--- title: "The Sustainability Stalemate: Three Things Every Energy Company Should Consider" description: You hear it a lot. It generates interest at a superficial level. People enjoy hearing it, but not many know what it actually means. image: https://blogs.ksvc.com/hubfs/renewable-energy.jpg --- [![KSV](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/logo-charcoal-640.png "KSV")](https://www.ksvagency.com) ![☰](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-hamburger-charcoal-70-50.png "☰") - [Focus](http://www.ksvc.com/focus/) - [Capabilities](http://www.ksvc.com/capabilities/) - [Work](http://www.ksvc.com/work/) - [People](http://www.ksvc.com/people/) - [Culture](http://www.ksvc.com/culture/) - [EnergyWire](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) # The Sustainability Stalemate: Three Things Every Energy Company Should Consider Posted by [Casey Furr](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/author/casey-furr) on September 15, 2017 at 9:30 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![renewable-energy.jpg](https://blogs.ksvc.com/hs-fs/hubfs/renewable-energy.jpg?width=581&height=291&name=renewable-energy.jpg) The word “sustainability” suffers from tremendous overuse in the energy space: “solar,” “green,” and “renewables”—everyone uses the same buzzwords. We’ve diluted what some words mean to a point of near meaninglessness. Your customers may say they like to hear these words (and some of them do), but few people actually care. And when they do care, it’s because your intentions and impacts are clear, tangible things that matter to people. How can you make your efforts authentic? Here are a few places to start: **1. Define what you mean by “sustainability.”** Define the actions, processes, and policies you are actually taking that are sustainable. This is the beginning of your manifesto, your why and how. It’s a baseline to set aspirational, yet achievable, long-term goals—goals that are measurable and time bound, goals that will impact the lives of your customers both current and future, now and for generations to come. **2. Defer to your in-house experts.** You work at an energy company, so you have in-house experts. Find out who they are and take them to coffee. Ask them about their challenges and opportunities, and learn how they can help you get buy-in from key stakeholders in order to make #1 on this list possible. They are your experts. Leverage them. **3. Start thinking** [heretically](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/ksv/voices/of/industry/sustainability/rock/star)**.** Be different. Find a way to stand out from the crowd. Draw attention to the positive work you are doing. There is little point in pursuing sustainability to benefit your customers if they don’t know about it. We can help. Got questions? Not sure what “sustainability” truly means for your organization? [Reach out.](http://www.ksvc.com/) We got you. [![Hyper-targeting in Brooklyn](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2224113/da6ffabd-a900-4a1b-a45d-a4874d7f58b2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2224113/da6ffabd-a900-4a1b-a45d-a4874d7f58b2) [![Click to download now.](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2224113/e5ca6f87-118b-41e7-a697-71522fc5bf2b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2224113/e5ca6f87-118b-41e7-a697-71522fc5bf2b)   Topics: [Customer-Centric Marketing](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/customer-centric-marketing), [Utility Communications](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/utility-communications), [Data and Analytics](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/data-and-analytics), [Digital Transformation and User Experience](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-transformation-and-user-experience), [Innovation](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/innovation), [Marketing Strategy and Best Practices](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/marketing-strategy-and-best-practices), [Audience Segmentation](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/audience-segmentation) ### [EnergyWire](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) EnergyWire is KSV’s weekly insight into the consumer mindset when it comes to energy. It’s an honest conversation on the reality of their perceptions and motivations, and how energy services companies can use this insight to successfully engage customers. ### Sign Up ### Recent Posts ### Topics - [Customer-Centric Marketing (215)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/customer-centric-marketing) - [Utility Communications (183)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/utility-communications) - [Marketing Strategy and Best Practices (158)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/marketing-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Innovation (156)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/innovation) - [Digital Transformation and User Experience (100)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-transformation-and-user-experience) - [Audience Segmentation (88)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/audience-segmentation) - [Data and Analytics (83)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/data-and-analytics) - [Energy Efficiency (76)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/energy-efficiency) - [Clean Energy (61)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/clean-energy) - [Branding and Brand Value (58)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/branding-and-brand-value) - [Research (49)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/research) - [Climate Change (48)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/climate-change) - [Inspiration (47)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/inspiration) - [Sustainability Marketing (47)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/sustainability-marketing) - [B Corporation (38)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/b-corporation) - [Content Marketing (37)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/content-marketing) - [Climate and Social Justice (35)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/climate-and-social-justice) - [Creative (34)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/creative) - [In the News (31)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/in-the-news) - [Smart Technology (24)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/smart-technology) - [Social Media Strategy and Best Practices (23)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/social-media-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Company Culture (19)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/company-culture) - [Media Strategy and Best Practices (19)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/media-strategy-and-best-practices) - [Industry Expert Interviews (13)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/industry-expert-interviews) - [Sustainable Brands (13)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/sustainable-brands) - [B2B marketing (12)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/b2b-marketing) - [Electrification (12)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/electrification) - [Creative Showcase (10)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/creative-showcase) - [Energy Storage (9)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/energy-storage) - [AI (7)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/ai) - [D2C (7)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/d2c) - [Artificial Intelligence (6)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/artificial-intelligence) - [Vermont (6)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/vermont) - [Branding (5)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/branding) - [Case Study (5)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/case-study) - [Brand Activations (3)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/brand-activations) - [SEO (2)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/seo) - [Search (2)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/search) - [Augmented Reality (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/augmented-reality) - [Digital Video (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/digital-video) - [OOH (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/ooh) - [Paid Search (1)](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/topic/paid-search) ... ##### Get in touch. ###### Vermont 212 Battery Street Suite 2 Burlington, VT 05401 [802.862.8261](tel:8028628261) ###### New York 27 E 28th Street Suite 15055 New York, NY 10016 [212.366.4000](tel:2123664000) ## Sign up for KSV insights ## Thanks for subscribing! Email Subscribe © 2025 KSV [![LinkedIn](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-linkedin-cream-80.png "LinkedIn")](https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelliher-samets-volk/) [![Twitter](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-twitter-cream-80.png "Twitter")](https://twitter.com/KSVTweets) [![Twitter](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/icon-facebook-cream-80.png "icon-facebook-cream-80")](https://www.facebook.com/ksv.agency) [![Instagram](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/icon-instagram-cream-80.png "Instagram")](https://www.instagram.com/ksv.agency/) [Privacy Policy & Cookies](https://www.ksvagency.com/privacy-policy/) [![KSV](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/logo-cream-640.png "KSV")](https://www.ksvagency.com) ![X](https://www.ksvagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/icon-x-cream-70-50.png "X") What We Do [Work](https://www.ksvagency.com/work/) [Blog](https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire) Who We Are [About](https://www.ksvagency.com/about/) [Careers](https://www.ksvagency.com/careers/) [Contact](https://www.ksvagency.com/contact/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Casey Furr", "url" : "https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/author/casey-furr" }, "datePublished" : "2017-09-15T13:30:00.000Z", "headline" : "The Sustainability Stalemate: Three Things Every Energy Company Should Consider", "image" : [ "https://blogs.ksvc.com/hubfs/renewable-energy.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blogs.ksvc.com/energy-wire/sustainability/stalemate", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blogs.ksvc.com/hubfs/Logo_darkblue-1.png" }, "name" : "KSVC" } } ```