Beyond Jargon July 28, 2008 Posted by: johnsoncontrols 08:01 PM
Beyond Jargon
By Marc Andraca
Director, Global Energy & Sustainability, Johnson Controls, Inc.
Of our many renewable resources, “jargon” may (unfortunately) be the one most widely used by industry. Virtually every company and market sector invents words, acronyms, model numbers and other terminology that is unique and generally comprehensible only to their particular group.
Within the Johnson Controls Global Energy and Sustainability team, we often find ourselves exploring and making sense of whole new fields of jargon.We try to engage thought leaders, organizations, companies and partners to get their perspectives on sustainability megatrends around us and the implications they could have for our business. We work with new people and organizations to understand the rapidly changing energy landscape, the possible impacts of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and the opportunities and risks these trends create. To succeed, we must constantly decipher these acronyms, titles, buzzwords and symbols and translate them into concepts that are simple and make sense.
As part of this work we recently participated in a conference called “Land of Opportunity:The American Response to Climate Change.” The gathering took a solution-oriented approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, focused on buildings, appliances, power generation, and forests. Participants included the Natural Resources Defense Council, McKinsey & Company, General Electric, the World Resources Institute, Harvard University and others.
Like any conference, the jargon quotient was huge. But one set of words emerged that was powerful precisely because it was about clarifying jargon:‘Global warming’ is a misnomer….what is happening is ‘global climactic disruption.’
Warming is a nice thing. It makes folks feel good. It happens slowly and comfortably. But as presented by John Holdren, professor of Earth & Planetary Sciences at Harvard University, what we are experiencing globally has nothing to do with what we think of as warming.
Instead, he urged conference attendees to reframe their thinking, and to view what is already happening as massive, untidy, dramatic disruptions that will cause widespread and almost entirely harmful change to the natural world around us, and by implication to individuals and society.
Specifically, he said we will confront large-scale, unpredictable, and painful disruptions around:
availability of water
productivity of farms, forests and fisheries
prevalence of oppressive heat
new geography of disease
damages from storms, floods, droughts and wildfires
distribution and abundance of species
The conference addressed solutions to this global climactic disruption over two long days. At the center was a focus on several issues: the crucial role of energy efficiency in buildings, the policies and programs that are needed, and the costs and benefits of different alternatives. Johnson Controls was praised for the important work we do around whole-building energy retrofits, and was recognized as a company leading the sustainability charge. And of course, business cards were exchanged; people reconnected.
But the most salient concept that emerged and has ‘stuck’ is that simple idea: It’s not about warming, it’s about disruption. These disruptions will be broader, more intense, more frequent, and much, much more costly. From a scientific standpoint, Holdren stated with total certainty that we are feeling these disruptions already – droughts in China, floods around the world, forest fires in the western U.S., glaciers melting at the North and South Poles . . .
In a disruption-intense planet, our corporate vision – a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world – never seemed more important.
Marc Andraca is the director of the Global Energy & Sustainability business unit for Johnson Controls, Inc.He also serves on the board of the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee, Wis.
Four-Day Work Week Pays in Energy Savings July 21, 2008 Posted by: johnsoncontrols 08:16 PM
Steve Truebner, State Government Solutions, Johnson Controls
In 1932 Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis branded state governments the "laboratories of democracy" in their ability to employ innovative solutions to menacing state challenges. Justice Brandeis would have commended the State of Utah's courageous experiment in mandating the four-day work week in an effort to reduce energy consumption.
States across the country face daunting challenges in delivering suitable services for growing entitlement programs, with dwindling state revenue with which to do so. Additionally, the initiative to reduce carbon emissions through smart economic and environmental practices – best demonstrated at the recent Western Governors Association meeting – is an ongoing trial of state resource management.
This latest measure, led by Governor Jon Huntsman of Utah, has been called extreme by some, but it is a perfect instance of state government serving as a laboratory of democracy and leading by example.
By shifting to a four-day work week, composed of 10-hour days, and closing all non-essential buildings every Friday, the State of Utah and its employees will both conserve energy and save money. According to the state, anticipated annual savings would be approximately three million dollars.
Best of all, state residents shouldn’t notice a big difference in operations. Only those agencies providing critical services, such as public safety and health services will remain open. It is Gov. Huntsman's intention that the state's website will be able to manage any other requests that fall on a Friday.
"We tend to think of state government services circa the 1960s or the 1970s. We forget that, in today's world, at least in our state, we have 800 services that are available online." says Governor Huntsman. "That is, they can access a lot of services right from their home." The state's main energy savings will come from the closing of these non-essential services buildings. All too often, energy efficiency and climate change is discussed in the context of vehicles. While transportation is responsible for more than a quarter of our total greenhouse gas emissions, buildings that we actually work in contribute nearly half of the emissions, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Other states across the country are also leading by example in the effort to build high performance or green buildings, reduce emissions and create a more sustainable work environment. The use of compact florescent lighting, daylighting techniques, rain water capture systems and the integration of 21st century technology that measures, manages and reports on the energy savings of state buildings are all real examples of energy efficiency measures currently executed by state governments.
There is no doubt that unforeseen challenges will arise as other states consider this new work schedule. Changing daycare schedules, recreational vehicle usage, fatigue from the longer work days, or just obsessively checking emails on your day off are all issues that will be addressed. But that is the nature of an experiment and the risk that goes with leadership.
We should applaud state leaders for their willingness to be more efficient, for leveraging the power of the Internet, and for their stewardship of the environment. Enjoy the long weekend, State of Utah – you've earned it.
Based in Littleton, Colorado, Steve Truebner works in State Government Solutions for Johnson Controls, Inc.
Move over mayors, here come the governors! July 07, 2008 Posted by: johnsoncontrols 10:17 PM
Thomas F. Walther, Johnson Controls
American mayors have made a visible stand promoting the need for action to reduce climate change,with some 850 mayors joining the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and committing to strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities.
But the action is going to multiply as the nation’s governors begin their national conference this week in Philadelphia.The National Governors Association's Securing a Clean Energy Future Initiativeis expected to take precedence, as the governors are aggressively moving forward with plans to address energy and climate change issues.
·Others are providing education to businesses and organizations in their state, such as Gov. Charlie Crist’s (R-FL) recent Serve to Preserve Conference featuring Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) talking about the remarkable ways he’s advancing California’s efforts.
·Some are also supporting legislation that brings together the efforts of cities and counties within their state, such as Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA)’s support for the "green communities" program, offering cities and towns the chance to use state loans and grants to finance energy efficiency improvements, and renewable and alternative energy projects;
·They’re coming up with innovative ideas, such as Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.’s (R-UT) recent proposal to move state agencies to four 10-hour days a week in order to save energy and reduce commuting expenses.
·And best of all, the governors are banding together to share best practices.That’s one of the highlights of the upcoming Southern Governors’ Association Annual Meeting at which Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) will host a town hall-style meeting to discuss several initiatives.
If you’ll notice, this isn’t a Republican issue or a Democratic issue.It’s a good government issue.The governors know that addressing climate change begins at home – looking at their own buildings and operations to determine how to make them more energy-efficient.Saving energy saves money, helps the environment and creates green-collar jobs.It addresses the “Triple Bottom Line” of Economic, Social and Environmental benefits.
The leadership they’re providing is an excellent way to demonstrate to businesses in their own states to follow in the same direction.
Tom Walther is the Regional Sales Manager for State Government Solutions for Johnson Controls in the Eastern United States.
