New Tool Improves Energy Efficiency and Manage GHG Emissions

[the reporter]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2004 - As part of its efforts to encourage companies of all sizes and in all sectors to take voluntary action to control greenhouse gas emissions, Business Roundtable has launched a multifaceted initiative to help businesses improve energy efficiency in their commercial office buildings.

A key element of the Roundtable's initiative is a guide -- RESOLVE to Improve Energy Efficiency in Office Buildings -- to show non-manufacturing companies the benefits of energy efficiency changes, which save money for the company and reduce GHG emissions.

The initiative also includes a new step-by-step Web tool, developed with the assistance of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), that will help companies establish and maintain energy efficiency programs. The guide and Web tool are part of the Roundtable's Climate RESOLVE (Responsible Environmental Steps, Opportunities to Lead by Voluntary Efforts) program.

"Maximizing energy efficiency improves our ability to manage and extend our energy resources, which in turn helps our economy," said Michael G. Morris, vice chairman of the Roundtable's Environment, Technology and the Economy Task Force and chairman, president, and CEO of American Electric Power.

"This guide should be especially helpful to service sector companies, which have not traditionally seen GHG emissions as relevant to their operations," Morris added. "It is important to realize that these companies are consumers of energy, and anytime you conserve energy you lower overall GHG emissions."

The energy efficiency guide targets service providers -- such as banks, investment managers, insurers, advertising agencies, retailers, and software developers -- that conduct their business in offices, stores, hotels, or data-processing centers. The guide is designed to educate these companies about the science of climate change, the impact of the service sectors and what practical steps they can take to improve the energy efficiency of their office buildings.

In addition, the Web tool will provide step-by-step assistance to those companies seeking to maximize the energy savings of their existing programs as well as companies who need a strategy for starting a new energy efficiency program. The tool uses the framework and resources developed by the EPA and DOE for their Energy Star initiative, and will link to the Bush Administration's Climate VISION Web site.

"The Roundtable's new service sector initiative seeks to reinforce the idea that real results in reducing GHG emissions will come from the collective voluntary actions of every company," said Morris. "While the energy consumption of each office and each company represents only a small fraction of total GHG emissions, the cumulative effect of increasing energy efficiency in every commercial building can add up to millions of tons in GHG reductions."

The Roundtable will share its energy guide and service sector Web tools with state environment directors and other groups such as the Real Estate Roundtable and other leading business organizations.

Climate RESOLVE, which was launched in early 2003, is a one-of-a-kind voluntary program led by CEOs representing every sector of the U.S. economy. The program's ultimate goal is 100 percent participation from Roundtable member companies in GHG emission management programs.

Earlier this month, the Roundtable released its first Climate RESOLVE progress report, which shows that 70% of member companies are participating in the program. The Roundtable also conducted its third intensive workshop for companies last week in Colorado, providing detailed instructions on voluntary GHG management programs.