Why Corporations Should Create Energy Awareness Training Programs

While initiatives to reduce GHG emissions get shareholder and media attention, large corporations and institutions could leverage thousands of potential smaller contributions every day to reduce their carbon footprint: their employees. An Energy Awareness Training Program is a relatively low-cost option to reduce energy usage, and, it’s one of the most effective methods energy managers and human resource executives can incorporate into their employee programs.

Surveys show that most employees are in favor of energy efficiency; however, they often don’t follow through when it comes to changing their own behaviors. With such a high level of sustainability awareness, there has never been a better time to champion the cause of energy awareness and conservation.

Investing in this type of training can provide both immediate and long-term energy savings. In large organizations, engineering solutions are only a portion of the opportunities for energy savings and sustainability activities. From our experience, we know a significant percentage of the energy usage in most multi-building environments is under discretionary control of the occupants, and intervention can reasonably and impactfully affect that use. On average, we have identified and implemented Energy Awareness Training Programs for clients with an approximate economic payback period of two years.

But how should organizations execute Energy Awareness Training?

An off-the-shelf solution may not be the best option. Rather, consider training customized to your facility, implemented by an experienced, outside energy advisor.

An outside advisor is often viewed as non-biased, lowering internal barriers between employees and management. That can help accomplish the goal of building total team participation.

Some basic aspects of Energy Awareness Training include:

• Tailored program content, based on company needs and goals
• Data about current facility energy consumption, and future goals
• The benefits of improved energy performance
• How employees can take daily action to save energy at work (and home)
• Tools and strategies to sustain the savings
• Assessing resources and measuring improvements
• Compelling case studies and success stories
• Special incentives and rewards to maintain motivation, and change habits
• Support material — motivational themes, slogans and messages
• Better ways to maximize communication efforts

Organizations can deliver on their sustainability goals when energy-savings actions become part of their culture and corporate DNA. The result is that improvements won’t just trickle in — they will flow.

To learn more about Edison Energy’s customized Energy Awareness Training programs, contact Jim Nagle of Edison Energy at 856-237-7505.