Sustainable energy 101: introduction
Sustainable energy: part of your company's DNA
Wherever your company is on the sustainability journey, there’s no doubt you’ve already considered energy initiatives to reduce the growth in your energy consumption and carbon emissions. For good reason; the environmental and business benefits are well established, and policies to support company efforts have been around for years.
Those environmental benefits come mainly in the form of greenhouse gas emission reductions, which are now more critical than ever. Only 11 years remain to limit emissions to prevent catastrophic climate change.
The business case is equally compelling. A company managing its energy use sustainably can save money on its energy bill; reduce its energy price risk; attract increasingly environment and health-minded consumers; and enjoy an enhanced brand reputation.
Whether you are just getting started, or have been investing in energy efficiency and clean energy for years, there is a lot to learn from how leading companies are structuring their sustainable energy strategies for long-term success. By going beyond one-off lighting upgrades and renewable projects to a comprehensive, strategic energy management program, your company can make energy sustainability part of its DNA — and achieve continuous improvement in energy and carbon performance.
How to use this guide
This how-to guide is intended for you and your company get started or continue tracking and improving business and environmental performance by tackling energy use in your supply chain. The approach and tools are flexible and are captured in two steps:
Get informed
In order to work on reducing your energy consumption, you’ll need to have a basic understanding of what the problem is, and what opportunities are available to you. We’ll get you up-to-speed quickly.
Understand the landscape
You’ll also need to have an idea of who the players are: what organizations and initiatives should you know about? We’ll connect you.
We’re glad you’re here! With the Supply Chain Solutions Center, we highlight the tools, resources and stories that can help your company take it to the next level of energy sustainability. Once you’ve made progress getting up to speed on the issue, be sure to check out the next section, Build a sustainability plan 101, which is step-by-step guide in scaling towards success (and leadership).
Graziella Siciliano
Senior Manager, Carbon and Energy, EDF+Business