Nothing To Hide
The Power of Ethics in the Age of Social Media

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE.org) has released its annual scorecard comparing states’ policies, documenting best practices, and recognizing leadership among the states. The Scorecard encourages states to continue to raise the bar in their efficiency commitments.
California stayed in the number one spot for the fourth year in a row, with Massachusetts running a close second.

The use of renewable energy not only benefits consumers and business owners. The U.S. Department of Defense is aggressively pursuing renewable energy, as well.
Military leaders are supporting renewable energy technologies because of increased security and energy independence concerns. According to Joe Sikes, director of Facilities Energy for the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, renewable energy sources make the military less vulnerable to attacks. For instance, mobile solar and wind generators may one day replace fuel trucks that are frequent targets of attack.

August Turak, writing for Advertising Age recently, tells us that spirituality is going to be the defining trend of the 21st century.
Think about it. Hollywood films from “The Matrix” all the way to “The Devil Wears Prada” are based on Joseph Campbell’s work on the hero’s journey toward spiritual transformation. Meditation, yoga, and spirituality in business are becoming commonplace, says Megatrends 2010.

October is National Popcorn Month and National Book Month.
Oh, yeah. It’s National Energy Awareness Month, too.

Reality check: Imagine you’re a utility about to transition to smart meters across your territory. You assume that most people understand, and embrace, the associated benefits. After all, you’re handing customers the power to purchase electricity when it’s cheapest. And over time, that spread in demand will reduce prices.
Easy sell, right?

A decade ago, a city looking to improve its sustainability efforts might have retrofitted City Hall, started a recycling program, and run a public awareness campaign. “A” for effort and results.
No more.

New Findings from Consumer Reports (http://bit.ly/9cLKhD) indicate that Energy Star standards are not as helpful as they could be to consumers when shopping for energy efficient appliances.
The report says that 75 percent of appliances actually qualify for Energy Star, which makes selecting the absolute best appliance quite the task.

The economic downturn has devastated housing markets, but there are a few positives. One is the growth of the green building movement – it’s getting a boost from homeowners eager to economize on energy costs, and builders looking to pull apart from the rest of the pack.
Green homes are no longer a niche product for high-end buyers. National certification programs such as LEED and Energy Star now have counterparts in many states. Energy-efficient measures could soon become a staple of all new homes, if consumer and industry trends are any indication.

Thought leaders and behavior influencers in the energy efficiency space have a narrow path to tread. They must educate, motivate, and build trust and credibility. All without sounding preachy, shrill or unrealistic.
We’re giving the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) newly redesigned web site, Energy Empowers (www.energyempowers.gov), high marks for the way it delivers in these categories.