In my previous post I shared the importance of establishing a baseline for energy performance, setting goals and developing a plan as the first steps to a more sustainable operation. For public sector organizations hoping to identify existing conditions, I suggest contacting your State Energy Office. Many states offer basic energy audits at little, to no cost. If a State does not offer options to provide energy audits, there are a number of Energy Service Companies (ESCO’s) that may offer audit services as a standalone service or part of a larger comprehensive energy management program.

What is the value added proposition for sustainability? For many years I have had the privilege of discussing sustainability with organizations across the country. Regardless of the group, be it a private company, municipality, higher education institution, or K-12 school district, communicating sustainability’s value proposition is at the heart of most discussions. This is a very important issue to address and helps shape organizations' sustainability strategies. There are certainly a number of positive outcomes when establishments adopt sustainable practices.  But before we answer the “how” we need to discuss the “why.”