Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership Has Clear Potential

A significant initiative emerged from the Clean Energy Ministerial meetings in Washington in mid-July, one that is likely to be equally as significant as the groundbreaking LEED certification for building efficiency. The Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership is aimed at accelerating energy efficiency improvements in a number of different commercial and industrial facilities.

Around the world, buildings account for 60% of carbon emissions produced as a result of energy used and anything that can provide a significant improvement in energy efficiency is bound to be widely accepted. Funding is being provided in the initial stages by the United States government, but other countries are also chipping in and the reach of the project is intended to be truly international.

The European commission, India, Japan, Canada, France, South Africa, Sweden, Mexico, Korea and Russia are all involved in the Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership. The partnership reaches out to independent corporations as well, who are active participants and partners in the pilot program.

Well-known companies such as Dow Chemical Co., Nissan, Target, Marriott and Wal-Mart are pilot participants in the Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership. They will invest company resources on top of the $3 million set aside by the United States government to get things going. As time progresses, the pilot companies will share their knowledge with all other participants and the findings will be correlated to enable the construction of certified standards for all industries.

The main focus of the Global Superior Energy Performance partnership is in cutting energy use, reducing carbon emissions, saving money and job creation. This will be achieved through the construction of a certification standard that will be applicable to facilities across the board. Once adopted, building and facility owners and operators must conform to the standard, by managing their energy use and introducing efficiency improvements. All of these improvements need to be independently validated.

The initiative will require the creation of an energy management system, core to the outcome of the Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership.Such a system requires a baseline inventory, so that facility owners and building managers are able to plan their way forward.

We know how chief executives are focusing on corporate sustainability as an increasing trend around the globe. Any initiative aimed at increasing building energy efficiency under their control is likely to be widely adopted. So far, the main standards involved with building efficiency have been the well established ISO 50001, as well as LEED certification.

Software solutions have emerged to help companies track the energy efficiency within buildings and assets alike. These solutions should be the basis of every company’s pursuit of sustainability in a complex and competitive trading world ahead.

Daniel Stouffer has much more data about the Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership and how a visit to www.verisae.com will benefit you.