The world economy is forecasted to double in size by 2040.  But that does not necessarily mean the world will need twice as much energy to power all the additional buildings, facilities, and factories that growth will bring. 

By seizing opportunities to become more energy efficient, businesses and institutions alike would only need the same amount of energy being used today. The result?  A world economy with reduced carbon emissions, lower pollution levels and improved energy management – everyone would have more comfortable lives and pay lower energy bills.

That’s the picture-perfect scenario. 

And in order to make that scenario become a reality, energy efficiency must be at the forefront of both corporate and government policy decisions. 

However, we are unfortunately headed in the opposite direction.  What we are actually seeing is a shocking slowdown in world energy efficiency progress:  2019 saw the slowest improvement rate in the energy-efficiency sector this decade. 

So how can we increase both user adoption and upgrades deployed along with more efficient operational behaviors?

Kilowatt what?

Energy efficiency is a means to other objectives for companies and institutions, like environmental stewardship or economic improvements.  The inherent  economic benefits help bring local and regional governments to making energy-efficiency upgrade decisions as well.  More investment in efficiency projects and solution development creates new jobs, too.   

And for many, a message about comfort and safety in our living and work environments is much more appealing than discussions of kilowatt hours and payback periods.

It’s About Objectives

Simple cliches about energy efficiency are not adequate for key decision-makers anymore.  The capital costs, the savings benefits and the method of achieving them must all be set out clearly working backwards from the overall objective:

What exactly do you want out of lower energy consumption?

Having a well-thought-out response to this question is essential to build support for energy efficiency action within your organization, and to properly set out what that action should be. 

Successful energy efficiency projects have a clear connection between policies and results.  Where good policies are deployed, energy efficiency gains are achieved.  Without them, those energy efficiency gains stall.

Those policies reflect the many variances in local circumstances, and the right energy efficiency solutions are those that fit within them.  And experience suggests that energy efficiency decisions driven by long-term strategies and targets are profoundly more effective than individual, separated ones.

So rather than be swept-up in the terminology of how a certain energy-efficiency solution works, or the precise kilowatt hours it will save or how many degrees the air will be chilled, to ensure you maximize the benefits energy efficiency can deliver to your organization is to work backwards from your long-term objectives … and THEN, once those are firmly identified and take into account all your circumstances, you can establish the proper efficiency steps required to get you to that destination.

Imagine cooking a meal from scratch – without a final vision of what it should look like.  Or how you intend to serve it.  Or who you are intending to serve it to.  And, doing all of this without a list of all the necessary ingredients.

Sounds like a daunting task that has little chance of success.

Interestingly, this is oddly similar to how most energy efficiency solutions are presented.  And hence why so many of them fail.

The cake doesn’t rise.

Having the right energy efficiency recipe – which starts with your objectives first and works backwards to craft the steps necessary to get you there – ensures success.

Saving money is always a smart move.  Saving money in today’s economy is even more crucial.  And Onsite Utility Services makes it possible, without any risk. 

Prove it to yourself – talk with an energy specialist who can determine your energy efficiency objectives and put together the right recipe to make it happen.   844.768.7227 or info@ouscapital.com.