Doubling Down at Johnson Controls
November 02, 2009
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"Double-digit return on investment" at the Automotive Experience business unit. A "big story" in batteries at Power Solutions. And significant growth at Building Efficiency "for a long time to come."

Those are just some of the visions of the future that CEO Steve Roell shares in a recent article in Chief Executive magazine as he "drives a turnaround at Johnson Controls."

Click here to read the article.

Efficiency Now. It's never been more important.





When We Build It, They Will Learn
October 05, 2009
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By Don Albinger, Vice President, Renewable Solutions, Johnson Controls

If I said the words “solar farm” to you, I bet I can guess what picture would pop into your mind’s eye: a football field-sized array of solar panels permanently attached to a patch of ground somewhere in the boondocks. Am I right?

I’ll wager that the last thing you would think of is those same solar panels mounted so they’re completely portable and all parked in the middle of an urban neighborhood. But hang onto that mental image for a few months – because that’s exactly what we’re about to start building in Milwaukee.

Last week, the body that governs technical colleges in Wisconsin gave the green light for Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) to work with Johnson Controls to build what will be the state’s biggest solar installation. The $6.9 million solar education farm will be located on 32 acres of MATC-owned land where the transmitter for the public television station the school operates is located.

The photovoltaic (PV) panels will generate 411 kilowatts of electricity – power that will be used to run the television transmitter, making it the first public television station transmitter in America to be removed from the traditional electricity grid.

When it’s completed, the solar farm may also be the first fully portable solar PV system in the nation. The solar panels themselves, as well as fences and solar trackers, will all be mounted on concrete pads. Nearly 2,500 solar panels will be arrayed in eight different configurations. This flexibility and portability will dramatically enhance one of the facility’s key functions: a training center for technicians, designers, site assessors, electricians, salespeople and other professionals building careers in the renewable energy industry.

The growing solar market promises to create demand for thousands and thousands of these jobs in the coming years – jobs that must be filled by trained and experienced workers if our communities, and our nation as a whole, are to reap the economic benefits of the growth in renewable energy. This project promises to expand educational partnerships between MATC and other Milwaukee-area institutions of higher learning – as well as K-12 schools that will be able to give students and teachers the opportunity to visit the site, either in person or virtually.

All this is certain to make the project a model for other colleges and universities around the country: solar facilities located not in the middle of nowhere, but on under-utilized pieces of land much closer to where the electricity they generate is needed.

Efficiency Now. It's never been more important.





Footprints in the Pacific
August 31, 2009
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By Chuck Strand, Johnson Controls

A thousand miles east of the Philippines and 7,500 miles west of California, smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, lies the tiny island of Guam. Captured by the Japanese on December 8th, 1941 – the day after they attacked Pearl Harbor – Guam was eventually recaptured by U.S. forces and became an important launch pad for the air and naval assaults on Japan that eventually ended World War II. In 1950, the island became an American territory and its inhabitants U.S. citizens.

Viewed from the air, Guam looks just like a footprint – a really big footprint, some 30 miles long and 12 miles across at its widest point. But it’s that other footprint – the environmental one – that comes to my mind when I think of the island these days.

The U.S. military is still a giant presence on Guam. Seven military installations cover nearly 30 percent of the island and require, according to the Department of Defense, a staggering 41.5 megawatts of continuous power every month. That’s enough electricity to power about 25,000 homes.

Among the U.S. military bases on the island is Naval Base Guam – a critical component in the nation’s military might in the Western Pacific. And it’s where Johnson Controls will soon help the Navy pursue its ambitious goal of producing 25 percent of the energy it needs using renewable power sources.

We recently signed a $34.1 million energy savings performance contract with the Navy to help make Naval Base Guam more energy efficient and reduce the base’s overall environmental impact. Among the work we will perform:
  • Installing a large-scale solar photovoltaic system that will provide about 3 percent of the base’s power needs
  • Installing energy efficient air conditioning systems – very important in a place where the daily temperature averages 86 degrees year round!
  • Upgrading the efficiency of more than 9,000 lighting fixtures
  • Installing our Metasys® building management system to serve 49 of the buildings on the base

The climate on Guam is officially described as "tropical marine," which is weather-speak for "really hot and muggy all the time." So the equipment we’re installing is designed to handle tropical humidity and saltwater. And, get this, it will also withstand typhoon winds in excess of 170 mph. That’s important because an average of three tropical storms and one typhoon come within about 200 miles of the island every year.

These energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements are expected to save the base $1.7 million a year – savings on utility expenses that will be redirected to repay the capital expenditure required to fund the upgrades. They will help the Navy make good on its pledge to dramatically increase its use of renewable energy. And they will help reduce the base’s carbon and other emissions – shrinking that other footprint.

On an island outpost halfway around the world, in a place that must feel like the edge of the planet, thousands of American men and women stand on that wall and defend each of us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. At Johnson Controls, we’re pleased and proud to play a role in making their service and sacrifice a little more comfortable – and a lot more efficient and sustainable.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.




“Boldly Sustainable”
August 10, 2009
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By Jim Simpson, Johnson Controls

When students, faculty and staff return to colleges and universities across America in a few weeks, many will discover more than just freshly painted dorm rooms, updated menus at the dining halls and a few new starters on the sports teams. Many will also notice an increased sense of urgency about what is arguably one of the most pressing issues we face: climate change.

You’d be hard pressed to find many places where the commitment to doing something about climate is greater than it is on campus. Colleges and universities have been on the cutting edge of sustainability – as they should be. After all, our institutions of higher learning are shaping the attitudes of the generation that will have to cope with the consequences of climate change. They’re conducting important research while educating the scientists, engineers and other experts who must devise innovative and effective ways to halt climate change. And they’re leaders – locally, nationally, even globally – on developing the policies necessary to accomplish the mission.

Thankfully, so many colleges and universities are enthusiastically leading the way on sustainability. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recently reported that in 2008:

  • More than 66 academic programs focusing on sustainability were created
  • At least 13 research centers dedicated to sustainability opened – and three times that many are planned
  • Nearly 300 colleges and universities publicly reported their greenhouse gas emissions
  • Over 130 green campus buildings were planned, started, opened or granted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – LEED® certification.

To date, 649 institutions have signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), pledging to neutralize their own greenhouse gas emissions while accelerating research and education aimed at finding solutions. When the ACUPCC holds its annual Climate Leadership Summit in Chicago this week, the focus will be on helping more colleges and universities move aggressively to develop and implement climate action plans on their campuses.

A new book – co-sponsored by Johnson Controls – chronicles the efforts of the many institutions that are already reducing their carbon footprints. It’s called "Boldly Sustainable" – an in-depth look at how colleges and universities are leveraging their commitment to sustainability to cut costs, reduce their impact on the environment, attract the best and the brightest students and faculty, find new sources of funding and build support among their alumni and in their communities. The National Association of College and University Business Officers is sending out some 6,600 free copies of the book to campuses nationwide.

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh – a signatory to the ACUPCC – is one of the institutions profiled in the book. A partner with Johnson Controls since 1992, UW-Oshkosh was one of the first major universities in the nation to develop a plan to become carbon neutral. The UW-Oshkosh goal: nothing less than complete energy independence by 2012.

To help set them on the path to accomplishing this objective, we worked with students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders to identify and prioritize sustainability needs, which included reducing energy use across all operations, increasing the use of renewable energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the focus on sustainability education and curriculum.

The comprehensive facility audit we conducted identified measures such as upgrading mechanical systems, equipment, lighting, controls and other facility improvements. We reviewed renewable energy opportunities that included solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, wind power, biomass, cogeneration and digester gas. We established a carbon footprint baseline and projected future emissions. The result is a comprehensive plan to drive decision-making on the best strategies for reducing emissions as the plan is implemented.

"Boldly Sustainable" certainly describes what UW-Oshkosh and hundreds of similar institutions are doing. But it’s also more than just the title of a book. It’s a challenge to all of us to transform how we live, work and learn to reverse climate change and build a sustainable future. Colleges and universities across the land are rising to that challenge and providing the leadership required to reach our goal.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.





Telling the Whole Story – For Once!
July 19, 2009
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By Darryll Fortune, Johnson Controls

At number 58 on the Fortune U.S. 500 list, and 198 on the global list, and with 140,000 employees in 1,300 locations around the world, Johnson Controls tends to make the news a lot.

As director of public relations for our Building Efficiency business, I’ve noticed that most of the “ink” we get in newspapers and magazines, on television, radio and online is usually pretty focused. It’s typically about one narrow issue or event – a Johnson Controls executive testifying on Capitol Hill, a new initiative like the Empire State Building project, the Energy Efficiency Indicator that we release every year – those kinds of topics.

It’s rare that a reporter covers the breadth and scope of our entire business – Automotive Experience, Power Solutions and Building Efficiency. Although we are in three news-rich industries where energy efficiency has never been more important – in our homes, cars and offices – it’s still tough to tell the complete story. Last week was the exception.

The Nightly Business Report on PBS aired a lengthy segment about us on July 13th. Reporter Diane Eastabrook – Chicago Bureau Chief – paid a visit to our suburban Milwaukee offices to take a tour of our soon-to-be LEED Platinum corporate headquarters. She interviewed Chairman and CEO Steve Roell about a range of topics, learned more about our rich history and bright future, and, most importantly, put together a story about the many ways in which we’re contributing to a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world.

You can view the report here:
http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publish/us/en/about/video.html?WT.mc_id=123701.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.





No Summer Break for Renewable Energy Education
June 01, 2009
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By Judith Mouton, Renewable Energy Education Manager, Johnson Controls

If you’re like me, this time of year always makes you think about your college years. June was when nine months of taking notes, studying, writing papers and cramming for tests were finally over and we could think about anything other than the periodic table, the fall of the Ottoman Empire or how to conjugate Spanish verbs.

At colleges and universities across the country, that’s exactly what millions of students are doing right now – shifting their focus from the classroom to summer jobs, family get-togethers, maybe even vacations.

But here at Johnson Controls, the college campuses where those kids go to school remain at the center of my attention whether it’s spring, summer, winter or fall. My job title is Renewable Energy Education Manager. It’s a reflection of Johnson Controls’ commitment to helping create the green collar work force of the future. And it’s a reflection of our understanding that doing so is absolutely essential to our success as a company and as a nation.

If we’re going to restart our economy, achieve energy independence and protect our environment through energy efficiency and renewable energy, we’re going to need a bunch of new engineers, installers, technicians, salespeople and others to make that happen. Colleges and universities are gearing up to train and educate students to tackle those tasks, and we’re pleased to be one of the leading companies sharing our knowledge and expertise to help them get the job done. For a couple years now, we’ve been working with colleges and universities to offer four-year degrees and technical programs in renewable energy. Here are some examples:

  • We worked with the University of Wisconsin to develop the curriculum for the nation’s first bachelor of sciences degree in sustainable management. The degree program will be offered – beginning this fall – at four UW system campuses (Parkside, River Falls, Stout and Superior), with much of the class work delivered online. The program is geared towards non-traditional students – adults who may already have a degree and are already in the workforce, but want to update their skills and take advantage of the boom in the green job market. Graduates will gain necessary knowledge in topics such as carbon trading, logistics, supply chain, renewable energy policy and economics.
  • We’re also working with the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and Milwaukee Area Technical College to develop curriculum for courses to train workers for jobs in the wind industry. Called the Wind Energy Educational Collaborative, the program is one of just 53 initiatives nationwide to receive funding from the federal government to help achieve the goal of generating 25% of electricity used nationwide from wind by 2030. Courses at MATC will offer students a certificate for installing, operating and maintaining wind systems. The UWM curriculum will prepare engineering students and laid-off engineers to analyze wind patterns, research wind power and its effects on the electrical grid, as well as engineer and design wind systems.
  • We previously helped Mid State Technical College – serving Central Wisconsin – develop the curriculum for an Associate in Applied Science Degree in one of three areas of renewable energy:

  • Finally, we’re working with a number of colleges and universities to offer workshops and seminars to educate the general public about renewable energy and emerging career opportunities in the industry
So, while college kids everywhere are on summer break – whether they’re bagging groceries, mowing lawns or just working on their tans – at Johnson Controls we’ll still be hard at work helping ensure that when classes resume this fall, more students than ever before can start preparing themselves for a successful career in tomorrow’s green economy.

Efficiency Now. It’s never been more important.




A Fair Breeze Blowing on the Wind Industry
May 03, 2009
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By Jesse Stowell, Johnson Controls

As I drive across the wide open plains of West Texas I’m reminded– would you believe it – of Chicago. Not because the scenery is similar – it isn’t, especially this time of year! But because of the one thing that both places certainly have in common right now: wind, and lots of it.

West Texas is currently one of the hottest markets in the world for wind energy — particularly on a utility-scale. Giant wind farms with hundreds of turbines generating hundreds of megawatts of electricity dot the skyline. And more are on the way.

But this week, ground zero for the wind industry is 1,300 miles to the north in Chicago where the windy city hosts the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) Windpower 2009 conference. And while utility-scale wind is certainly high on the conference agenda, there’s something new on the breeze, as well.

For the first time, the conference will include a meeting of the Community Wind Working Group. Formed last year, the group’s objective is to develop policies and strategies to help grow community wind – on-site wind energy generating facilities that may consist of just one turbine.

Community wind continues to grow – especially among local school districts, on college and university campuses, and on federal facilities such as military bases. What’s more: community wind really stands to gain from current and potential developments that include:

  • A national Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that would require all utilities to generate a percentage of their power from renewables such as wind. A RPS is currently part of climate change legislation now before the U.S. Congress.
  • A cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions that’s part of the same legislation. Such a scheme would make generation of electricity from fossil fuels more expensive, making wind and other renewables more cost competitive.
  • The resumption of tax credits for investments in wind energy and other renewables.
  • Net-metering laws being adopted at the state level that help make on-site wind energy facilities more financially attractive.
  • Progress on bringing plug-in hybrid vehicles to the U.S. auto market where they promise to drive increased demand for electricity – which will in turn encourage utilities to promote more on-site power generation from renewables such as wind as an alternative to building new fossil fuel power plants.
  • Improvements in wind turbine technologies that increase the efficiency of generating electricity at lower wind speeds, which are common in community wind facilities.
  • Slow but steady easing of the credit markets, freeing more funding for wind projects.

All of this, of course, comes on top of an overwhelming increase in interest in all forms of renewable energy – wind included – driven by instability and uncertainty in energy prices, concerns over climate change and energy security, and other factors.

And it comes in the midst of overwhelming public support for wind energy. A recent public opinion poll finds that 82% of Americans would support a wind energy project in their hometown.

Whether it’s blustering across the vast open expanses of West Texas or gusting between skyscrapers in the loop in downtown Chicago, it’s encouraging to find a fair breeze blowing on community wind, bringing with it the promise of even greater growth for an industry that is poised to play a critical role in America’s energy future.

Efficiency now. It’s never been more important.





Your Other Footprint – It May Be Just As Big and Just As Bad
March 23, 2009
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By Tricia Kuse, Johnson Controls

No question about it: the buzz for quite some time has been mostly about our “carbon footprint” – the amount of CO2 we emit into the atmosphere as a result of what we do and what we consume at home, at work and on the road.

Lately, though, I’m hearing a lot about another set of tracks we’re laying down: our “water footprint” – particularly the trail left behind by businesses, governments and other organizations.

Water is essential to everything we do. We rely on it for food production (6%), power generation (40%), manufacturing (40%), personal use (8%) and a host of other uses that are critical to our economic prosperity and our very well being.

Yet water shortages are on the rise. Drought – made worse by climate change – affects much of the world. California is in the midst of what’s being called “the worst drought in modern history.” Thirty-six other states will face similar shortages in the next few years. One chairman of a major North American company worries that water shortages could actually present a bigger challenge than energy security. He predicts, “We will run out of water before we run out of fuel.” Frightening.

As individuals and businesses, we can all use water more efficiently, but governments – federal, state and local – must play a role, as well. And more of them need to follow the example being set by Charleston, South Carolina.

We’ve worked with Charleston city officials for more than four decades – helping them make their municipal facilities and operations more energy efficient and sustainable. One recent focus has been on water.

With more than 90 beautiful parks, 1,200 acres of open space and 190 landscaped municipal buildings, the City of Charleston uses a lot of water to keep the grass green and flowers blooming. In 2007, we identified ways to do that more efficiently: a new smart irrigation system.

We installed WeatherTRAK smart sensors throughout Charleston’s parks. These ingenious little devices analyze daily weather data from satellites and combine it with information about the type of vegetation, soil, ground slope and other factors to provide the exact amount of water to keep the landscaping green and growing when the plants need it, not when they don’t. This amazing system cuts water use by up to 40%.

The project was funded through a performance contract, which means that guaranteed cost savings from lower water bills, coupled with additional cost savings from energy efficiency improvements, are paying the cost of installing the new irrigation system.

Government bodies at all levels should learn some lessons from what Charleston is doing:
  • There are new technologies out there to help you use water more efficiently
  • The rising cost of water makes these technologies much more attractive and necessary
  • You don’t have to devote precious capital budgets to making these improvements, because proven alternatives such as performance contracting are available
  • In fact, the Department of Energy recommends that performance contracting be used for projects funded with stimulus dollars – to extend the impact of those funds and add transparency and accountability to the process
  • If you want (or need) to make a statement about sustainability, make sure that water efficiency is part of your plan
More government bodies and businesses need to follow Charleston’s lead and focus on both tracks they’re leaving behind: their carbon footprint and their water footprint.

The solution couldn’t be clearer: Efficiency Now – it’s never been more important.



The Bad News and the Even Worse News
March 16, 2009
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By Jeff Van Ess, Johnson Controls

So a doctor says to his patient, “I have bad news and worse news. Which do you want first?”

“The bad news, I guess,” replies the visibly shaken patient.

“The tests show you’re suffering from an incurable disease and have 48 hours to live.”

“Oh no! What could possibly be worse than that?” the patient asks.

“I’ve been trying to get in touch with you since yesterday,” answers the physician.

Does that story remind you of anything? How about this: the bad news is we’re in the midst of a global energy crisis. And the worse news is we’ve also got a problem with water. Take California for example.

With the state now in its third consecutive year of severe drought, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently proclaimed a state of emergency. Likening the water crisis to an earthquake or raging wildfire, the governor called for urgent upgrades to the state’s water infrastructure to ensure a clean and reliable water supply, and avoid mandatory rationing.

And here’s the kicker: California is by no means alone in this. Thirty six states face the possibility of suffering similar water shortages in the next five years. Thirty six states.

So what’s the solution? Here’s a hint: it’s the fastest and easiest to implement, and it’s the same solution to the energy crisis: efficiency now. Just like we need to squeeze everything we can out of every ounce of energy we consume, we need to be getting the most out of every single drop of water we use.

In California, the governor’s plan includes retrofit programs for all state facilities and a moratorium on new landscaping projects at state buildings that don’t incorporate efficient irrigation techniques. The state also has called on federal and local governments to implement immediate water use reduction plans for all their facilities.

Do you know what California – and, for that matter, every state in the nation – needs right now? More cities like Tulare.

Located in the state’s farm-rich Central Valley, a couple hours north of LA, Tulare has taken bold steps to dramatically cut its water use. State law requires all California cities to install water meters on all homes and commercial buildings by 2025. You think Tulare is going to wait that long? Think again.

Smart city officials in Tulare know that farmers, business owners and residents who don’t have water meters – and many in Tulare didn’t – can’t tell how much water they’re using. What they can’t measure, they can’t control, right?

Studies also show that just installing a meter can cut a property owner’s water use by 15%. So that’s exactly what Tulare is doing – years ahead of the deadline. In the last 18 months, we worked with the city to install 18,000 water meters that have radio transmitters. The transmitters enable city employees to read the meters without even getting out of their vehicles, and they’re much more accurate. They also help detect leaks quickly – before water losses mount. We’ve installed high-efficiency fixtures in municipal buildings to cut the city’s own water use and set an example for everyone else.

And here’s the best part: much of the cost of all this was covered by increasing city revenues through more accurate water meter readings, by lowering water usage to the point at which the city could put off drilling new and expensive water wells, and by cutting energy and operational costs through lighting upgrades and other energy-saving measures.

Every city in America should follow this lead. And every other government body, every school district, every commercial business. While the energy crisis certainly demands our urgent attention, we can’t afford to ignore the water crisis that is just as severe and which will have, in the words of Governor Schwarzenegger, “a devastating impact on our people.”

The answer is efficiency now. It’s never been more important.

What do you think?



Ingenuity That Walks the Talk
February 16, 2009
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By Jennifer Mattes, Johnson Controls

What do an inspirational movie, a weight loss program and a puppet named Butch who plays guitar and has a bossy sister all have in common? Ready for this? They’re just three of the more than 750,000 things you can find online if you Google the phrase “walk the talk.” Amazing.

No one really knows where that saying “walk the talk” came from, or even who is credited with being the first person to use it, but there does seem to be general agreement on what it means: “back up your words with your actions.”

Wherever the expression came from, the words “walk the talk” symbolize something very important to all of us at Johnson Controls this week – something that’s spelled out in black and white in our just-released 2008 business and sustainability report.

Called “A World of Ingenuity,” the report is a rather ingenious way of letting our customers, employees, investors and the public know how we performed on the triple bottom line: our financial, social and environmental accomplishments from the first day of October 2007 until the last day of September 2008. Happily, it’s a story of how we truly “walked the talk” during those twelve months.

From a strictly economic perspective:
  • It was another record year for sales and earnings
  • Our Building Efficiency business unit expanded energy efficiency capabilities, focused on renewable energy initiatives and introduced new products and services – all promoted through the Efficiency Now movement.
  • Power Solutions – already the world’s largest maker of automotive batteries – continued to increase market share and gain momentum in developing lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles.
  • And Automotive Experience doubled its margins in the declining North American market, while continue to gain share in Europe and Asia.
On the environmental front:
  • Our products and services helped more than a million customers use less energy and shrink their carbon footprints.
  • We introduced lighter weight components for car interiors that are made from recyclable materials.
  • We reduced air emissions in our lead acid battery manufacturing process by 30%.
  • And we renewed our commitment to Climate Leaders – the EPA’s partnership program – by advancing our efforts to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2012.
And from a social perspective:
  • For the second time, the National Minority Supplier Development Council named us  Corporation of the Year for our supplier diversity initiatives.
  • At 530 of our locations around the globe, some 13,000 employees volunteered more than 110,000 hours of their own time to help make their communities better places to live and work.
  • We donated more than $12 million to non-profit and community organizations dedicated to the arts, the environment and social services.

Just as importantly, the format of the 2008 report demonstrates that we say what we mean and mean what we say. Available online at www.johnsoncontrols.com/bsr, the report is really engaging. Videos accompany the text to put names and faces on the stories of everyday heroes accomplishing real results. And it’s fully interactive: readers can browse by the words or topics that interest them most and build their own custom report that includes only the sections that they find most valuable.

The printed version is smaller to reduce waste during the printing process and is printed on 100% recycled paper. And while the online version will soon be available in a dozen different languages, the report will only be printed in English and a handful of Asian languages.

All in all, this year’s report is the clearest expression yet of how we’re delivering on our promise to help create a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world. For more than 140,000 of us at Johnson Controls, in more than 125 countries around the world, it’s how we walk the talk every day.



A Finger in the Wind at the AHR Expo
February 02, 2009
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By Allen Martin, VP and General Manager – Systems, Johnson Controls, Inc.

Considering the way the economic breezes have been blowing lately, I wasn’t sure what to expect in the windy city of Chicago last week as those of us in the air conditioning, heating and refrigeration industry came together for the AHR Expo. But what I heard from the building contractors, engineers, facility managers and owners at the show was a breath of fresh air.

Are they concerned about the current economy? You bet – who isn’t? But they’re also more enthusiastic than ever before about greening their buildings. In the midst of the toughest business climate in decades, people in our industry still have their eyes on the ball: making our homes and buildings more energy efficient, reducing their impact on the environment, making them safer and more sustainable.

I think that’s why our booth was consistently crowded with people interested in knowing more about how we can work together to get there. Everything we featured at the Expo was about energy efficiency and sustainability. You can click here to check out the whole enchilada, but here are the highlights:
  • The new Series 10 commercial comfort system that uses R-410A refrigerant, so it meets EPA standards for 2010. Plus it boasts the highest energy efficiency ratings of anything in its class.
  • The 33-inch York Affinity gas furnace with its 98 percent Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating – making it the industry’s most efficient gas furnace (and the winner of an AHR Innovation Award to sit alongside its 2008 Consumer Digest Best Buy Award).
  • Our Metasys® Sustainability Manager – the perfect marriage between our building automation systems and the monitoring software we acquired from Gridlogix. This combo brings together data from multiple systems, in multiple buildings to give facility managers unprecedented control over their energy use, help them spot trouble early and enable them to make adjustments in real time.
  • New Johnson Controls/PENN refrigeration controls that are our most reliable, flexible and efficient ever.

Oh, and did I mention a lot of people were also interested in saving money? One contractor told me the design of the York Affinity furnace would permit his crews to make installations in a lot less time – sending more dollars to his bottom line.

And I heard this great story about the durability of the Series 10 comfort system. Back in November, there was big hail storm in Oklahoma. Outside one commercial building, hail stones pounded two commercial HVAC units – one of them a Series 10 with its new micro-channel all-aluminum cooling fins. When the storm was over, you could see where the hail had slightly dented the fins on the Series 10, but they were otherwise intact and functioning. Not so with the other unit, where the old-style copper tubes were smashed and destroyed, requiring costly repairs.

One last thought about this year’s AHR Expo: I was encouraged by the attitudes of so many attendees. No question about it – these are tough times for all of us. But most of the people I talked with are very, very optimistic about the future.

The economy is certain to make a comeback – it’s just a matter of time. And when it does, there’s a widespread belief that it will be a strong recovery.

In the meantime, stimulus packages promise to pump new dollars into the economy. Let’s just hope that a big part of that new spending is focused where we all know it can work the fastest to create jobs and put us on the path to energy independence: Efficiency Now!



Great Exchange of Ideas and Examples at Virtual Energy Forum
December 16, 2008
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Don Albinger, Vice President Renewable Energy Solutions, Johnson Controls

I’m not sure it’s going to replace miles of trade show aisles and stress balls that look like light bulbs, but last week’s Virtual Energy Forum certainly is a step in the right direction when it comes to communicating targeted information about energy and sustainability. Instead of bearing the financial, environmental and emotional toll of travel, both speakers and attendees could learn, ask questions and discuss issues right from the comfort of their own cubicle. 

According to its organizers, including the U.S. Department of Energy, “the Virtual Energy Forum is an online-only event focused on how leading companies can implement better energy management practices to cut cost and adopt clean energy alternatives. Over 5,000 attendees, speakers and exhibitors from around the world come to this online-only event to meet, interact, and learn about alternative energy solutions, clean technologies, sustainability, energy monitoring and green buildings.”

Johnson Controls helped sponsor the two-day event, which provided us an opportunity to make a presentation. I talked about one of my favorite topics: "Achieving the Triple Bottom Line through Smart Environments." It gave me a chance to present the technologies and processes for developing and deploying onsite renewable energy, including wind, solar, landfill gas, biomass, and photovoltaic.

As many people know, Johnson Controls develops customized deal structures and implements these projects – often with energy savings paying for a portion of the project. I tried to communicate a sense of reality about what these technologies can accomplish, along with the fact that they are now becoming economically viable.

Trade show “attendees” could call in and ask questions, which were very wide-ranging. It gave me a chance to talk in detail about large projects – including what Johnson Controls is doing globally with its own carbon footprint – and local projects, such how we’re working with Wynandotte Middle School in Michigan on a small solar project with an educational component for the 8th grade science class. Chicago sportscaster Lou Canellis acted as moderator and did a great job of facilitating the discussion so all listeners could gain knowledge.

Companies that make name-tag holders and booth carpet don’t have to worry: traditional trade shows offer more personal face-to-face exchanges and a chance for longer discussion, so they’ll always be around. But for people who really want to get focused information about a topic or company and don’t have the time or budget for travel, the virtual venue works – and I’m sure we’ll see more of them.





Cutting Through the Carbon Calculator Clutter with Greenprint
November 19, 2008
Posted by johnsoncontrols at 08:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

By Paul von Paumgartten, Director of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Johnson Controls

Google “carbon calculator” and you’ll get – ready for this? – 214,000 results. Follow one of those links, and you’re almost certain to find an interactive tool that works something like this: you’re asked a series of questions about how you use energy at work and home, given a score showing how you stack up against a national average, and then shown a list of things you can do to improve your score. 

For some people, this can be an interesting exercise. It may even encourage a few to turn down their thermostats or think about carpooling. But I can’t help but wonder if these seemingly simplistic calculators are really doing anything beyond that – like convincing large numbers of people to make the dramatic changes in their behavior that will be required to actually make a dent in how much energy we use and how much we’re harming the environment.

I kind of doubt it. Why? Because these calculators don’t address two very important factors that will convince me to make a dramatic change in my lifestyle: how much effort it’s going to take and how much impact it’s going to have. Being completely honest here, if I think something will require a lot of effort on my part, I need to know it will make a big difference before I’ll even consider it. And visa versa: even if it will have only a small impact, I’m much more likely to try it if I know I won’t have to break a sweat.

That’s why I’m excited about Greenprint – a new kind of carbon calculator (www.mygreenprint.org). Greenprint asks regular people like you and me how often we do things such as buy energy-efficient electronics, recycle everything we can or park in the shade so we don’t have to use our air conditioning as much – 30 different activities that influence how much energy we use at home, at work and in our vehicles. But Greenprint goes way beyond that.

Greenprint also asks us to rate how much effort we think these actions require and how much impact we think they have in protecting the environment. Then the interactive tool actually quantifies the impact of many of these actions. For example:

  • Who knew that warming up soup in a pot that’s the same size as the burner on your stovetop can save 40% of the energy?
  • Would you have guessed that drinking coffee out of a reusable mug instead of disposable cups eliminates nearly 23 pounds of waste every year?
  • Do you know that turning off the water while you brush your teeth saves two gallons of water every minute?
  • Or that unplugging (instead of merely turning off) just one TV in your home when you’re not watching it can eliminate 17 pounds of carbon dioxide every year?

Once you’re done, Greenprint does tabulate your score, but it also shows you specific actions you can take to improve your score – things that you’ve just indicated you’re not already doing, with special emphasis on the actions that you rated as not requiring much effort. In short, Greenprint shows you the easiest route to using less energy, reducing your impact on the environment and saving more money.

Johnson Controls teamed up with the Natural Resources Defense Council to create Greenprint, with high hopes that it will go beyond carbon calculators and help motivate more people to take the next steps on their paths to more sustainable living. Give it a spin and let us know what you think. Click here http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/publish/us/en/news.html to view a news release about Greenprint.





On The SEJ Convention Menu: Skepticism with Big Helpings of Pessimism
November 03, 2008
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By Steve Thomas, Manager, Global Energy and Sustainability Communications, Johnson Controls

Everyone knows that journalists tend to be skeptical, especially about marketing claims from corporations. This year, though, the pessimism seemed to over-ride the skepticism at the annual gathering of the Society of Environmental Journalists (www.sej.org). There was a sense that environmental journalists take pride in some of the battles won, but feel that the environmental movement may be losing the war -- even after all these years of awareness and concern. And we are losing both in spite of and because of all the Green Products being offered across America.

The setting in Western Virginia, with visits to the mountaintop mining coal fields of West Virginia, may have set the tone for pessimism. Seeing hundreds of acres of former mountains, valleys and streams turned to flat, grey pits full of mining equipment might appeal to some. But not to environmental journalists. The fact that the environment has taken a back seat in the presidential campaign did not help. 

Add the accelerating impacts of global warming and the predictions that we are at the beginning of the end for hundreds if not thousands of species through extinction because of loss of habitat and rising temperatures -- and it is hard not to be pessimistic.

And then there's the Greenwashing. As hybrid SUVs and carbon-neutral air travel flood the marketplace, it's not clear to anyone that we are getting enough environmental good from all the "greenness" that we are buying.  One session I attended on this topic was moderated by Beth Daley from The Boston Globe.  All the panelists at this session seemed to agree that the current American way of life is inherently in conflict with our goals to save the planet. There was some difference of opinion about whether any green claims by marketers can be trusted.

Scot Case, Vice President of Terra Choice Environmental Marketing, defended the idea of "green marketing" but agreed that there is a "Green Overload" at the moment, making it very difficult for most consumers to differentiate between the "good guys" and the "bad guys." He is most concerned about the corporations that are inventing their own "Green Marks" and "Green Labels," which he called "fake" environmental logos. He suggested that www.ecolabels.org is a good place to check out the various green claims and green labels.

Brian Czech, President of the Center for the Advancement of a Steady State Economy, claimed that our way of life is like "Shoveling Coal for a Runaway Train," which is also the name of a book that he wrote on the topic. "The greenest approach is to consume less of everything," he said. 

Most journalists in the room seemed familiar with a web site at www.myfootprint.org, which is run by an organization called "Redefining Progress." The site allows you to calculate how many "earths" would be needed to allow everyone on this planet to enjoy the same lifestyle that you currently enjoy. The smallest number of earths I heard referenced was two, with most people coming in at three or four -- or more. According to James Barrett, the Executive Director of Redefining Progress, if you consider the needs of the current global population on an average basis, we already need 1-1/2 earths to maintain everyone's current lifestyles.  

So the world's environmental account is overdrawn. Just like the world's financial account.  

I guess it's not hard to see why environmental journalists are pessimistic. We need efficiency now. It's never been more important.





Healthy Energy Management Decisions Ahead
August 25, 2008
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Dale Woodin, CHFM, FASHE
Executive Director, American Society for Healthcare Engineering

Oh, for the good old days. As we fast approach Labor Day weekend it seems like a distant memory that only one year ago we were shocked that gas was hovering around $3.00 ar gallon. After a rough summer of sticker shock at the pump we are now delighted when we find a station at less then $4.00 a gallon.

We all get it, energy costs are up – a lot – over the past few years. The real question is – what are we all doing about it?  Johnson Controls, the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE)’s Knowledge Exchange Partner, recently asked that exact question. Working with ASHE through a double-blind survey process, Johnson Controls gathered data from nearly 1,500 energy management decision makers including 335 from healthcare facilities. 
The 2008 Energy Efficiency Indicator provided an interesting comparison of healthcare and other industries’ priorities and concerns related to energy management, including:
  • Healthcare companies spend a smaller proportion of their total expenses on energy, suggesting that perhaps they are run more efficiently than other companies.
  • Companies across all industries expect energy prices to rise in the coming year but healthcare companies are particularly likely to believe this.
  • Healthcare companies are more likely than those in other industries to expect to make energy efficiency improvements using capital and operating expenditures
  • The healthcare industry is somewhat less optimistic about the impact of energy efficiency investments on energy use:
  • Healthcare companies have even less interest in green building certification than companies in other industries. That is not to say that energy efficiency is not a design priority for those projects, because in the vast majority of cases it is. Companies simply don’t seem to be interested in achieving certification.
  • Across all industries, while the environment is a motivation for achieving energy efficiency, the primary driver is saving money. This is even more the case in the healthcare industry.

I found these observations surprising and counterintuitive. Often our discussions about energy efficiency begin with, “Healthcare is different.” Certainly that is true when you consider the 24/7 nature of our business, our emphasis on patient comfort regardless of our climatic region, and the stringent ventilation requirements to reduce the potential for airborne infection. 
For those reasons healthcare has not been subject to the same building energy model codes and standards applied to other industries. So based on the “healthcare is different” argument you would think we would be lagging other industries in our current energy efficiency and our capital spending to improve efficiency. 

But the truth is the healthcare industry is moving forward aggressively to help hospitals and clinics reduce energy and focus on patient outcomes. ASHE and ASHRAE have joined together to co-sponsor the proposed Standard 189.2, Design, Construction and Operation of High-Performance Green Healthcare Facilities. Under the leadership of Richard Moeller, Senior ASHE, principal of CDi Engineers, the technical committee will comprehensively address the design and operational challenges that are unique to healthcare facilities and develop a standard which will guide future design and operations. 

Although this guidance will be extremely valuable on the operations side it will really pay dividends on the design side. Often the design specifications for energy efficient equipment, systems, and controls are the first victims of value engineering. Consequently the efforts to lower the first cost come at great expense to the life cycle cost. 

As much as this new standard promises to assist us in embedding energy efficiency in new construction, energy benchmarking remains the key first step to operational efficiency. EPA’s Portfolio Manager allows each facility manager to benchmark against a national pool of data of healthcare facilities. The insights gained from benchmarking ultimately will lead to better decision making on energy management. 
The Johnson Controls survey shows we are actually ahead of many other industries in our energy management systems. And we should be. Because our successes are not measured in dollars and cents; they are measured in each patient’s comfort in the physical environment which we create.

Dale Woodin, CHFM, FASHE is Executive Director of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE). ASHE is one of the personal membership groups of the American Hospital Association (AHA). ASHE represents a diverse network of more than 9,200 members dedicated to optimizing the healthcare physical environment. For information on ASHE go to www.ashe.org.



A Simple Approach to Solar Energy: Introducing SunKits to Wisconsin
June 02, 2008
Posted by johnsoncontrols at 08:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Judith Mouton

In May, Johnson Controls held the first Renewable Energy Non-Profit Summit in Milwaukee to help some 130 Wisconsin public sector and non-profit organizations learn about renewable energy options. These groups had an opportunity to hear about installing on- site renewable energy at their facilities, one of the best ways to move closer to energy independence and achieve environmental goals.

At the summit, Johnson Controls announced the availability of SunKits® in Wisconsin.  These pre-engineered solar photovoltaic packages are manufactured in the United States by SolarWorld AG and are designed to help businesses and organizations overcome their apprehension of incorporating solar energy into their efficiency portfolio by making solar energy a hands-on, no-risk opportunity.  We Energies and Wisconsin Focus on Energy are providing grants and incentives to ensure the installations are cost-effective.

Power produced from solar panels, wind turbines and biomass is helping schools, colleges and universities, state and local governments, businesses and other organizations stabilize their energy costs while showcasing leadership within the community. Renewable energy also illustrates environmental stewardship to employees, the community, and investors. By improving the reliability of energy supplies, offsetting the rising cost of fuel, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and meeting state renewable energy goals, Wisconsin’s public sector will directly contribute to a stronger local economy.

The Renewable Energy Non-Profit Summit helped Wisconsin’s public sector to participate in this ever expanding renewable energy market. We’ll be sponsoring another Summit in the fall with our partners in sustainability, We Energies and Focus on Energy.

Judith Mouton is the Renewable Energy Solutions Education manager for Johnson Controls, Inc.

Judy collaborates with colleges, universities, and national associations in the development of renewable energy education curricula and seminars. In addition, she  educates public sector customers on potential grant funding sources for renewable energy projects.





Birthplace of Energy Controls
May 23, 2008
Posted by johnsoncontrols at 03:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Kenneth J. Wirth, Jr.

The man who devised the thermostat, at all events in my private opinion, was a hero comparable to Shakespeare, Michelangelo or Beethoven. When writer H.L. Mencken penned that in the 1930s, he admitted he didn’t know who the inventor was. On May 28, that will be clear when the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) designates the Johnson Controls automatic temperature control system as a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. An event in Milwaukee is commemorating the designation. For your information, Mr. Mencken, the electric tele-thermoscope, was devised by inventor, educator and Johnson Controls founder, Warren S. Johnson. There’s a good deal of information on Professor Johnson and his other inventions (including electric storage batteries, steam and gas powered automobiles, huge pneumatic tower clocks and wireless telegraph communication) on the Johnson Controls website. 

You’ll read how Professor Johnson installed the system in his classrooms to help keep students more comfortable. The situation often was worse in commercial buildings. Those control systems often consisted of someone banging on the pipes to wake up the janitor and put in some coal or open a window.  This invention was the first of its kind to automatically and economically control temperature in different zones throughout a home or building. By the turn of the century, the Johnson System of Temperature Regulation was being sold in parts of Europe and Asia, including royal palaces in Spain and Japan. If you walked into some of the most important buildings in the United States, including the U.S. Capitol, Smithsonian Institution, New York Stock Exchange, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you’d see the ornate bronze thermostats. You’ll continue to see Johnson Controls high-tech equipment in many of those places today.The technology has come a long way since the days when they had to bang on the pipes to alert the custodial staff. Professor Johnson's 1895 invention has evolved into the modern refrigeration, fire and security systems for commercial, industrial and residential buildings that Johnson Controls provides today.

At the turn of the century, saving energy sometimes meant not having to shovel as much coal! Today, it means utilizing controls technology to operate buildings at their peak, thus reducing the need for energy generation, either onsite or via utilities, and reducing a building’s impact on the environment. It’s a legacy we’re proud of.

Ken Wirth is the records and archives project manager for Johnson Controls, Inc.

 



Ready for Its Close-Up: Solar Power as a Mainstream Commercial Solution
March 24, 2008
Posted by johnsoncontrols at 06:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Bill Guiney

One common issue facing decision-makers is how to address environmental issues – from volatile energy costs to the mammoth issue of climate change. Traditionally the business world has perceived that doing anything more than grabbing the “low-hanging fruit” such as lighting retrofits is complex and expensive. 

Welcome to 2008. Market forces that include grid reliability issues, regulatory changes and heightened public interest in environmental stewardship, not to mention rising energy costs, are beginning to push businesses and other organizations to consider alternative energy sources. The granddaddy of these is solar power, which first appeared on the scene in the 1960s but was dismissed as impractical because of the size and number of solar panels needed to produce significant energy and because it was far more expensive than conventional methods of generating electricity.

Advances in solar energy technology plus rising electricity prices have changed that equation. Today solar energy is worth a second look as an on-site, reliable, environmentally friendly power source. Reasons to consider it include:

  • It offers a hedge against rising fuel costs
  • It can offset peak energy demand
  • It demonstrates environmental stewardship
  • It provides an opportunity for community leadership
  • It helps local utilities meet State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Targets
In addition, incentives such as tax credits are available in many states. You can find out what’s available in your state by searching the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (www.dsireusa.org), a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

There are two solar options for commercial applications: solar photovoltaic which taps the power of sunlight to generate electricity, displacing utility grid-delivered power; and solar thermal, which uses the heat energy generated by sunlight to displace natural gas, electricity and LPG power sources.

Solar thermal is really the low-hanging fruit of renewable energy. It can be used very cost-effectively for hot water and steam boiler make-up as well as for heating water for swimming pools. And it’s easy to retrofit most buildings with the technology. Businesses and institutions that are already taking advantage of this technology include the hospitality industry, college dormitories, hospitals, laundry facilities and a variety of municipal entities, including the Chicago Cultural Center. Solar thermal systems are typically designed to handle 50 percent to 80 percent of the actual load for hot water needs.

Photovoltaic is a little more complex to install. However several companies now produce photovoltaic kits that deliver a pre-engineered, packaged stand-alone system. The kits can also be used as building blocks to create a larger system. Businesses interested in exploring this option can go to www.consumerenergycenter.org/renewables/estimator/index.html to quickly determine the economic benefits of a solar kit. The site connects to the Clean Power EstimatorTM, which is an economic evaluation software program. The program provides residential and commercial electric customers an estimate of the costs and benefits of investing in a photovoltaic (PV) solar (or small wind electric generation) system.

Remember that it is best to choose an installer that is NABCEP certified. NABCEP is the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, which certifies contractors as properly trained in PV installations (www.nabcep.org).  A qualified installer can help assess the site and provide a power production forecast reflecting your geographical location.

Solar power is definitely worth a second look.

Bill Guiney is Program Manager, Renewable Solutions for Johnson Controls, Inc. He has more than 26 years of experience in the solar industry as a contractor, educator, distributor and manufacturer of solar energy industry. Bill was a leading instructor for solar thermal at the Florida and North Carolina Solar Energy Centers and currently serves on the North American Board of Certified Energy Professional’s technical committee for solar thermal.



Energy efficiency takes the main stage at the Energy Efficiency Forum
June 25, 2007
Posted by johnsoncontrols at 07:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Paul von Paumgartten

One of the most exciting projects I work on all year is being a member of the Executive Council that plans the national Energy Efficiency Forum.  The 18th annual forum was held June 13-14 in Washington, DC, and the topic could not have been hotter.

The event actually started with a special session exploring onsite renewable energy.  It including a broad overview of the technologies, legal and financial considerations, and incentives and emerging markets for credits through Green Tags (for renewable energy) and White Tags (for energy efficiency).  In addition to subject-matter experts, we heard interesting case studies from an Illinois school district and the University of South Carolina, along with a great kick-off from Andy Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy.  What was most interesting to me was the step-by-step approach.  Sometimes I think people believe renewable energy is too difficult to do – and I’m not going to suggest it’s simple – but it’s something that can be accomplished with good planning.

The Forum itself was a microcosm of what’s going on in the energy industry today.  First of all, the people in the audience represented a broad range of energy end-users – from the federal government to global industrial companies – along with energy industry and NGOs.  And the speakers were equally diverse.  Republican congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, who as the former head of the Science Committee vigorously defended his recommendations not to have the U.S. sign onto the Kyoto treaty.  He said any climate change solutions have to be realistic, affordable, globally inclusive and produce tangible results.  Energy efficiency certainly is right up in line with those goals.  In contrast to his speech, German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth talked about all the financial, environmental and social benefits his country is finding as it strives to comply with Kyoto mandates.  It was great to have both points of view, then have a panel of industry representatives talk about how it will play out in the marketplace.

Also interesting was Energy Secretary Sam Bodman’s keynote address about the role of government in promoting energy efficiency.  Ultimately, he said, “the transition to a more energy efficient economy will largely happen as a result of changes in the private sector.  The marketplace can move faster than government, can accommodate and absorb breakthroughs in technology more quickly and, overall, has better access to information.” 

 

To me, no matter your political affiliation or business, those are the keys: technology and information.  I think a timely combination – along with some additional government leadership on the local, state and national levels – will keep us going in the right direction.

The theme of the conference was “Energy Efficiency: Daring to Commit.”  It sounds like the time is now to do just that.

For transcripts, photos and more information, see www.eeforum.net.





State of the Union: Energy is about Technology, Buildings and...
February 14, 2007
Posted by johnsoncontrols at 11:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The energy pundits certainly have had a field day in the aftermath of President Bush’s State of the Union speech (link to speech - http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030128-19.html)

Many of us were pleased to hear the President's plan for reducing U.S. gasoline usage, as alternative and renewable fuels are a very important part of our nation's energy future and they can contribute mightily to curbing greenhouse gas emissions.   It’s also important to, as the President says, “press on with battery research for plug-in and hybrid vehicles." 

While much of the focus is on America’s addiction to gasoline, in actuality, the transportation industry only consumes about one-quarter of our nation’s energy. Wouldn’t you think the pundits would be more focused on the area where there can be a bigger impact:  Buildings

According to the American Institute of Architects, “Buildings account for forty-eight percent of U.S. energy consumption and generate far more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector.”  From schools and office buildings to big-box retailers and factories, all those structures use energy. 

The good news is that something can be done, and it’s far easier than setting up biofuel stations around the country.  It is always easier and cheaper to save energy than it is to create it.   In fact, the president said, “In this century, the greatest environmental progress will come about not through endless lawsuits or command-and-control regulations, but through technology and innovation.”

Commercial, off-the-shelf technologies exist to save a third of almost any building’s energy use.  Yes, Johnson Controls is in the business of high-tech building controls that help save energy and money.  But there are dozens of innovative technologies – from better lighting and fixtures to insulation and new windows– that reduce energy and result in fewer greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

The president’s commitment to energy efficiency in buildings was demonstrated the day after the State of the Union when he signed an executive order (link to http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070124-2.html) requiring federal agencies to lead by example by reducing energy and water use.  Agencies also need to ensure that new construction and major renovation of existing buildings comply with sustainability principles.

Energy efficiency is too often overlooked in the energy policy debate.  If we are to truly manage our energy needs and combat greenhouse gas emissions, we need a balanced portfolio of remedies, which includes a major focus on energy efficiency, particularly as it relates to buildings.





Energy Efficiency Challenges
September 14, 2006
Posted by Gerrit Reinders at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In this dialogue, Gerrit Reinders, director, Sustainable Energy Solutions, Johnson Controls Inc., and Ron Fillmore, Dow Corning global executive director for Construction and Xiameter, discuss the importance of sustainability to businesses.

How are energy-efficiency challenges driving business sustainability initiatives?

GR: With today’s volatile energy prices and unprecedented awareness of the environmental impact of our addiction to oil, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that upgrading buildings to make them “green” is critical, particularly since green buildings are, by definition, very resource efficient. Many local governments now require that new buildings be constructed to green standards.  This is a great thing that unfortunately only addresses one percent of buildings; the opportunity is greatest if we also “green” the existing building stock. For that reason, organizations are hiring energy services companies to renew their infrastructures with more energy-efficient equipment. Some are paying for these improvements through the savings they generate.  We’ve seen energy savings as high as 90 percent by upgrading lighting and 60 percent by upgrading HVAC, office equipment, and appliances. The business case for energy efficiency is clear, and there’s widespread acceptance that doing the right thing and making money are not conflicting strategies.

Continue reading "Energy Efficiency Challenges" »



A Steady Regimen of Diet and Exercise
August 07, 2006
Posted by Paul von Paumgartten at 04:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

On Monday, July 31, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) held a press conference announcing its National Energy Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.  The plan seeks to address the nation’s growing demand for energy in U.S. homes, buildings and industries through efficiency.  I’m all for it!

Continue reading "A Steady Regimen of Diet and Exercise" »



The Yopp Moment
July 25, 2006
Posted by Barb Haig at 07:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

When I took my kids to see Seussical, the musical based on the children’s books of Dr. Seuss, who knew that I would get more out of it than a stale cookie at intermission.

The story centers around little people happily living on a speck of dust, when they realize that they may be threatened because there is something beyond their horizon.  They shout and shout to get the attention of the bigger world, but no one hears them until one boy adds a new word, Yopp!, to the commotion.  Somehow that helps them break through so people in the bigger world get the message, and their little speck of dust is saved.

So many of us who are involved in energy efficiency feel like we’ve been on that speck of dust for way too long.  From Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson to Lawrence Berkeley’s Art Rosenfeld, voices have been clamoring for people to consider the impact of their energy use on the environment, the economy and people’s lives..

Continue reading "The Yopp Moment" »



 
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