Resolve for Energy Efficiency
by Marian Hopkins, Business Roundtable on 01. 8.08
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin
The new year -- countless opportunities to tackle new challenges and find a new resolve to address missed opportunities from years past.
Improving energy efficiency is one such challenge that we must work to address in 2008. Energy efficiency, a proven and broadly-accepted strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy security, is a platform Business Roundtable strongly supports. With every unit of energy we conserve through greater efficiency, this means lower energy consumption and therefore less oil, gas or coal to meet demand.
And with crude oil recently hitting $100 a barrel, the need for a diversified energy mix is as clear as ever. Through the promotion of energy efficiency and the reduction of energy usage, real economic savings for consumers and businesses will scale beyond mere pocket change.
As recently discussed, Business Roundtable supported components of the recent energy bill passed by Congress and signed by President Bush, particularly the emphasis on energy efficiency. In our energy blueprint released last June, we identified improving efficiency as a critical building block for a successful energy policy.
The energy blueprint calls for a 25 percent increase in the U.S. rate of energy efficiency improvement -- a goal likewise reflected in the recent energy bill. We eagerly look forward to the opportunities for businesses, policy makers and consumers to take additional steps this year.
Improving energy efficiency spans from the individual consumer making simple lifestyle changes, such as investing in compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or ENERGY STAR products, to businesses developing and utilizing new technologies that use energy more efficiently, to improving the overall efficiency in the commercial and residential sector (the 120 million homes and 7 billion square feet of commercial buildings in the U.S. account for about 40 percent of total U.S. energy consumption).
While legislation and government programs will play a critical role in promoting energy efficiency, Business Roundtable companies realize that they must take the lead. This is why we resolve to encourage member companies to adopt, implement and own the following energy efficiency initiatives as outlined in our energy blueprint:
- Investing in efficient appliances, lighting and building materials at manufacturing and office locations.
- Committing to an efficiency target for new buildings and upgrades of existing buildings owned or operated by Roundtable members that require no less than a 30 percent increase in efficiency over existing stocks.
- Implementing a computerized energy management and control system in facilities along with formalized shutdown procedures when lights and equipment are not required.
- Offering “green” mortgages that provide financial incentives for home purchasers to invest in efficiency upgrades (for financial institutions only).
- Building, sponsoring, piloting or hosting at least one Net Zero building within the next five years.
- Installing highly efficient transformers, smart metering and advanced power system technologies.
- Installing highly efficient motors, drives and turbochargers in industrial manufacturing applications.
- Setting ambitious energy efficiency goals for operations; sharing energy-saving strategies, technologies and best practices with industry peers; and monitoring and reporting efficiency gains.
Many of our member companies are already leading the way in improving their energy efficiency. By sharing how leading member companies are in fact leading, the Roundtable encourages other companies to follow in their foot steps and to continue down the path toward sustainability.
Here’s a brief spotlight on a member company’s initiative designed to improve energy efficiency that is resulting in a positive environmental impact:
The Dow Chemical Company
From 1995 to 2005, Dow reduced its energy intensity by 22 percent, exceeding an aggressive corporate goal (20 percent) that was established to reduce the company’s global energy intensity. Since 1990, Dow has reduced its energy intensity by more than 38 percent.
The cumulative energy saved during the past decade was equivalent to the amount of energy needed to power eight million homes for a year. As part of its 2015 Sustainability Goals, Dow has committed to achieve an additional 25 percent improvement in energy efficiency.
Dow is leading the way in improving energy efficiency through its products, such as STYROFOAM™ insulation products, GREAT STUFF™ Insulation Foam Sealants and IMPAXX™ energy absorbing foam for automobiles. IMPAXX™ improves safety performance and is up to 50 percent lighter than other options, reducing vehicle weight which leads to improved fuel economy.
Dow has also been involved in energy efficiency outreach, through their involvement with government and third-party organizations like The Alliance to Save Energy's The Power is in Your Hands energy efficiency campaign. Through all the company’s accomplishments, Dow is recognized as a global leader in improving energy efficiency.
This is just one example of how our member companies are improving their energy efficiency. Look for more details of member company initiatives in our first S.E.E. Change progress report to be released this spring.
By making simple changes at the foundation of our energy usage, by improving what can be easily fixed, the cumulative effect business and consumers can realize together with these changes,will lead U.S. energy demand to a very different place – a much better place – on January 7, 2009.
It's great that Dow is improving their own energy efficiency, and that they make insulation products. Great Stuff in particular is, well, great stuff. But their web is very quiet about a huge contribution of theirs to GHG emissions: Styrofoam, at least most of that produced in the US, is blown with HCFCs, which, although they have much less ozone depletion potential than CFCs, are incredibly potent as greenhouse gases, around thousand or more times as potent as CO2. Some of their foams use HFCs instead (e.g. "Enovate"): no ozone depletion but very similar global warming potential. Yes, in some cases the GHG emsissions due to the savings from using the insulation can outweigh the GHG emissions of the insulation...but only if you compare it to using less insulation. You can get the same R value with other insulation with less than 1% the GHG emissions (in some cases you need it to be thicker to get the same R-value). Foam can be made with other blowing agents--Great Stuff, for example, using Pentane, as does EPS "beadboard" foam insulation, and some brands of polyisocyanurate foam.
And Dow talks about how many LEED points you can get for using this stuff! A good example of what a scam LEED can be.
It's interesting to read the Dow page on climate change (linked from my name). They carefully word everything to avoid any implication that they should reduce GHG emissions other than CO2 from their own products and manufacturing operations.
Charlie,
Lighten up dude!
LEED isn't perfect but it is a huge step in the right direction.
"You can get the same R value with other insulation with less than 1% the GHG emissions (in some cases you need it to be thicker to get the same R-value). "
Is the 'other insulation' moisture resistant? Does it hold it's R-value over time? Beadboard doesn't.
Dow's XPS does.
Most buildings aren't being built as energy efficient as they could. Dow's products really help on a global scale.
That XPS (Styrofoam) is even going on green roofs.
Every little bit helps.
Kilo,
If you don't think HFC emissions from foams should be taken seriously, would you be swayed by the IPCC report? It says (6.4.2.1), "Only a few specific applications with effective control of end-of life emissions have been identified in which foams containing high GWP blowing agents will lead to lower overall climate impacts than hydrocarbon or CO2 solutions. However, where this is the case, care should still be taken to optimize life-cycle management techniques in order to minimize blowing agent emissions (see 6.4.15)."
In other words, they conclude that you should be using foams with other blowing agents except in a few special cases. And it those special cases, you should be planning to recover the HFCs at end of life. Can you find on Dow's site the application note that instructs users of styrofoam insulation how to plan for HFC recovery at end of life, and warning that they may otherwise be doing more harm than good?
The IPCC report is excellent reading!