bill timing and help avoid misleading conclusions in budget analysis. The result is a more complete financial picture.  Generating accruals based on cost per day of the most recent bill in the system and projected out provides one level of accuracy. To refine the accrual, seasonally adjusted data, usage indexes, and weather statistical analysis should be applied before booking it to your system. Analyzing the impact of these events on each site and incorporating them into the accrual can dramatically reduce variance. This methodology requires considerable data and automation support. Ecova offers budget and accrual solutions to create more accurate accrual forecasts with tools and expertise to account for anticipated fluctuations. Our goal is to remove some of the heavy lifting of data and analysis and deliver month to month variance reports which reflect actual performance. In this way we take care of the legwork and make accruals predictable and manageable for your business. Monthly variance analysis becomes more meaningful when volatility is reduced; and precise accruals which reflect your actual cost performance allow you to take appropriate action and make that action valuable. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/utility-budgets-to-accrue-or-not-accrue.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/utility-budgets-to-accrue-or-not-accrue.aspx Thu, 02 August 2012 10:49:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/are-you-paying-for-unused-telecom-services.aspx In my recent blog “ Evaluate Your Telecom Contracts and Terms for Optimal Savings ,” I discussed the importance of addressing service relevancy as one determining factor to evaluate during the telecom contract review process. In this blog post, I’ll cover this process in more detail. Before you renew a telecom contract, it is important to determine whether the particular telecom service is still relevant to the needs of the business. Great examples of services that may no longer be relevant are business lines used to support analog modems or fax machines. Today, many companies are utilizing fax servers and/or migrated devices to connect to their Local Area Network (LAN) - eliminating the need for these additional lines. Another example of services to evaluate against business needs is Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines. ISDN lines have traditionally been used for video conferencing, and many companies can find cost savings by eliminating these lines and transitioning to IP-based services that are more cost efficient and simpler to support. How can you ensure you are not paying for unused telecom services?  The answer is two-fold. The best way to determine the need for your telecom lines and services is to maintain a complete inventory, identify the purpose for each item and repeat this review process at least once a year. But relevancy is more than just the need for a particular telecom service. It is also evaluating the critical nature of the service and the anticipated need for service reliability. It wasn’t that long ago that our office telephone was the only way for clients, vendors and colleagues to communicate with us; today we are all available via a host of solutions which may include email, instant message, text, presence and mobile devices. Between these options and the growth of the mobile workforce, many companies find themselves paying for more local trunks then they need, wasting thousands of dollars in the process each month. A traffic study is the best way to determine how many lines are needed to support your desired grade of service during the busiest hours of the day. Even 10 years ago, companies needed to install additional analog lines to allow for emergency communications in the event of a network, equipment or power failure. Today, unless your industry involves human life and death, you may be willing to risk a potential outage, relying on employees to use their mobile devices.  Pending any new hot topics popping over the next week or two I will be covering  the second question asked in my “Evaluate Your Telecom Contracts and Terms for Optimal Savings” blog, “Are There Alternative Telecom Services or Technologies to Meet Our Business Needs?” In the meantime I am interested in hearing your thoughts. If you have questions or comments, please email me at lberz@ecova.com. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/are-you-paying-for-unused-telecom-services.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/are-you-paying-for-unused-telecom-services.aspx Mon, 06 August 2012 08:33:00 Christine Herwit - Director of Lease Audit at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/a-best-practice-guide-for-capturing-cost-savings-from-landlord-billed-utilities.aspx Understanding lease language as it relates to your utilities is critical for capturing cost savings opportunities. Our best practices guide will demonstrate how ‘knowing your lease’ can help you avoid overpaying for landlord billed utilities, while offering suggested language for optimal transparency in your bills. The following recommendations are particularly important for those that manage multi-site location businesses. IDENTIFY LEASES WITH FAVORABLE LANGUAGE Good lease language will state: “Tenant will not be billed any more for utilities than they would have been billed by the local utility.” Identifying leases with favorable language best enables you to seek transparency and set the stage for success where overcharges may be identified, as well as provide a basis for negotiation with the landlord. Bottom line, know your leases! UNDERSTAND YOUR UTILITY BILL There are two main savings categories in which to focus—rates and usage. Transparency in your bill is fundamental to understanding how the landlord is charging you and how the charge is being measured or allocated. The rates should be clear on the bill and the same as if directly contracted with the utility. Usage should reflect your actual consumption, meaning estimates should be up to date and any allocations should be appropriate for your type of business. Identifying overcharges in these two areas will reveal savings opportunities. BUILD A DOCUMENTED CASE & START A DIALOGUE WITH YOUR LANDLORD Keep your records. Be prepared with documentation of identified billing errors. Create a clear and concise report supported by the lease terms. Open lines of communication and a plan will be important as you evaluate the landlord’s response to your report. Do you want to direct bill with the utility, or do you want a check meter installed to verify your landlord billed consumption? Negotiating these steps and open dialogue with the landlord will help build solutions into the future. As your organization signs new lease agreements, incorporate strong language supporting utility billing and measurement transparency to ensure protection and continued savings. To learn more about lease savings opportunities watch our educational 30-minute webinar below, "Achieving Cost Savings from Landlord Billed Utilities,” with guest presenter, Debbie Ravel from Gap, Inc. from our Inside Energy & Sustainability webinar series. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/a-best-practice-guide-for-capturing-cost-savings-from-landlord-billed-utilities.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/august/a-best-practice-guide-for-capturing-cost-savings-from-landlord-billed-utilities.aspx Wed, 01 August 2012 08:33:00 Paige Kindell - VP Sales and Client Management at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/energy-efficiency-solutions-for-a-cooler-summer.aspx Summer is a demanding time for our nation’s electric grid— and electricity is like most commodities — when demand rises, so do prices. But there are solutions to keep costs down, while making your facility more energy efficient and welcoming for both employees and customers. COST-EFFECTIVE ENERGY PURCHASING Many states offer what is known as ‘retail choice.’ This means that energy suppliers can compete to provide your gas or electricity. During the summer months, a review of savings opportunities created by electric retail choice are of particular value as you turn up your air conditioning. If you do business in one of these states, and decide to shop for your electricity, consider not only price but also terms that best suit your organization. If your market doesn’t permit retail choice, you may still have options. Some utilities offer various kinds of rates, especially for large energy users, such as time-of-use (TOU) pricing, which means the utility changes the price of electricity throughout the day to more closely reflect its market price. USING ENERGY EFFICIENTLY Be sure that air conditioners and other energy-intensive equipment are working properly. Too often equipment failure goes undetected until bills skyrocket. Older systems may lack ‘smart’ sensors and controls like an economizer that signals how much outside air to draw in. Adding new digital, smart devices can save you money. If an outside contractor maintains your equipment, examine your contract. Does the contractor conduct a thorough inspection or provide only basic filter and belt replacement? Conducting preventative maintenance has a significant pay-off, as it helps avoid costly breakdowns that impact your budget and your employee and customer experience. CREATING COMFORT FOR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS A comfortable employee and customer environment is critical, so your strategy to achieve comfort needs to be handled carefully to avoid negative effects on the bottom line; this is particularly important for retail operations. Some stores may prop open their doors to welcome customers and create an inviting atmosphere. This sends cool air out and allows warm air in, making the air conditioner work especially hard and driving up energy costs. As the outside air warms the building, store workers sometimes set the thermostat even lower. The building eventually gets chilly. The workers put on sweaters because it is cold. The customer, however, comes in from the heat without a sweater, so doesn’t linger long to shop. It’s just too cold in the store. By raising the temperature set point a few degrees and keeping doors closed, you can save energy and improve comfort for both employees and customer. The space will still be cool, but not chilly, and customers will linger longer. Summer doesn’t need to be costly or uncomfortable—following these steps will help create a more enjoyable summer for everyone. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/energy-efficiency-solutions-for-a-cooler-summer.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/energy-efficiency-solutions-for-a-cooler-summer.aspx Mon, 30 July 2012 10:05:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/evaluate-your-telecom-contracts-and-terms-for-optimal-savings.aspx The telecommunications environment is rapidly changing. Resources are tight and the end of your telecom contract term is approaching. It is decision time; do you execute an extension to your current agreement, or go to market?     As you are faced with this decision, it is important to carefully weigh the pros and cons to determine which option best meets your needs. While tempted to base this decision on current resource and time limitations, the choice you make today will have ramifications for years to come. Best in class pricing and business terms take time. These best in class terms are not typically reached in a single telecom procurement event but rather through a series of agreements and negotiations between business partners. With rapidly evolving technologies and regulatory changes, the telecom landscape is in continuous flux. This offers increased competition and the potential for lower price points than you may have been able to achieve even a year ago. As this trend continues, services such as basic conferencing, long distance (LD) and Internet have become more commoditized, thus blurring the distinction between the big “Tier 1” players and the rest of the suppliers in the space and presenting a tremendous amount of savings potential. With Internet Protocol (IP) becoming the transport of choice, newer providers without the encumbrances of Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) backbones are redefining the Tier structure altogether. Ask yourself the following questions prior to making a decision to extend or go to bid on your next agreement: Is this service still relevant to the needs of our End Users? Even if the technology has remained relatively stable, business needs may have changed the required volume or configurations. Do we fully understand how our current or proposed pricing compares to prevailing rates? Are there alternative services or technologies to meet our business needs? Is our current provider the only option for our service needs? Does our existing telecom agreement include all the protective business language and Service Level Agreements we need? If you can’t answer yes to all of these questions, a telecom procurement event might be your best course of action. If time is tight, consider executing a six to twelve-month extension of your existing contract to allow yourself enough time to do it right. Over the next several months I will be blogging on these questions in detail along with other procurement topics to provide a good roadmap for obtaining world class agreements with your vendors. In the meantime, I am interested in hearing your thoughts. If you have questions or comments, e-mail me at lberz@ecova.com . http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/evaluate-your-telecom-contracts-and-terms-for-optimal-savings.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/evaluate-your-telecom-contracts-and-terms-for-optimal-savings.aspx Thu, 26 July 2012 13:57:00 Catherine Mercier - Research and Policy Project Lead at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/5-steps-to-help-you-save-40-percent-of-your-office-equipment-energy-use.aspx Did you know that office equipment uses about 20 percent of electricity in commercial office buildings? Office equipment is a type of plug load, an electronic device that plugs into the wall. Not only does office equipment consume a large fraction of total office electricity, but its electricity use continues to rise as offices add more electronics with greater functionality. Did you know that in your office it is possible to reduce office equipment energy use by 40 percent just by using no- and low-cost approaches such as aggressive power management settings, inexpensive hardware controllers like timers and advanced plug strips, and employee behavior changes? In work funded by the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program, Ecova’s Research and Policy Team recently completed a field monitoring study to better understand the energy consumption of plug load devices in commercial offices. Specifically, we were looking at ways for plug load energy savings. The results of the study are available here . Furthering the work of this important study, today, the New Buildings Institute published a new guide which outlines these five steps for reducing office equipment energy use: Review: Gather information about how plug loads are used in your office. Remove : Eliminate or unplug unnecessary devices.     Reduce : Implement strategies to lower power draw of high priority devices such as computers, monitors and imaging equipment. Replace : When it's time to replace, purchase the most energy-efficient devices for the job. Retrain : Engage staff. Make sure they understand the energy-savings steps taken and teach them how they can reduce energy use. The guide also offers actionable information on how to save money by reducing plug load energy use in office spaces. In offices, computers, monitors, imaging equipment and computer peripherals use the majority of office equipment energy use. In offices that have already improved the efficiency of lighting and HVAC systems, plug loads can represent as much as 50 percent of electricity use. And, this figure can be reduced by up to 40 percent through a combination of using low and no-cost measures. This kind of actionable and data-driven information is a great benefit for landlords, tenants, and occupants of office spaces around the country, all of whom can play an important role in lowering their energy consumption. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/5-steps-to-help-you-save-40-percent-of-your-office-equipment-energy-use.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/5-steps-to-help-you-save-40-percent-of-your-office-equipment-energy-use.aspx Thu, 19 July 2012 15:17:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/ecova-clients-top-fastest-growing-retailers-list.aspx  The National Retail Federation recently released a list of the top 100 fastest-growing retailers in America. We’re delighted to see that our clients make up nearly 75% of the list. With such impressive numbers, it’s easy to see how we’d be pleased—and we are—but it’s the story behind these numbers that gets us really excited! Ecova’s integrated energy and sustainability management services help multi-site companies—like many of the retailers on this list—understand their energy use and how to leverage data to drive energy savings and improve performance. Ecova gathers usage and expenditure data across large portfolios to deliver insights that allow clients to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs, and set sustainability performance standards. Working with nearly 75% of the country’s ‘fastest-growing retail companies,’ can add up to real energy savings for our clients, and ultimately, the environment. So, it’s not just the fact that many of our clients made the list, it’s the impact that these clients are having that gives us something to talk about. Congratulations to all of our clients on this list—you make our work rewarding. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/ecova-clients-top-fastest-growing-retailers-list.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/ecova-clients-top-fastest-growing-retailers-list.aspx Mon, 23 July 2012 13:11:00 Hester Yorgey - Manager of Corp Sustainability ＆ Emp Value at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/climbing-up-in-the-energy-management-industry.aspx This month, Executive Vice President Jon Thomsen was recognized as one of 2012’s leaders in the sustainable business ecosystem by Sustainable Business Oregon. Leaders throughout Oregon were chosen for their thought leadership and commitment to integrating environmental and social responsibility into “business as usual.” Jon and I recently sat down to chat about this honor, and to talk about his motivation for driving positive change in the energy management industry. Congratulations for being recognized as one of Oregon’s sustainability leaders!  It’s an honor to be singled out like this, but I certainly can’t take the credit. This kind of attention points to all of the amazing work our employees and Ecova as a whole are doing to make a world of difference for our clients. We have nearly 1,300 passionate people working to reduce our clients’ energy spend, improve operations and conserve resources. This isn’t about me…this is a recognition of their hard work of which I’m very appreciative. What does the future of energy management look like? How important is the role of technology? Energy management will continue to be more dependent on leveraging technology to obtain information that leads to cost effective action. And as energy resources become more constrained and expensive, this industry will continue to focus on reducing usage through technologies that automate action based on a set of predetermined rules. Human behavior has such an important impact on resource utilization, so we’ll also see increased attention to education and empowering people to play their part in environmental impact mitigation. What’s the one thing businesses should do now to position themselves for the future? To have the largest lasting impact, I would encourage businesses to acknowledge that there is both a business need and an opportunity in resource management—and to integrate it into their strategic planning process. Corporate sustainability is key to running a business—it affects operations and bottom line expenses, employee loyalty and retention, corporate citizenship—and ultimately a better brand and a better story. Who has had an impact on your career? Why and how did this person impact your life? If I had to name a few names, I would name Chris Calwell and Lois Gordon, two of the founders of Ecos [one of Ecova’s predecessor companies]. They showed me that there is a balance between economy and ecology, that you can do well—run a successful business with strong economic returns—and simultaneously do good for the environment, our communities, our clients, and our employees. There are others – specifically members of the Ecova executive team – that have had a huge positive influence on me. While they should know who they are, I can’t mention their names lest I adversely affect their humility!  What inspires you about the work of Ecova? I’ll focus on three things that inspire me about Ecova. First, we’re doing something larger than just running a business. We’re saving resources for our clients, enabling them to run more efficiently—but we’re also managing resources for the greater good. Ecova is a mission-driven company with a bottom-line focus, and we’re trying to improve the way that “business as usual” is done. Having a grander vision and the knowledge that I’m working towards something that is bigger than each of us gives me a lot of energy. Second, our employees – we have some amazing folks on board who do incredible things for our clients, our communities and for each other here at Ecova. Lastly, I really enjoy our clients – think about it, if you didn’t like the clients that make up the industry in which you’re doing business that would be unbearable. I really do enjoy working for those we serve. When you’re not at the office, where would we find you? Spending time with my wife and three children, or doing anything that gets me outdoors. Windsurfing, skiing, biking—you name it. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/climbing-up-in-the-energy-management-industry.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/july/climbing-up-in-the-energy-management-industry.aspx Wed, 11 July 2012 06:37:00 Brenda Hinau - Executive Assistant at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/ecova-employees-tackle-the-tangle-on-portland-trails.aspx On Tuesday, June 19 th , twelve co-workers from the Portland office participated in one of Ecova’s Impact Community Service Day events, one of many held throughout the year across our organization. This particular event was coordinated through Portland Parks & Recreation and Friends of Marquam Nature Park . Marquam Nature Park is minutes from our downtown office and provides 176 acres of lush beautiful landscape in the heart of the city with over five miles of hiking trails that tie into the Portland 40-Mile Loop trail system. Our mission for the day was to clear invasive species and perform trail maintenance. Armed with hand clippers, large loppers and the strength of our own muscles, we set off to conquer the English Ivy that thrives in our Pacific Northwest climate. English Ivy originated in Europe, where the climate controls the growth of this vibrant plant; in the Northwest, though, it grows out of control, killing the trees it climbs and causing erosion problems. Our team worked tirelessly throughout the morning to clear roughly six-foot areas from around the base of large evergreen trees and remove the tenacious plant from around native ferns, Oregon grape and trillium plants. Throughout the morning’s efforts our hosts, Portland Parks & Recreation’s, Rachel and 20-year volunteer veteran, Robin, educated us on the park system, the plant species, and why the work we were doing was so important to our ecosystem. After a well-deserved lunch break we set off with Jeff from Portland Parks & Recreation, armed with a new and rather scary-looking set of tools to perform trail abatement deep into the park, clearing vegetation from switchbacks and re-leveling portions of the trail. This work was dirty and physical, and we office dwellers loved every minute of it! As part of its benefits package, Ecova sponsors one day every year for each Ecova staff to volunteer at a community organization of his/her choice. Ecova has provided us all a great opportunity to make a difference in our community and I’m proud to say we did! Our work creates a safer environment for the park users, keeps the native plants strong and protects our ecosystem. Throughout the day the hikers, joggers and dog walkers using the trail recognized our efforts and expressed their genuine appreciation. It felt great to all of us to accomplish something that benefits so many and exemplifies our Ecova values. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/ecova-employees-tackle-the-tangle-on-portland-trails.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/ecova-employees-tackle-the-tangle-on-portland-trails.aspx Wed, 27 June 2012 08:59:00 Jeff Heggedahl - President and CEO of Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/energy-efficiency-measures-discussing-how-business-can-both-do-well-and-do-good.aspx Tomorrow I’m speaking at an event hosted by Greater Spokane Incorporated where we’ll discuss what is happening with the clean energy sector in the region. While you may not think of Ecova as a “clean tech” company, we certainly believe that the use of energy efficiency measures should be part of this dialogue and opportunity. We’re also headquartered in Spokane and over 600 of our employees call this area home, so participating and supporting the local community is important to us. I’m speaking alongside several distinguished panelists, and we’ll all share some of what we are doing to help foster this important industry. As Ecova works with over 24% of the Fortune 500 companies, I’ll focus on the business side of the equation, discussing how business can both “do well and do good.” It’s a bit of a cliché, but at Ecova we believe it is true. So much so, in fact, that we have created our own corporate sustainability program. Beginning in 2012, we are measuring our progress against several environmental and community-related goals. We call this Ecova Impact, and you can read more about it here . For business, sustainability is both a smart business decision and a risk-mitigation activity. The fact is, in so many cases you can save money, save resources, and improve perception about your company at the same time. Talk about a win-win-win. I hope if you are in the Spokane area you will join us tomorrow for a lively conversation about the important role of this industry. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/energy-efficiency-measures-discussing-how-business-can-both-do-well-and-do-good.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/energy-efficiency-measures-discussing-how-business-can-both-do-well-and-do-good.aspx Tue, 12 June 2012 13:52:00 Gary Mallon - Technology Industry Manager at Greater Spokane Inc. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/clean-tech-conversation-takes-center-stage-in-spokane.aspx Today's guest blogger, Gary Mallon, Technology Industry Manager at Greater Spokane Inc., shares insight and offers a ‘sneak peak’ into what we’ll hear at the Fourth Annual State of the Green Economy ... We at Greater Spokane Incorporated are looking forward to hosting the Fourth Annual State of the Green Economy at the Spokane Club on Wednesday, June 13 th from 3:30 – 5:30. The annual event is designed to bring together business, government and individuals who want to discuss the opportunities, advancements, and challenges happening locally in the Clean Tech industry. Washington State has strong existing assets coupled with great future potential. Clean Edge just published its 2012 State Clean Energy Index . Washington State was just ranked 4 th (up two spots) while Oregon ranked 2 nd . However, it will take a portfolio of different companies, technologies and initiatives to compete and succeed nationally and globally. I hope you can come to hear about some of those companies and initiatives. With Ecova’s corporate headquarters in Spokane, the company has an important voice in this discussion. With over 600 employees in the region, Ecova is one of the largest companies in the Spokane region focusing on energy efficiency and sustainability. For that reason, we invited Ecova’s President and CEO, Jeff Heggedahl , to be our lead-off speaker and I think he will set the tone for a great event. I’m looking forward to hearing Jeff speak. We’ll also be hearing from WA State Rep and board member of Innovate Washington, Andy Billig . Andy co-sponsored legislation to accelerate the development of sustainable aviation biofuels in the Northwest which will in turn reduce dependence on foreign sources of fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote economic development and jobs in Washington. His legislation also resulted in tasking Innovate Washington with the mission of leading not only the development of bio-fuels but the advancement of the entire Clean Energy cluster in the State of Washington. Also speaking will be Ben Fairbanks of First Wind and the Palouse Wind project . First Wind has broken ground on the construction of the 48 wind turbines in the Oakesdale-Rosalia area of Eastern Washington. I think this will become an iconic development and it’s the first of its kind in the Greater Spokane Region. Closing will be our MC, Hal Calbom , producer and director of Evergreen, The Washington Clean Tech Story. Hal will be offering a brief film clip of his recent trip to China –The Tao of Clean. Hope you can make it - it would be great to see you here. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/clean-tech-conversation-takes-center-stage-in-spokane.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/clean-tech-conversation-takes-center-stage-in-spokane.aspx Thu, 07 June 2012 13:06:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/elevating-the-focus-on-sustainability-to-the-executive-realm.aspx I recently read, with great satisfaction, The Conference Board’s May 2012 report titled, “Linking Executive Performance to Sustainability Performance.” The report highlights the efforts of businesses such as Intel, Xcel Energy, Alcoa, ING, National Grid, Shell, and Suncor Energy in tying executive pay to sustainability performance . This, more than any mitigation goal or renewable energy installation, signals that these businesses are elevating the focus on sustainability to its appropriate organizational home – the realm of the executive. It is here where all other activities associated with developing and executing long-term strategies for success in a rapidly changing world already reside. When I talk about Ecova with friends, I’m often asked why big companies invest in sustainability. A variant of this question I hear repeated in business settings is: what amount of resources do we really need to allocate for our sustainability programs? I link these questions because they point to a troubling ambiguity concerning the drivers for corporate sustainability efforts. To unpack the answer to both questions, let’s ground ourselves on terra firma. Businesses do not operate in a stock exchange. Their employees are not numbers on a spreadsheet. Corporate enterprises operate in the living, breathing, physical world that is undergoing unprecedented and rapid transformation. Raw material costs are increasing, energy volatility continues to mount, and significant water stress is making its way into board room banter . Our human infrastructure is being stressed by everything from changing precipitation patterns to the degradation of ecological systems on which we depend for food, water, and shelter. Simultaneous with major changes to our physical environment, our mental and social environment is radically transforming as well - with younger generations accustomed to unprecedented access to information. These Millennials and Gen X’ers are breaking down traditional hierarchies and demanding that businesses align private profit with societal need . If corporate sustainability programs are primarily focused on helping organizations attend to the environmental and social aspects of the world in which they operate, then never before has sustainability been more central to corporate strategies for long-term economic and competitive success. When energy was plentiful and waste went “away;” when information took days - not milliseconds, to travel the world; and when we could honestly claim ignorance of the effects industrialization has on global ecological processes, then sustainability efforts could rightfully be perceived as just window dressing, and separate from Milton Friedman’s famous singular corporate prerogative: to increase profit. Today, profit maximization is neither at odds with, nor indifferent to, environmental and social concerns. They are aligned. Why, really, do companies invest in sustainability? Insofar as they are able to see the world and its marketplaces not as they were, but as they will be, they know they must. And how much, really, should they be investing? More than they can likely afford given that the threat of insufficient action is a threat to long-term competitiveness, profitability, and in some cases, existence. For companies wishing to pursue anything greater than short-term profit, executive compensation must be tethered to sustainability metrics . In addition to the obvious need for such alignment when it comes to developing strategies for success in dynamic times, I would go so far as to suggest such executive oversight and alignment of sustainability efforts are critical to maintaining societal trust in businesses’ ability to play a leadership role in creating a more environmentally and socially vibrant future. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/elevating-the-focus-on-sustainability-to-the-executive-realm.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/june/elevating-the-focus-on-sustainability-to-the-executive-realm.aspx Wed, 06 June 2012 10:05:00 Nate Bellino - Director of Product Management - Utility Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/energy-efficiency-engaging-the-new-energy-consumer.aspx There’s no denying it—we live in a connected world, one that provides increasing opportunities for consumers to engage with companies, and through that engagement, influence its products and services. At the same time, the energy landscape itself is evolving with concerns over climate change, volatile energy prices, and security of supply taking center stage. Although it may not be initially obvious, the two are connected. A recent report from Accenture explores the relationship between energy providers and the ‘new energy consumer’ as it relates to fostering engagement. Given the rapidly evolving marketplace energy providers face, the need to ‘connect’ with the consumer becomes essential, which may require moving beyond the energy-as-a-commodity mindset. The Accenture report surveyed over 10,000 residential utility consumers in 19 countries to determine values and perceptions related to their electricity providers. Overall, the study found that consumers want products and services that align with their values, including options that encourage energy efficiency and prefer ‘low-touch’ channels for transactional interactions (e.g., online bill pay or signing up for new services), as well as the option to engage through social media. The study found that more than one-third of the survey respondents “interact or plan to interact with their electricity provider” using social media, while 47 percent would join an online community if it offered energy-related product information or tips on how to reduce energy bills. While these figures may not be overwhelmingly high, they do suggest that interest in social media is growing and that utilities are positioned well to benefit from the interaction. While the onus seems to lie with utilities, the report ultimately concludes that the “energy landscape is increasingly defined by the values and preferences of the new energy consumer.” This type of consumer engagement amounts to exciting times, as it fosters innovation and moves us further along the energy efficiency continuum. It also positions utilities as a key communication channel regarding energy management. A utility’s ability to use new communication avenues such as social media is will be important to furthering the energy dialogue and driving additional savings. Ecova’s Home Energy Plan initiative is an example of a true partnership between energy consumer and utility, and how an active dialogue between the two encourages the adoption of energy efficiency measures that result in widespread benefits. Still, the Accenture report is a good reminder of the need to maintain an active dialogue and that our options to ‘connect’ are only just beginning. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/energy-efficiency-engaging-the-new-energy-consumer.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/energy-efficiency-engaging-the-new-energy-consumer.aspx Thu, 31 May 2012 09:16:00 Jana Schmidt - Senior Vice President of Sales and Client Management at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/update-on-our-acquisition-of-lpb-energy-management.aspx It’s been a busy time for Ecova! We’ve celebrated many milestones as we continue to become the leader in total energy and sustainability management for our clients. We recently provided an integration update on our acquisition of Prenova, and we wanted to be sure to share an update on the integration efforts from our acquisition of LPB Energy Management . As a reminder, we acquired Dallas, Texas-based LPB Energy Management in February 2012, which expanded our geographic reach and increased our client base to nearly 700 commercial clients, while enhancing our expertise in utility expense management and energy procurement. At the time of the LPB acquisition, we immediately began working to identify best practices in products, processes, and operations from both companies. Our initial work is complete, and we are moving ahead with system improvements that we believe will benefit our clients. Highlights of our system updates include: Expense and Data Management It’s essential that we offer the most comprehensive and up-to-date products. Our team has identified areas for opportunity, and as a result, we are transitioning to a single Expense and Data Management platform. The enhanced system will provide clients with additional vendor payment options and a more detailed level of data for reporting on costs, usage, and demand, as well as a deeper level of utility billing analysis to identify cost savings opportunities and billing anomalies.  Energy Supply Management We continue to invest in our Energy Supply Management (ESM) and procurement services. Our team is looking at consolidating our existing systems in order to build the market’s best reporting platform, which will improve hedge data management, workflow, budget support, market information, and user dashboards. Clients should see improvements in the availability of supply market intelligence, online contract management, and reporting consistency before the end of 2012. We are excited about our product enhancements and building on the good work of LPB Energy Management. As we continue our integration and product development efforts, we will provide additional updates on timing and on what these changes mean for our clients. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/update-on-our-acquisition-of-lpb-energy-management.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/update-on-our-acquisition-of-lpb-energy-management.aspx Tue, 15 May 2012 08:28:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/guidelines-for-eliminating-wasteful-telecom-spend.aspx We’re still staring down a tough economic environment which continues to cause budget restraints for many businesses, while new technology and business demands have been growing exponentially. Add these factors to the increase in mergers and acquisitions, as well as regulatory changes, and it becomes clear that it’s time for a telecommunications audit. Follow these guidelines to identify unused or unnecessary telecom services to help control your telecommunications spend and leverage opportunities: TELECOM INVENTORY ASSESSMENT It’s difficult to identify areas of opportunities if you don’t know what you have. Maintain a detailed inventory of all telecom services to validate invoice charges. Managing from telecom billing data alone will not provide the granularity needed to succeed; building inventories down to the individual Universal Service Order Code (USOC) from Customer Service Records (CSRs) is the only way to determine exactly what services you have and where they are located. VALIDATE LINE PURPOSES As business needs and technology change, so do the needs for lines and trunks. Conduct a telecom line inventory at least once every couple of years to determine if you are paying for something you don’t need or just aren’t using anymore (e.g. analog lines). When the use of modems for access or back up services migrates to Internet Protocol (IP) based services, lines can be abandoned or reused for non-approved applications. ESTABLISH TELECOM PROCESS STANDARDS Implementing a centralized system for ordering across your organization will ensure standards are met and inventory gets updated. The same is true for payment processing to ensure that invoice charges are correct and are paid on time to prevent potential service interruptions. KNOW YOUR TRUNKS Review your primary trunk groups on an annualized basis. We’re relying more on other forms of communications, such as email, instant messaging, and mobile devices while in the office, so it’s important to monitor your traffic volume to ensure you are not paying for more trunks than you need. TELECOM BUDGET ALLOCATION Allocate costs as far down the organization as possible to ensure charges are assessed to the budget owner to help identify additional opportunities for savings. To learn more about telecom cost savings opportunities watch our educational 30-minute webinar below, "Are you Paying for Unused Services?" from our Dial in the Savings webinar series. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/guidelines-for-eliminating-wasteful-telecom-spend.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/guidelines-for-eliminating-wasteful-telecom-spend.aspx Tue, 08 May 2012 10:39:00 Paige Kindell - VP Sales and Client Management at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/joining-forces-at-staples-strategic-energy-summit.aspx In early April, I had the opportunity to represent Ecova at the Staples 12th Annual Strategic Energy Summit . It was the first time the Strategic Energy Summit joined forces with Staples customers, store associates, and vendor partners to discuss the company’s sustainability and energy strategy today and beyond; no small feat for this global company with offices ranging in size from 4,000 to 30,000 square feet and facilities reaching up to 1 million square feet. The importance of examining the entire ‘supply chain’ from raw materials to manufacturing, distribution, consumer and end of life, was a common theme throughout the day, and reminded all of us that everything is connected and that even small, incremental changes can have positive environmental impact. The day-long Strategic Energy Summit produced a lively discussion and looked closely at topics such as trends in utility size and infrastructure, both from a regulated and unregulated perspective, tax credits and incentives, and the need to invest in renewable energy. Although divergent views were present, everyone agreed that our challenges represent opportunities for long-term sustainability. Time was also given to the importance of benchmarking and measurement, which provided an opportunity to share case studies and examples of sustainability ‘successes’ from Strategic Energy Summit participants. We heard from Kohl’s, who uses ENERGY STAR ® ’s Portfolio Manager to track and manage its energy consumption across locations to inform an overall energy efficiency program, which includes LEED certification and solar installs for some of their buildings. The Strategic Energy Summit illustrates what can happen when diverse stakeholders and industry leaders come together for a day of sharing and collaborating to encourage transparency, innovation, and new ways of thinking for long-term impact on these important issues. I left the Strategic Energy Summit with a sense of encouragement about the future and feeling great about our partnership with Staples. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/joining-forces-at-staples-strategic-energy-summit.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/may/joining-forces-at-staples-strategic-energy-summit.aspx Wed, 02 May 2012 09:03:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/reducing-energy-consumption-in-the-retail-sector.aspx A deeper dive into Ecova’s recent Big Data whitepaper reveals that Ecova’s retail clients reduced their electricity consumption by 2,300,000,000 kWh between Q1 2009 and Q3 2011. Sound like a big number? Well, it is. This amount of conservation is equivalent to the carbon emissions from 3.7M barrels of oil and is enough electricity to power just shy of 200,000 US homes for one year. i To put this number in a global perspective – consider the following chart. Per capita electricity consumption varies dramatically across the globe. Whereas 2.3B kWh of electricity would satiate the annual electricity needs of 178,101 Americans, it would go far enough to electrify the lives of 4.0M people living in India. What are companies doing to keep electric consumption down as retail sales surge in 2012 and beyond? Join Ecova at booth 421 at this week’s PRSM 2012 conference in Anaheim, CA, to learn more about what leading companies are doing to manage their total energy and sustainability impacts. Sources: i http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html ii The World Bank “Electric Power Consumption (kWh per capita).” http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html . Viewed on 4/17/12. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/reducing-energy-consumption-in-the-retail-sector.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/reducing-energy-consumption-in-the-retail-sector.aspx Wed, 18 April 2012 08:03:00 Jana Schmidt - Senior Vice President of Sales and Client Management at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/update-on-our-acquisition-of-prenova.aspx Just over four months have passed since Ecova acquired Prenova and we wanted to share with you an update on the status of our integration efforts, what you can expect from our newly combined entity, and how we are working to bring greater value to our clients as we come together. As a reminder, we acquired Prenova in December of 2011 with a goal of solidifying our leadership position in the energy and sustainability market, and expanding our real-time building management and software-as-a-service (SaaS) capabilities. At the time of the Prenova acquisition, we immediately began working to identify best practices from both companies. Our goal is to focus on the best from across both companies – the products, processes, people, and operations for each service area. Our initial work is complete, and we are moving ahead with changes in each area that we believe will benefit our clients. The updates include: EMPLOYEE INTEGRATION Our new Ecova employees have completed their transition to becoming Ecova employees. We have made some changes in our client service organization and staffing to better accommodate the teams’ strengths. These changes are complete and the new teams are working together. EXPENSE AND DATA MANAGEMENT Expense and Data Management services are a foundation for many of our offerings. Insight into energy usage and expense data is critical to the ability to deliver actionable insight and value to our clients. Planned service enhancements include: We are integrating utility invoice data, from our clients’ bill pay provider, for Prenova clients into Ecova’s platforms. This will allow the advanced analytical tools we have developed to expediently deliver more value from rich data sets. We expect this will improve data quality and allow for future enhancements to reporting capabilities. We are consolidating our auditing systems and processes and this work will be complete by the end of the year. The new system will provide the most robust invoice auditing available in the market. ENERGY SUPPLY MANAGEMENT Our Energy Supply Management (ESM) and procurement services can provide significant savings opportunities for clients looking to save costs and lower risks. We are building a reporting platform which will improve hedge data management, workflow, budget support, market information, and user dashboards. We are also making improvements in the availability of supply market intelligence, online contract management, and reporting consistency. RESPONSE CENTER AND FACILITY OPTIMIZATION One of the key drivers for the acquisition was Prenova’s leadership in remote monitoring with services such as Responsive Monitoring. A properly designed and executed monitoring program can significantly reduce energy spend, prolong equipment asset life, increase visibility to future cost reduction programs and improve the allocation of a business’s resources. We will provide a new, online client value reporting tool. This new tool will deliver greater visibility for call center monitoring activities including alarm tracking, dispatch activity, remote operational support and metrics performance. We expect to have our first release this summer. In several areas we are already working with many of our clients to deliver additional capabilities in “beta” format. Later this year we expect to have full versions available for upgrades that will: Improve the work order management database to support enhanced issue tracking and reporting specific to the equipment asset level. Improve the collection of energy management system data and archiving. This work will improve analytics and reporting and provide better direct asset performance information. Better integrate systems to support enhanced fault detection and diagnostics of facility data including energy management system and meter-level data. As we continue our integration and development efforts and move forward with the projects listed above, we will provide you with updates on timing and on what these changes mean. Our goal is to continue to invest in the good work that Prenova started. This doesn’t happen overnight, but we are committed to making an impact for our clients’ business through our efforts. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/update-on-our-acquisition-of-prenova.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/update-on-our-acquisition-of-prenova.aspx Thu, 12 April 2012 07:49:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/ecova’s-portland-office-recognized-for-commuting-efforts.aspx Congratulations to our team in Portland for being ranked among the Portland metro area's 25 best employers for low-car commuters, according to local magazine Portland Afoot’s 2012 ranking of the region's best commuting benefits. The survey , conducted by Portland Afoot and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, was distributed to more than 600 local employers. Respondents were ranked using 10 weighted metrics that measured their friendliness to workers who bike, walk, carpool, telecommute or ride public transit. Components included free TriMet passes, discounted vanpools and the ability to telecommute or work flexible hours. Employers were also rewarded for not subsidizing auto parking and for providing shared vehicles such as Zipcars rather than reimbursing employees for miles driven on the job. Employers received 10 points if they participated in the BTA’s Bike Commute Challenge and an extra 5 points if their bike commute rate was above 20%. In last year’s challenge, Ecova ranked 3rd in our category - with more than 5,800 miles logged during the month of September. Pretty impressive – and we even had employees outside the Portland office participate! Thanks, Ecova – for promoting healthy lifestyles among our employees through workplace policies that encourage biking! http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/ecova’s-portland-office-recognized-for-commuting-efforts.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/ecova’s-portland-office-recognized-for-commuting-efforts.aspx Wed, 11 April 2012 10:44:00 Mike Bailey - Director of Engineering Services at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/efficiency-in-the-data-center-recent-conversations.aspx Last week in Dallas I attended and presented at the Green Data Center Conference . This was the most recent of several of these I have attended, and it was interesting to reflect back on how the data center community has progressed over the last few years. I have to admit my impression is a mix of both “half full and half empty”.  With the continued rise of cloud computing and data center growth, the role of efficient energy use through data center design, heating and cooling, and operations is an area of interest and need for many of our clients. It is great to see this conference series grow, be successful and continue to provide relevant and valuable advice to data center owners and managers. Just a few years ago it was an annual event hosted on the campus of UC San Diego. Today there are five events each year, including two international sessions, and there were over 120 people at the Dallas event. My favorite part of speaking is the response I receive from the attendees. My message of being able to reduce costs by saving energy AND improving the performance and reliability of their facilities gets people excited. Unfortunately, there is a “half empty” side to these gatherings as well. The opportunities for energy and cost savings are still large because many data centers are wasteful. While the opportunities for more efficient IT equipment (refresh, consolidation, energy management, and virtualization) are well proven – many sites still haven’t adopted these strategies. Similarly, HVAC efficiency problems and opportunities (hot-cold aisle isolation, increased air and chilled water supply temperatures, air flow management, wide humidity specifications, air and water economization, etc.) are well known and proven – but still not common. Many times I heard comments like “if only my boss could hear this” or “How do I, the facility guy, talk to the IT manager and Finance department about these issues? I wish I could get them to this!” A telling example is the well known but poorly understood issues around Data Center Power Usage Effectiveness – commonly referred to as “PUE”. Few realize PUE is NOT a measure of a data center’s “efficiency” – but rather is the ratio of input power (total facility power divided by IT equipment power). Few realized that the EPA’s ENERGY STAR ® benchmarking program for data centers is based almost entirely on PUE. Nor did they know that improving the efficiency of their IT equipment would make their PUE (and Energy Star score) WORSE (if HVAC and facility systems stayed the same). I was able to show how easy it is to “manipulate” a PUE to get different results based on where and when the input power data were measured. Conference attendees left with a new bag of tools to take back with them to tackle the many savings opportunities in their data centers. I hope they were inspired by the examples of success stories and the incredibly efficient and innovative approaches taken by the “big guys” in the industry. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/efficiency-in-the-data-center-recent-conversations.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/april/efficiency-in-the-data-center-recent-conversations.aspx Mon, 09 April 2012 12:05:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/usf-rates-at-historical-high-steps-for-managing-the-impact-to-your-telecom-budget.aspx For those of you who pay for telephone or communications lines, you’ve seen rising fees with USF rates climbing over the past several years. While these fees are still likely a small part of your overall telecom spend, they can add up, and it’s good to know what they are and why you are paying them. The Universal Service Fund (USF) was established in 1997 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Under FCC guidelines the Universal Service Administrative Company or USAC was created to administer this fund for the following purposes: HIGH COST This support ensures that consumers in all regions of the nation have access to and pay rates for telecommunications services that are reasonably comparable to those in urban areas. The FCC revised this fund in November of 2011 under the new name Connect America Fund which will subsidize the expansion of Broadband and Wireless networks between 2012 and 2018. LOW INCOME This support, commonly known as Lifeline and Link Up, provides discounts that make basic, local telephone service affordable for more than 7 million low-income consumers. RURAL HEALTH CARE This support provides reduced rates to rural health care providers for telecommunications and Internet services so they pay no more than their urban counterparts for the same or similar telecommunications services. SCHOOLS & LIBRARIRES This support, commonly referred to as E-rate support, provides affordable telecommunications and Internet access services to connect schools and libraries to the Internet. This support goes to service providers that provide discounts on eligible services to schools, school districts, libraries, and consortia of these entities. USF rates currently apply to all voice and most data telecom services and are adjusted on quarterly basis as determined by the USAC to meet the anticipated fund expenses and overhead for that specific time period. As depicted in the table to the right, USF rates are currently at historically high levels and will likely remain high for the remainder of 2012. While taxes and regulatory fees are inevitable, you can take the following steps to manage the impact to your budget: These fees can vary by two or more percentage points quickly. It is important to identify rate changes as soon as possible and adjust your budget accordingly. When shopping for new services, have bidders identify current USF changes (along with other regulatory fees) on a line item basis. Not all providers collect this fee, and this could have a significant impact on the true cost of ownership. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/usf-rates-at-historical-high-steps-for-managing-the-impact-to-your-telecom-budget.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/usf-rates-at-historical-high-steps-for-managing-the-impact-to-your-telecom-budget.aspx Thu, 29 March 2012 11:56:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/carbon-disclosure-corporate-reporting-requirement-or-marketing-“nice-to-have”.aspx With over 700 major North American clients, including 24% of the Fortune 500, and a product base that spans utility expense and data management to full sustainability management, Ecova works with a true cross section of the North American commercial and industrial base. As a product manager in charge of Ecova’s Sustainability market offerings, this client diversity creates a unique opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the real opportunities and challenges for total energy and sustainability management platforms. As an example, let us examine carbon reporting. To read popular media and green business journals, carbon accounting and sustainability metric reporting are the de facto “new normal” – business requirements for any company aware of a rapidly transforming “green” business landscape. In reality, daily collaboration with major North American corporations tells a much more fragmented story that more closely reflects US policy and popular media controversy over climate change and carbon accounting. Ecova interacts daily with clients that alternately demand, are exploring or are not yet working toward carbon reporting services. So how does Ecova, a business-to-business service provider, position its carbon accounting services to a highly fragmented client base? Simply, we meet clients wherever they are along the carbon reporting continuum. As a company we have closely followed the evolution of business risk and opportunity around climate change, as have Wall Street , the US military , major global religions , and, most importantly, the Simpsons . The market has evaluated the scientific and economic landscape of climate change and decided real business risk and opportunity are at play. Just as Ecova helps clients manage other expense and resource risks on topics as diverse as energy, telecom, water, and waste, Ecova is positioned as a partner to our clients to help manage the risk and opportunity of carbon emissions. I invite you to engage Ecova on the issue of carbon reporting – regardless of your starting point for the discussion - so that together we can continue crafting a diverse, rational, and calibrated response to the market identified challenge of carbon emissions. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/carbon-disclosure-corporate-reporting-requirement-or-marketing-“nice-to-have”.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/carbon-disclosure-corporate-reporting-requirement-or-marketing-“nice-to-have”.aspx Mon, 26 March 2012 10:59:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/tweet-your-support-for-power-management!.aspx Today marks the start of the Retweet for Power Management Earth Hour campaign , an awareness effort from our friends at the Climate Savers Computing Initiative (@CSCI_Tweets) . The effort culminates on Earth Hour, which falls on Saturday, March 31st this year. Founded in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to be an amazing display from hundreds of millions of people around the world who turn off their lights and participate in other ways to show support for protecting the planet. To extend the benefits of Earth Hour beyond just one hour and one day, last year CSCI started a campaign to focus on advancing the global use of power management. Power management controls the amount of energy your laptop or computer draws when it’s not in use. The controls for power management are already loaded on your computer and with just a few clicks can be implemented in minutes. Depending on the cost of energy in your area and the age of your computer, properly implementing power management can save you about $15 to $40 a year on your electricity bill. And while using power management at home and at work is one of the easiest ways to go green all year long, some studies show that many people and organizations are unaware of the environmental and financial benefits the use of power management can deliver. To help ensure more people know and use power management, today CSCI starts its annual Twitter campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of power management by asking the Twitter community to follow them and take the pledge to use power management. You can win prizes, too – so please support this effort on Twitter during the week of March 23rd. Power management is something that Ecova knows a lot about. In fact, we recently measured the energy use of computers and monitors in LEED-certified commercial buildings in California, and then implemented power management on those systems to determine how much energy could be saved - easily, at virtually no cost, in those systems. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/tweet-your-support-for-power-management!.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/tweet-your-support-for-power-management!.aspx Fri, 23 March 2012 08:10:00 William Walker - Lighting Program Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/ecova-helps-duquesne-light-move-2-million-cfls.aspx Ecova’s Utility Solutions division has helped our clients reach many impressive milestones for moving compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) through participating retailers. Duquesne Light, a utility company serving Allegheny and Beaver counties in Pennsylvania, recently announced it had sold its two millionth CFL. Through its “ Watt Choices ” program, Duquesne Light reached this milestone just one-and-a-half years after launching its ENERGY STAR ® residential lighting initiative. The Watt Choices program helps Duquesne Light customers conserve energy and lower their electricity costs. The program also helps Duquesne Light reduce demand for electricity which is an important goal of the utility. The Ecova staff, in collaboration with Duquesne Light, works hard developing fruitful relationships with area retailers and their suppliers – from small independent hardware stores in rural areas to major home improvement retailers – to implement year-round promotions that help customers instantly save on the cost of purchasing CFLs. Ecova also hosts events and community activities to provide interactions with Duquesne Light’s customers. This holistic approach to supporting retail partners and customers is the cause for our success in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The most notable facet of this achievement is the compact size of Duquesne Light’s service territory, which serves approximately 500,000 customers. Two million CFLs in less than two years is an impressive adoption rate, translating to an average of four CFLs per household. The CFLs account for 100,000 MWh of energy savings for the utility’s customers, which is equivalent to the amount of electricity needed to power more than 166,000 homes for a month. According to ENERGY STAR, CFLs can typically save an average of $40 in energy costs over their lifetime. For more information on this achievement, click to visit Duquesne Light’s news room. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/ecova-helps-duquesne-light-move-2-million-cfls.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/ecova-helps-duquesne-light-move-2-million-cfls.aspx Tue, 20 March 2012 07:59:00 Dan Olson - Director of Product Management - Sustainability Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/what-big-data-means-to-energy-managers.aspx Today Ecova released a new whitepaper titled, "A Big Data Look at Energy Trends: 2009-2011" . We believe big data is creating new opportunities for companies to rein in the rising and increasingly volatile cost of energy. We’ve seen this happen in other industries, and energy is next. With access to and the ability to analyze exponentially larger amounts of data, companies can make cost-effective, strategic decisions to reduce energy costs and maximize returns on their energy management investment. Our data set is unique, and our clients benefit from having access to it. We process and analyze energy expenses for more than 700 of the country’s largest enterprises, and we have detailed insight into over 25,000 MW of U.S. electricity demand. To the data from nearly a billion electronic transactions a day flowing across our system, Ecova adds external data such as sophisticated procurement, weather, client portfolio, and business productivity numbers to create a complete picture of energy consumption and costs for 5.5 percent of total industrial and commercial U.S. electric load; more than nearly any utility in the United States. Our Energy Data Warehouse infographic shows an interesting trend - a decrease in total electric consumption intensity (as measured by kWh per sq. ft.) of 8 percent during the 2009 - 2011 period, providing energy managers with timely benchmarks for their own trend analysis. In addition to benchmarking, this kind of data helps our clients in the following ways: Conduct detailed baseline and trend analysis, Forecasting, and Advanced analytic, measurement and verification processes. When combined with on-the-ground engineering expertise and, increasingly, remote continuous monitoring and controls, these tools allow companies to effectively manage energy at all levels of their organization. Contact us if you’d like to learn more about how the size of the Ecova Energy Data Warehouse, and the analytic tools we continue to enhance, are changing the way energy is managed to optimize consumption and reduce companies’ environmental footprint. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/what-big-data-means-to-energy-managers.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/what-big-data-means-to-energy-managers.aspx Mon, 19 March 2012 04:58:00 Ian Bowman - Energy Supply Management Product Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/ecova-strengthens-energy-supply-management-offering.aspx Ecova has hired the employees and assumed several client contracts from the Enterprise Energy Management Division of E Source , an energy consulting company. This move elevates Ecova’s energy supply management offering and adds new clients to our growing roster of more than 700 multi-site commercial companies. I’m one of those employees who has joined Ecova from E Source, and I’m so excited to be here. The industry is changing and growing quickly, and Ecova is evolving into one of the clear industry leaders. In fact, Ecova was just named one of 10 companies to watch in this space by Groom Energy. In my short time at Ecova, I’ve come to notice 3 important things that I believe benefit our clients: Searching for “Best of the Best” practices to incorporate into core offerings. Ecova has completed several acquisitions recently, and the company is focused on incorporating the most valuable and unique elements of the services from each company. It doesn’t matter where it was invented, if it works well for customers, we want to leverage it. A vision for how integrated solutions can put customers in a unique position to “See More, Save More, Sustain More.” This includes both integrating key pieces within energy management ranging from supply to facility optimization, and a broader vision for consistency across other categories of utility spend and sustainability. Significant investment in Product Development and IT projects necessary to execute the vision. This is a biggie right now and a personal passion of mine. I think many companies can see the market is heading toward wanting vendors that offer a broad suite of integrated services, but far fewer have the combination of vision AND a willingness to invest that will be necessary in the coming years. Bringing the veteran team on board from E Source’s Enterprise Energy Management Division delivers great talent, intellectual property and an impressive national account client roster to Ecova. While we have offered energy supply management services for some time, this is a growing need for our commercial and industrial customers and having the added talent and tools at Ecova ensures we’re able to provide a comprehensive energy management solution that meets their evolving needs. I am looking forward to the years ahead as part of Team Ecova. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/ecova-strengthens-energy-supply-management-offering.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/ecova-strengthens-energy-supply-management-offering.aspx Fri, 16 March 2012 08:20:00 Bob Valair - Director of Energy and Environmental Management at Staples http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/staples-guest-blogger-talks-energy-star®-and-more.aspx Staples, Inc. and Ecova have worked together for more than 12 years. This evening, Staples will be honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. In today’s guest blog, Bob Valair, Staples director of energy and environmental management, shares his insight on Staples work and how working with Ecova makes ENERGY STAR easy... In 2010, Staples developed and began to implement an overarching sustainability strategy, which focused on the ways we can have the greatest beneficial impact on the environment while also meeting the needs of our customers and our business. One of the five pillars that form the foundation of Staples’ sustainability program is to maximize energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. We have been an ENERGY STAR partner since 1999 and working toward increasing energy efficiency, including decreasing our electricity use per square foot in the U.S. by 12 percent from 2007 to 2010, and have been recognized a leader in industry. Ecova played a role in this effort, ensuring that we had the accurate data available to monitor our progress, and tracking energy efficiency programs for our facilities. At the end of 2011, 286 of our buildings were ENERGY STAR certified. Our 2012 goal is to reach 500. Ecova helps submit data from over 2,000 facilities directly into the ENERGY STAR program each month, helping us efficiently participate in the ENERGY STAR program. Having ENERGY STAR certification not only helps Staples save money and increase energy efficiency – moving us closer toward our sustainability goals, but it creates a way for our customers to know that they are making important environmental choices when they buy from Staples. We also involve our employees and communities in our energy efficiency efforts. Two of my favorite programs are: The EEI/Staples Wake Up Kids school energy education program, staffed by Staples volunteers, helped educate more than 1,000 K-12 students last year about the necessity of energy efficiency. As a symbol of our commitment to superior energy and environmental management, we developed our own icon of energy efficiency: Wattson. A six-foot tall fluorescent light character, Wattson is designed to inspire ongoing exploration of new ways to save energy. In 2010, Wattson appeared regularly at a variety of events to help educate employees, customers and school children about the importance of energy conservation. At Staples we take sustainability seriously and value the contribution that experts such as Ecova can bring to our team. We look forward to meeting our next set of energy efficiency goals with Ecova as our partner. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/staples-guest-blogger-talks-energy-star®-and-more.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/staples-guest-blogger-talks-energy-star®-and-more.aspx Thu, 15 March 2012 11:05:00 Blake Owen - Director of Energy Supply Management at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/natural-gas-at-decade-lows-5-tips-for-developing-an-energy-procurement-strategy.aspx Near-record levels of natural gas production and unseasonably warm weather across much of the country this winter have led to high natural gas inventories. The high gas supply and weak heating demand have also pushed natural gas prices down to levels not seen since 2002 and have left many energy users asking “What should I do now?” Current market conditions have created an excellent opportunity for energy users to develop energy procurement and energy risk management strategies without the burden of rapidly rising prices. Here are five tips for an energy procurement strategy development in this low price environment: 1) Set the Goals of the Energy Procurement Strategy All organizations are unique, so it is important to tailor the strategy to fit the organization’s culture and goals. By clearly defining the goals of the energy procurement strategy first, later questions should be easier to answer. Throughout the rest of the strategy development process, continually ask “Does this help achieve the goals of the energy procurement strategy?” 2) Determine Energy Risk Tolerance Different energy users can take on varying degrees of price risk. It is very important for an organization to understand how much price fluctuation they can bear without adversely affecting their operations or profit. Energy users need to determine how much of the price of energy should be fixed and how much can float with the market. A series of simple questions like the ones below can begin to frame the risk tolerance for the organization: How much of the organization’s total costs are associated with energy purchases? Can the organization pass on increased costs? 3) Decide How and When to Purchase Energy After risk tolerance is established, it is important to determine how and when energy purchases will be made. Will all energy expenses be viewed as a single portfolio or will they be separated by region? Will the organization contract with many suppliers or limit the supplier base? Should all energy supply contracts have the same end dates or should they be staggered for diversification? How far into the future will the organization purchase energy requirements? How often will the organization fix prices? Tactics are as important as strategy when it comes to energy procurement and they should be well-planned prior to strategy implementation. 4) Document and Communicate the Energy Procurement Strategy A strategy is only effective if all parties involved are aware of it. After developing an energy procurement and energy risk management strategy, it should be memorialized in a document that clearly defines the strategy, tactics, and the reasoning behind both. During the documentation process, it is important to ensure that all stakeholders within the organization are in agreement with the strategy and know how they contribute. The energy procurement strategy document should be distributed across the organization for future reference. 5) Stick to the Plan The most important part of developing an energy procurement and energy risk management strategy is sticking to the plan. Times of rapidly rising or highly volatile energy prices can be very distressing as energy users watch costs increase or profits erode. Although no one can be certain as to when energy prices may begin to rise or become volatile again, by taking the opportunity to develop a strategy now during a time of low prices and low volatility, organizations can relax and make energy purchasing decisions free from emotion when that day comes. Want to learn more? Watch our recent educational webinar below titled, "Natural Gas Hits Decade Low, Now What?" where we share an overview of the current market conditions and the potential impact to your business. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/natural-gas-at-decade-lows-5-tips-for-developing-an-energy-procurement-strategy.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/march/natural-gas-at-decade-lows-5-tips-for-developing-an-energy-procurement-strategy.aspx Mon, 12 March 2012 10:24:00 Erik Makinson - Senior Manager of Waste Solutions at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/turn-your-waste-cost-center-into-a-profit-generator.aspx Changes in the waste industry have made it easier than ever for multi-site businesses to significantly impact bottom line savings, improve environmental performance and support corporate sustainability goals, through their waste management strategy. Request your complimentary white paper, “Waste Solutions, There’s Money in the Trash” and learn more about opportunities available through a multi-pronged approach to waste management. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/turn-your-waste-cost-center-into-a-profit-generator.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/turn-your-waste-cost-center-into-a-profit-generator.aspx Fri, 24 February 2012 13:57:00 Wendy Carhart - Director of Corporate Communications at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/thank-you-dell.aspx Today Ecova is sending great big thanks to Dell Computer for their work in helping to make their technology products more energy efficient. Dell announced yesterday that they are the first in their industry to achieve 80 PLUS ® Titanium-certification for a server power supply.  Power supplies are the devices that power computers and servers. They convert AC power from electric utilities into DC power used in most electronics. And, with today’s increasing reliance on these technologies they have a significant impact on our overall energy use as a society. We applaud companies who are taking the lead in creating products with more efficient power supplies and making it easy for consumers to choose wisely. We created the 80 PLUS program 8 years ago for this reason, and we’re glad to see it becoming the standard of choice. You can read more about our work with plug load solutions here .  The 80 PLUS certification enables manufacturers and customers to compare and contrast power supplies based on established criteria from ENERGY STAR ® and the Climate Savers Computing Initiative. Today, more than 250 companies manufacture 80 PLUS power supplies and there are over 3,600 models certified, with the number rising each year.  An 80 PLUS certified power supply is substantially more efficient than typical power supplies and creates a unique market differentiation opportunity for power supply and computer manufacturers. Our plug load solutions team has been busy lately . They recently worked with the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program to conduct a field monitoring study to better understand the energy consumption of plug load devices in commercial offices.  Whether in homes or offices, ensuring your technology is energy efficient can have a significant impact on your energy usage and cost. Happy savings to you Dell! http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/thank-you-dell.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/thank-you-dell.aspx Thu, 23 February 2012 16:17:00 Laura Moorefield - Senior Manager Research and Policy at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/led-reflector-lamp-evaluation-published.aspx You’ve probably started to notice more and more light bulbs on store shelves that use light emitting diodes (LEDs), and may have also heard that LEDs save a lot of energy, have very long lifetimes, and provide bright, pleasing light. You’ve probably also noticed that LED light bulbs cost a lot more to purchase than incandescent and even compact fluorescent light bulbs. So, are they really worth it? Which ones are the best? To help consumers and electric utilities answer these questions, the Edison Foundation’s Institute for Electric Efficiency (IEE) funded Ecova’s Research and Policy team to evaluate LED reflector light bulbs and highlight the best available today. The results of this research are now publically available on TopTen USA’s website . Ecova has long been a leading researcher and provider of lighting efficiency programs. LED light bulbs come in many shapes and sizes, including a shape called a reflector lamp. Reflector lamps, also known as down lights, flood lights and spot lights, are intended to shine light in one direction. Many people use reflector lamps in recessed ceiling fixtures to shine light down into a room, in track lighting to highlight art work or wall surfaces, and for outdoor applications to illuminate landscaping or specific areas around a building. The IEE chose to evaluate these types of LED light bulbs in this round of research for several reasons: Many people still prefer incandescent or halogen incandescent reflector lamps because they may appear brighter and are able to focus light in one direction. LED reflector lamps work very well and save energy because they are very effective at shining bright light in one direction. In addition, many are fully dimmable and cost much less to operate than common incandescent and halogen incandescent reflector lamps. ENERGY STAR® developed specifications for LED lamps in 2010—there are now more than 350 ENERGY STAR-qualified LED reflector lamps to choose from. In a recent report , the U.S. EPA recommends LED reflector lamps as an excellent new opportunity for efficiency programs. To identify the best of the best, researchers selected a group of ENERGY STAR LED reflector lamps for further testing in our lab. These bulbs underwent extensive evaluations, including tests for efficiency, color quality, dimmability, and total cost of ownership. In addition, a group of people simply rated how well they liked the light produced by these different lamps.  A detailed description of the testing can be found on IEE's website. By ranking all lamps based on these tests, we identified 10 LED reflector lamps that provide an excellent quality of light, and save money.     The U.S. DOE also evaluates LED light bulbs. Their advice—“See the LED lamps in application before you buy them”—is sound, but can be difficult to do. When shopping for LED light bulbs, remember that only ENERGY STAR light bulbs pass tests for efficiency, lifetime, and other performance criteria. And, if you want to purchase a best-in-class LED reflector lamp that has been seen, tested and recommended by our researchers, choose a TopTen bulb. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/led-reflector-lamp-evaluation-published.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/led-reflector-lamp-evaluation-published.aspx Wed, 08 February 2012 08:04:00 DeeAnn Jurgens - Vice President of Business Process Management at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/ecova-closes-acquisition-of-lpb-energy-management.aspx Today we officially completed our acquisition of leading enterprise energy management company LPB Energy Management. Since we announced our intent to acquire LPB Energy Management back in early January, I have been leading a team who has worked to make this day possible. We’ve been working closely with our new colleagues in Texas, Washington and New Jersey to ensure we are integrating the “best of the best” of our combined systems, products, processes and our teams to provide the greatest value to our clients. Today is a milestone accomplishment and I want to thank the team for their hard work to get to this point. We have been doing this work to make sure that our clients, both the ones who had been Ecova clients and our new clients from LPB Energy Management, have access to the best products and services. To make sure, if new clients are joining Ecova for the first time, they have a smooth and easy transition. The Ecova team now totals more than 1,200 employees in 31 states, and we are working to ensure that our clients have the right people serving their business. That our processes include the “best of the best” – we have looked across our company to find the best tools no matter if they originally came from Ecova, LPB Energy Management, Ecos or Prenova. Through our integration efforts we have gained additional insight into what our clients’ value. One immediate step we are taking is to combine the enhanced reporting and data analytics insights provided by LPB Energy Management and Prenova into our combined product offerings. The work over the past few months to integrate has been rewarding, and I’m looking forward to the benefits that we will gain in the future from our progress. The energy and sustainability worlds are dynamic; changing and growing constantly. Being part of Ecova today is all of these things and I’m excited about what the future holds for our clients and us. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/ecova-closes-acquisition-of-lpb-energy-management.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/february/ecova-closes-acquisition-of-lpb-energy-management.aspx Wed, 01 February 2012 04:52:00 Catherine Mercier - Research and Policy Project Lead at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/plug-load-study-results-find-energy-and-cost-savings-in-your-sockets.aspx Did you know that office plug loads, the energy consumed by any electric device that’s plugged into a socket, can account for 1/5 of an office energy bill? That’s right, all of those computers, copiers, coffeemakers, task lamps, vending machines, refrigerators, and projectors—many of which consume some electricity even in standby mode or when switched off, are having a big impact on energy use and cost for commercial companies and property owners. Because office plug loads account for roughly as much as heating, lighting, or air conditioning—there are significant opportunities for energy managers to reduce energy consumption, boost the bottom line, and lower corporate greenhouse gas emissions through wise equipment procurement and effective practices. As part as part of a study on high performance buildings led by New Buildings Institute (NBI), Ecova’s Research and Policy team recently worked with the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program to conduct a field monitoring study to better understand the energy consumption of plug load devices in commercial offices . Specifically, we were looking at ways for plug load energy savings. The results of this study are being discussed in an Esource Web conference on January 26 th . The plug load research team, led by Ecova with NBI and PECI support, inventoried the plug loads in two Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified buildings in California and recorded detailed meter files on a subset of inventoried devices (mainly office equipment). Low- and no-cost energy-reduction strategies were implemented and then the energy consumption was re-metered. The comparison of this use to the baseline allowed for estimation of the savings potential from these strategies. In conjunction, the New Buildings Institute conducted direct panel-level metering and determined the energy breakout between building systems. The Web conference will discuss some of the actions building owners, utilities, and policy-makers can take to obtain energy savings in commercial buildings. We will review: Which devices were the largest plug load electricity users from the study What opportunities exist to reduce electricity use for office equipment plug loads How power-management settings and other software controlled by an IT department can affect potential energy savings How occupant behavior plays a role in plug-load electricity use and savings opportunities How the study and assessment of plug loads in commercial buildings could factor into utility programs and government policies for plug loads. Please join us to hear more about how you can find energy and cost savings in your sockets! http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/plug-load-study-results-find-energy-and-cost-savings-in-your-sockets.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/plug-load-study-results-find-energy-and-cost-savings-in-your-sockets.aspx Wed, 25 January 2012 11:53:00 Leo Berz - Director of Professional Services - Telecom http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/3-proactive-steps-to-minimize-your-risk-of-pay-phone-fraud.aspx Any company looking to control expenses should review their telecom costs and be sure to be on the lookout for possible telephone fraud. Telephone fraud has been around longer than most of us can remember and over the years we have seen many kinds of telephone fraud scams come and go. During the past six months we have identified a significant increase in pay phone fraud across our client base. Just last week a D.C. man was convicted for stealing over $4 Million from 10 large corporations and government agencies over a six-year period. Pay phone fraud was made possible by the Telecom Reform Act of 1996 which mandates a surcharge on every toll-free call placed from a pay phone. A growing number of pay phone operators have found that they can make money fraudulently by using auto-dialers to place toll-free calls which cost the recipient $.55 for each call. This can add up to charges of over $50,000 per month per pay phone.  The proliferation of cell phones has all but eliminated the need to use pay phones, and operators have hundreds of phones that get little or no use. Additionally, many states such as Florida have loosened their regulations and in some cases will allow you to install a pay phone in your home. This makes scams like this easier to accomplish.   You can greatly minimize your risk of this kind of pay phone fraud by taking a few proactive steps.  Cancel any unused toll-free numbers to reduce your overall exposure. Consider putting pay phone access restrictions on your numbers; unless you are a “Business to Consumer” business.  Monitor pay phone surcharges on your long distance bill each month and immediately report any suspicious increase to your provider’s toll fraud security center. By taking these simple steps you can avoid becoming the next victim of this growing scam. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/3-proactive-steps-to-minimize-your-risk-of-pay-phone-fraud.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/3-proactive-steps-to-minimize-your-risk-of-pay-phone-fraud.aspx Tue, 17 January 2012 12:59:00 Suzanne Foster Porter - Sr. Manager - Research and Policy at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/new-battery-charger-standards-mean-energy,-cost-savings-in-california.aspx Yesterday, the California Energy Commission adopted new standards for battery charger systems that are expected to save Californians millions of dollars in annual electricity costs and enough power to keep the lights on in 350,000 homes. This is an important step in the right direction to ensure the growing number of mobile devices and cordless appliances are energy efficient. Ecova provided California’s investor-owned utilities with the technical research that enabled the standard’s development. On behalf of the IOUs, Ecova completed the test procedure, wrote the Codes & Standards Enhancement (CASE) report, and advocated for the IOU position through years of interactions with the CEC and other stakeholders. We are proud of this work, and applaud California for their continued leadership in energy efficiency. While the benefit to Californians is great in cost savings, we hope this will also serve as a blueprint for other states and nations. You can read more about this news in Forbes and The San Jose Mercury News . http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/new-battery-charger-standards-mean-energy,-cost-savings-in-california.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/new-battery-charger-standards-mean-energy,-cost-savings-in-california.aspx Fri, 13 January 2012 14:18:00 Erik Makinson - Waste Consulting Services Manager at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/reduce-waste-expenses-by-right-sizing-your-businesses-waste-and-recycling-services.aspx For most businesses, waste expenses are often viewed as a low priority, simply because the waste expense category is typically the smallest when compared to other utility or property-related expenses.  With greater pressure to reduce costs in today’s economy, businesses looking to drive additional savings should not overlook this critical category. While waste expenses do not typically account for a substantial percentage of operational expenses, the potential for waste savings opportunities as a percentage of spend can be very significant. And, for companies looking to improve their environmental performance, waste is an important element of any serious sustainability program. One of the ways organizations can reduce waste expenses is by making sure the containers for waste and recycling are the right size for the amount of waste produced.  For many, the size of the waste or cardboard containers has never been considered – they are what you’ve been provided by your waste vendor and what you have always used.  When setting up waste services, many businesses select the bin size based on an industry or chain-average, rather than site-specific factors such as sales or transaction count. This can be a big source of inefficiency.  As time goes by these inefficiencies often grow, as few managers notice when a dumpster leaves their site half-empty, but are very likely to notice when it is overflowing, at which point a request for additional pick-up is added. Over time, these service levels grow to be in great excess of actual need. Consider this example of one retailer who reduced their total waste cost by 15% by right sizing their waste and recycling services.  Starting with an evaluation of current waste data, (size of current waste containers - by site, week, and price) a capacity baseline was created. Through this effort, “we very quickly learned we had a lot of unused container capacity, which translated into quick, painless waste expense savings,” remarked the retailer. Capacity levels were then adjusted by changing the waste container size, the frequency of pick-ups or a combination of the two.  “It was one of the few property expense areas where we could achieve savings without requiring capital investments or imposing a lower service standard, which could adversely affect the “look and feel” of our stores.” Organizations looking to go through the waste right-sizing process should first consider what contributes most significantly to their waste volume. For example, in the retail industry, this metric is often sales. By creating a baseline service level (i.e. “x” cubic yards of trash service and “y” cubic yard of recycling per $1,000 in weekly sales), a target waste service volume for each site can be determined.  All sites above this level then become targets for waste right-sizing. Finally, it is important to keep in mind that this is not a one-time effort. Instead, this should be a regular exercise that is evaluated on an ongoing basis. External factors that affect each site’s actual waste volume can change at any time.  Whether it be a neighboring business using your container as an overflow, cardboard boxes that haven’t been broken down, or other external factors, such as: Seasonality of your business, Special promotions, Opening and closing of sites, or Major changes in inventory. Each of these factors has a role in the amount of waste and recycling generated in a given period.  For example, the holiday season can represent anywhere between 25-40% of annual sales for some retailers.  This being the case, one could assume that they also generate corresponding amounts of waste during this period, indicative of a serious spike in trash over this timeframe.  Organizations must apply due diligence to vet the apparent right sizing opportunities before service adjustments are actually made. Once confirmed, these opportunities typically bring significant waste savings ranging from 10 percent to upwards of 20 percent. Finally, when looking for ways to cut waste costs, remember that the savings found through right sizing can be significant, but are only one way you can evaluate your waste for cost savings http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/reduce-waste-expenses-by-right-sizing-your-businesses-waste-and-recycling-services.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2012/january/reduce-waste-expenses-by-right-sizing-your-businesses-waste-and-recycling-services.aspx Wed, 11 January 2012 14:20:00 Craig Billingsley - Laboratory Lead at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/ecova-research-laboratory-gains-accreditation-epa-recognition.aspx Looking to measure the energy efficiency of products and make them more environmentally responsible? We have good news – the Ecova Research Laboratory is now recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to perform third-party energy efficiency testing on computers, displays, televisions, and battery charging systems for the ENERGY STAR ® program. Ecova has long offered laboratory testing, tear-down, and prototyping capabilities for a variety of electronic and lighting products in its Durango, Colorado-based research office. Earlier this year we embarked on a formal certification process to increase the breadth, precision and rigor of our lab’s capabilities. We are proud to announce that our laboratory has completed that process and now meets the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 -- General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, according to the Laboratory Accreditation Bureau (L-A-B) . ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is one of the most rigorous standards in the industry and is considered best practice in the field of calibration/analytical laboratories. Having our own ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited laboratory enables Ecova to continue to provide high quality, innovative testing and analysis services, while assuring our clients receive the most accurate and useful test results. The Ecova Research Laboratory maintains the highest quality management system, laboratory grade NIST traceable testing equipment, and a fully trained technical team of lab technicians, engineers, data analysts, and report authors. Our ability to measure the energy efficiency of existing products and suggest design changes to improve them has been demonstrated repeatedly on behalf of government, utility, non-profit, and industry clients in the United States and internationally. To learn more about our laboratory’s product testing and research capabilities, please visit our website or contact us at LabInfo@ecova.com. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/ecova-research-laboratory-gains-accreditation-epa-recognition.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/ecova-research-laboratory-gains-accreditation-epa-recognition.aspx Thu, 29 December 2011 09:20:00 Jeff Heggedahl - President and CEO at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/3-energy-management-trends-to-watch-in-2012.aspx As a company that works closely with both utilities and commercial property owners working to see more, save more and sustain more, Ecova is unique in our ability to bridge both sides of the meter. In the year ahead, we anticipate several trends that can help large organizations better understand and manage their energy consumption. 1.  2012 will be the year real-time monitoring “grows up” and brings tremendous savings and ROI. Gone are the days when companies’ upgrades would bring only modest two-to-three percent energy reductions. The technology and business barriers for successful real-time energy management have been removed – it’s ready to really deliver value and ROI for building managers.   During the next 12 months, companies will benefit from an exponentially greater understanding of their energy consumption, creating opportunities for significant energy reductions ranging from10-to-30 percent. The potential for companies to improve the bottom line without workforce reductions will help drive energy management demand. To achieve maximum savings, many companies will bring in consulting firms with access to deep knowledge and existing data. Ecova—with its experience managing more than $18 billion in energy spending each year—can bring a vast array of best practices and knowledge to help clients make informed, cost-effective decisions. 2.  Energy efficiency will be a bright spot in our economy. Known as the “fifth fuel”, energy efficiency plays an even more important role given the challenging economic environment. The energy management sector will experience growth as more companies look to improve environmental and economic performance. The return on investment for smart efficiency upgrades will be hard for CFOs to ignore, with leading energy management firms placing a premium on top talent in the field. New smart meter technology, lighting innovations and other technological advances will mean that even companies like FedEx Office—that have long prioritized energy management and sustainable practices—can further benefit from increased savings. With data-driven insights and the right partner, companies can make informed, strategic decisions about their energy and carbon footprints. 3.  In energy management, one size does not fit all. For large companies with multi-site operations, energy management will increasingly focus on flexible solutions that can be prioritized to achieve the biggest return on investment across diverse geographies. Ecova’s customizable dashboard reporting tool helps energy managers determine what energy efficiency measures make the most economic sense for each region and location, ensuring they select those projects with the greatest ROI. Ecova’s recent work with GameStop shows how rate monitoring and optimization can ensure that our clients are paying the lowest possible costs–across hundreds of utility territories. Using site energy consumption data and proprietary utility tariff models, experts at Ecova have made energy recommendations that have saved the company nearly $2.6 million since beginning the partnership in 2008. This kind of localized data is needed to help companies truly understand and maximize their energy consumption, rates, and efficiency programs. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/3-energy-management-trends-to-watch-in-2012.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/3-energy-management-trends-to-watch-in-2012.aspx Thu, 22 December 2011 12:45:00 Kylene Fickenscher - Associate of Carbon Accounting and Advisory Services at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/corporate-leaders-are-now-including-supply-chain-in-their-carbon-management-strategy.aspx Being “climate-responsible” is becoming a part of the corporate lexicon with firms measuring, reporting, and reducing their carbon emissions – and being recognized for their carbon management efforts . Recently there has been growing pressure to look beyond the company’s immediate walls and measure scope 3 emissions – indirect emissions that result from the company’s operations but occur at sources owned or controlled by others.  To do so, the business identifies sources upstream and downstream from its operations in an attempt to calculate emissions throughout the entire value chain. To aid in this complex effort, the GHG Protocol recently released a set of standards on quantifying scope 3 and product-level emissions. Although the standards were just published a few months ago, there are a number of companies – Kraft Foods, Baxter, UPS, and Google – that are already using the guidelines to track and set carbon reduction goals.  Companies that take a lead by becoming involved in screening assessments, case studies, or pilot programs will move ahead of their competition by understanding the numbers that generate their impact.  Companies that are resistant to measuring their impact may be left behind. As reported in a recent blog post by Hugh Jones , the Carbon Trust Advisory found that “50% of multinationals expect to select their suppliers based upon carbon performance in the future and 29% of suppliers could lose their places on ‘green supply chain’ if they do not have adequate performance records on carbon”. Organizations that take a comprehensive view of their products and their value chain will understand the sources of their emissions and where corporate risks and opportunities lie related to carbon management. Through corrective actions the company can reduce inefficiencies while saving on costs and resources and through transparent disclosure the company can educate and engage a conscious consumer base. A case study published on the Ecova website features a recently completed carbon footprint assessment of Burgerville restaurant’s beef product. The analysis looked at over 80 processes from ranch to processing center to final disposal of the burger wrapper revealing operational strengths as well as opportunities for improvement within the beef value chain.  While Burgerville has a remarkably transparent supply chain and well-established stakeholder relationships, the retailer recognizes opportunities for reduced resource consumption and improved data management strategies. Much like the many companies getting a head start on understanding the impact of their value chain, this analysis lead to a deeper understanding of the organization’s impact and set out a path for moving forward. When as much as 50% of the average organization’s emissions are scope 3 , doesn’t it make sense to extend your metrics to your supply chain as well? http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/corporate-leaders-are-now-including-supply-chain-in-their-carbon-management-strategy.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/corporate-leaders-are-now-including-supply-chain-in-their-carbon-management-strategy.aspx Wed, 21 December 2011 09:55:00 Shannon Scheiwiller - Sr. Director - Marketing Operations at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/5-keystones-of-a-successful-corporate-sustainability-strategy.aspx Environmental sustainability issues are complex and can be overwhelming, particularly during the early stages of crafting a sustainability strategy. What do successful programs have in common? In a recent interview with Indigo Teiwes, Strategic Planning Services Manager at Ecova, she was asked this question in relation to the Ecova client portfolio. Indigo answered, “Based on our strategic planning work with approximately 100 clients since 2007, we’ve found that there are 5 important triggers, or “keystones” that have a clear link to driving real benefits and achieving desired efficiencies.” Keystone #1: Data Simply put, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. Functioning data tracking and reporting systems, even simple ones, are the foundation upon which all improvements and progress can be made. Keystone #2: People People across the company who impact sustainability activities and decisions must be engaged and trained. We have also found that visible executive engagement and leadership sets the pace and ensures environmental sustainability change agents have the backing they need to facilitate organizational change. Keystone #3: Infrastructure Physical and operational elements comprise the 3 rd Keystone. We’ve found that the most effective sustainability plans result from organizations with broad sustainability scope including energy, water, waste, carbon, supply chain, and transportation efforts. Initial infrastructure strategy starts with comprehensive audits, gap analysis and project identification. Projects are then prioritized based on such factors as capital investment, Return on Investment, outreach potential and other parameters. For some organizations, this could be a daunting task that may yield benefits from third party expertise. Keystone #4: Marketing and Reporting Communicating in a transparent way to stakeholders is essential to build credibility for the organization’s efforts. Clear and accurate reporting about the organization’s goals, practices and performance influence brand perceptions and supports risk mitigation. Examples of two companies that have communicated their corporate sustainability message well include Patagonia and Interface Global . Both organizations demonstrate transparent messaging, clear plans and goals, and communicate progress toward those goals to all internal and external stakeholders. Keystone #5: Organizational Intelligence The 5 th Keystone guides and supports centralized monitoring of progress toward goals and effective execution. We’ve often seen how initiatives bubble up across the organization when a sustainability strategy rolls out. By centralizing efforts and intelligence, synergies are easily identified, efficiencies captured, and learning shared. Centralization helps prioritize the myriad of opportunities an organization faces, narrowing the focus onto the programs with the greatest benefits. Regardless of your organization’s size or industry, developing a corporate sustainability strategy that’s designed for success requires incorporating the 5 keystones. We’ve seen consistently that companies who do this improved their organization’s likelihood of delivering on sustainability goals. An example of a company that effectively incorporated the 5 Keystones into their corporate sustainability strategy and has steadily delivered on its goals is Burgerville Restaurants, an Ecova client and a regional chain in the Pacific Northwest. Burgerville maintains strong market share and customer loyalty primarily through their long history of community and sustainability engagement. Their holistic approach to sustainability planning will keep them well positioned to be a sustainability leader. Review the Burgerville case study and learn how they developed and executed their corporate sustainability strategy. Also learn about other organizations’ sustainability strategies that we’ve helped support: Yellowstone National Parks , Jack In The Box and Dell Computers . http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/5-keystones-of-a-successful-corporate-sustainability-strategy.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/5-keystones-of-a-successful-corporate-sustainability-strategy.aspx Tue, 06 December 2011 23:59:00 Ed Schlect - Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/prenova-transaction-closes,-expanding-energy-efficiency-solutions-for-our-clients.aspx Last week we announced our intent to acquire Prenova and today that transaction has officially closed. Employees from both companies met in Atlanta to celebrate the occasion and meet their new colleagues. I am so excited to bring these two strong organizations together for a common goal – to be the total energy and sustainability management company. The acquisition significantly enhances Ecova’s unique combination of historical data from utility expense management services and real-time building intelligence and management solutions. How will this help clients SEE MORE? Companies in every commercial and industrial sector are trying to reduce energy consumption to control expenses, manage carbon emissions and enhance brand image. This need, coupled with significant advances in cost effective real-time energy collection devices is creating unprecedented demand for integrated energy efficiency solutions. The ‘mash up’ of data from multiple sources provides an opportunity for greater emphasis on energy management reporting and actionable insight. With the acquisition of Prenova, Ecova will be combining Prenova’s real time data collection and management tools with Ecova’s strengths in data management and reporting to drive energy efficiency results from the explosion of data coming into our business. How will this help clients SAVE MORE? Collecting energy data from on-site devices and interacting with these devices to influence behavior and lower consumption will become a major business focus as Ecova moves ahead. The acquisition of Building Knowledge Networks in early 2011 was our first critical step in this direction, and Prenova advances our capability even further. Our role as a virtual resource manager meets an expressed market need. Prenova’s real-time energy platforms including Energy Point, Meter Point and Decision Point coupled with both companies’ energy efficiency expertise allows our combined customer base the ability to take action on energy efficiency opportunities, saving more, whether using internal teams or leveraging the services of a trusted advisor. This Prenova case study, Controlling Energy Consumption in the Home Furnishings Industry , is a great example of how real-time energy monitoring provides powerful intelligence and impressive results. We look forward to continuing to work with our clients to develop and deliver a growing suite of technology-optimized solutions to help them see more opportunities, save more money and sustain more natural resources. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/prenova-transaction-closes,-expanding-energy-efficiency-solutions-for-our-clients.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/december/prenova-transaction-closes,-expanding-energy-efficiency-solutions-for-our-clients.aspx Thu, 01 December 2011 05:38:00 Laura Moorefield - Senior Manager of Research and Policy at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/november/next-generation-lighting-programs-what’s-all-the-(lighting)-fuss-about.aspx We turn them on and off many times each day, but most people really don’t think about the energy use, type of bulb, or wattage associated with each light switch they hit. For the first time, new research shows that this is changing. The majority of Americans now know that federal legislation known as the Energy Independence and Security Act, or EISA, will phase out  “most traditional incandescent lighting by 2014,” according to a new survey conducted by the lighting manufacturer Osram Sylvania. But, according to the New York Times, when it comes down to details, people are less clear about what is going to happen beginning on January 1, 2012. And, if the many choices facing consumers are confusing, imagine what that means for efficiency programs that are working to help consumers switch to energy efficient lighting. Here at Ecova we think about lighting every day. In fact, we have a lighting lab that tests performance of off-the-shelf and prototype light bulbs, and our researchers help shape efficiency policy in the U.S. and abroad. Recently, we worked closely with two clients to help consumers and efficiency programs navigate the upcoming changes. For the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), we designed an easy-to-follow brochure called Your Guide to More Efficient and Money-Saving Light Bulbs . This 2-page brief walks consumers through the new light bulb choices based on what bulbs they used to buy. The guide also explains how to read the new labels that will appear on light bulb packages and includes information on each bulb’s light output, color, and cost to operate. We also supported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop the comprehensive, newly released 2011 EPA Report: Next Generation Lighting Programs: Opportunities to Advance Efficient Lighting for a Cleaner Environment . This report provides efficiency program implementers guidance on how to re-design residential lighting programs after the federal light bulb efficiency standards take effect. The report presents an overview of today’s residential lighting efficiency and describes features, pricing, and availability of new lighting technologies – from halogen incandescents to LEDs – that meet or exceed the new standards. In addition, authors discuss the near term savings opportunities from continued promotion of CFLs. The key conclusion is that there is a large opportunity for continued lighting energy savings even after standards take effect. Programs can maximize these savings through a portfolio approach whereby traditional CFL programs are expanded to include a mix of efficient lighting technologies (CFLs, LEDs, and 2x incandescents), and to increase education and outreach efforts to help consumers navigate the changing lighting landscape effectively. Ecova understands the types of research, marketing programs and incentives needed to make these new lighting choices work. Look for more on this topic in an upcoming blog post. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/november/next-generation-lighting-programs-what’s-all-the-(lighting)-fuss-about.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/november/next-generation-lighting-programs-what’s-all-the-(lighting)-fuss-about.aspx Mon, 28 November 2011 16:18:00 Seth Nesbitt - VP and Chief Marketing Officer at Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/november/what's-in-a-name.aspx Changing the name of a company isn’t a light undertaking. Customers are likely used to your name and changing it takes time, effort and resources. So some of you might be wondering “Why did Advantage IQ decide to change its name to Ecova”? Well, companies change their name for many reasons. They may have grown and changed so that their name doesn’t fit them anymore. They may have acquired a number of companies and feel the need to unite the companies under one name. In our case, these factors were both present. We also believe that a new name will help us tell our story about our work helping our customers grow results on their efforts to save resources in the energy and sustainability space. In any event – we have gone and changed it – and we hope you like the new name. If not, please give it some time. Remember what you thought about some of the biggest brands in America today when you first heard their new names – Verizon, Accenture – even Apple. They probably all took a while to get used to. We like Ecova as a name for many reasons. There are elements of both “economics and ecology” in the name – supporting that we deliver value for our customers in a number of ways. For people who don’t know us we also think it is simple, concise and hints at the kind of company we are and the value we can deliver. For those that do know us, you can find elements of our past in our name – and we are glad there is a link to our history, but it is also undeniably a new name pointing towards the future. But, in all the fanfare over the announcement and the new name, we haven’t forgotten that a name is, after all, just a name. Our brand is, and will be, to a large extent defined by the perceptions about us in the marketplace. And so the important thing for us at Ecova is to focus on what we have always done – providing value for our clients every day. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/november/what's-in-a-name.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/november/what's-in-a-name.aspx Fri, 04 November 2011 12:57:00 Jeff Heggedahl - President and CEO of Ecova http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/october/welcome-to-ecova.aspx Welcome to Ecova! Please come on in, look around, and let us know what you think. I’m so excited to tell you that the combined entities of the Advantage IQ companies and Ecos have joined capabilities to become Ecova. This combination creates a richer solution for our clients, bringing together the benefits of our experience in the commercial, industrial and utility sectors.  As one, we have a unique perspective that will save clients money and improve their environmental performance. You’re here on our new blog, Ecova Insider, so you probably know some of our history serving hundreds of the largest companies and utilities in the country. What you may not know: During the past two years, we’ve saved clients more than $206 million, helping them improve their bottom line and meet their sustainability goals. Our superior customer service—provided by the more than 900 talented members of our team—contributed to a 95 percent client retention rate. You also may not know that we offer total energy and sustainability solutions to help our clients see more, save more and sustain more. Ecova leverages insights based on consumption, cost and carbon footprint data spanning thousands of utilities, more than 450,000 business sites and millions of households. It’s this data—providing insights others can’t match—that’s helping clients realize substantial savings. The data, combined with our expertise in the sector and our employees, sets us apart. We hope you like our new look and name. We believe they build on our strong history helping clients manage their expenses and better reflect where we’re headed, and the impact we can make for our clients business and the environment. This blog will be a way for us to share our insights in the energy efficiency, utility, energy management and sustainability areas. Many of the talented individuals from Ecova will post here, sharing their unique and experienced views. We hope you’ll come back to hear more. http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/october/welcome-to-ecova.aspx http://www.ecova.com/ecova/2011/october/welcome-to-ecova.aspx Mon, 17 October 2011 13:32:00