This post continues our mini-series Learning from the Big - interviews with energy managers of big manufacturers with operations in Ontario, Canada. I spoke with Andrew Hejnar, Energy Manager at 3M Canada. What is the history of energy efficiency at 3M? First Energy Group at 3M (USA) was formed in 1974, by the mid-70s a position of [...]
Through my continuous networking, I am privileged to meet people dealing with energy efficiency. With this post I am starting a series titled Learning from the Big. Though we target mid-sized companies, experience from market leaders can help us and our clients. My first source of conservation experience – Atlantic Packaging – provides a total packaging solution [...]
The business value of an energy management project commonly exceeds direct savings. Aside from this fact, do most managers actually know the amount of direct savings achieved through their energy management projects? A recent report produced by The Ethical Corporation, UK offers a comprehensive picture of how organizations around the world are approaching sustainability. This research report, [...]
Flip a switch or a flip bird? Numerous studies show that simple changes in employee behaviour may save up to 10% in energy costs with no capital costs. The common issue is that it’s difficult to initiate behavioural changes and it’s definitely very difficult to sustain them. Here comes the most puzzling part: some companies [...]
A surface-level answer is simple: divide direct costs by kilogram or by dozen, whichever is your favourite measure of production. Done. Done? Using the resulting number for costing new orders may lead to painful losses. Remember Titanic? With its stern high up and its prow deep low, on average titanic was still floating alright. Using [...]
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a friendly manufacturing company had to resign. He did not mess up his taxes. He did not miss a profitability goal. He was not hated by other executives for extravagant behaviors. Year after year, he just could not deliver a reliable cost forecast. His projections were not even consistently [...]
A proper answer to this seemingly simple question is nothing but simple. Proper measurement and verification of achieved savings is a key factor when calculating payback period, IRR for an investment into energy efficiency project and any other in-company ratio. Effectively, M&V may mean a difference between energy efficiency project being named [...]
Another email (call, booklet) offers you an energy efficiency measure with a 12 months payback period. Can this be true? Assessing actual savings delivered by an energy efficiency measure only seems to be a straightforward job. To avoid disappointment after implementation manager must understand utility bill structure and tariff options. Use of [...]
When my Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer he quit smoking at once. He meant to do this for years, but just "could not". When he could not breath anymore, all other "could-nots" became irrelevant. As a planet we are now still smoking through billions of stacks and exhaust pipes. We "can't afford" [...]
It’s long been known that reducing electricity use through efficiency is cheaper than having to generate more power to meet rising demand. A recent reportfrom the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy puts numbers behind that claim. “Why build more expensive power plants when efficiency gives you more bang for your buck?" said Maggie Molina, author [...]
