By: Todd Weinstein, President of ESG OWL

Sustainability can be overwhelming with acronyms and terminology. If you’re trying to build a foundation of key sustainability topics and terms, you’re in the right place.

Shared by Adam McMurtrey, Industrial Field Engineer with ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company.

The following case study highlights the efforts of one Ameren Illinois customer, showcasing the available implementation incentives for energy efficiency measures with a payback period of one year or less. Ameren Illinois is an energy efficiency partner of IMEC.

By all accounts, the folks at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois, run a tight ship. So, they were understandably skeptical when Sitton Energy Solutions, an independent energy management and consulting firm, proposed a retro commissioning survey of the 307-bed facility.

“We were tentative at first — it seemed like spending dollars in the hopes of saving dollars,” says Jerry Melching, Project Specialist for Blessing Hospital. “And we had already taken care of the low-hanging fruit.”

That skepticism did not deter Erik Merker, Director of Energy Services at Sitton Energy Solutions.

“We hear that all the time — that ‘there are no opportunities here’ — but why not have an expert validate that when the initial survey doesn’t cost the owner anything?” he says. “There are golden opportunities in retro commissioning — and Ameren Illinois incentivizes it very well.”

Ameren Illinois, in conjunction with corporate and nonprofit partners, is pleased to offer short-term competency-based trainings and certification programs that can benefit any manufacturer in Illinois.  Two of the programs: Building Operator Certification and Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Training offer the unique opportunity to earn credentials at a great value while gaining hands-on experience that translates to manufacturing energy efficiency and sustainable improvements across industries.

The Building Clean database lists more than 2500 U.S. facilities manufacturing energy efficient products in the key energy and water efficient product sectors of appliances, HVAC, insulation, lighting, plumbing, roofing, and sealants – plus an added section on certified water filtration systems. You can search by product type, market sector, locality (both state and zip code), manufacturing tier, and the product’s material composition. Included is information on chemical hazards associated with certain products and those that are certified by third parties as healthy.

Are you looking for new opportunities in Energy Efficiency?  ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, and North Shore Gas are joining forces to provide community members with updates and information about energy and innovation. Learn more by visiting www.nicorgasrebates.com/expo

The 2015 Energy Efficiency Expo will be held September 16 from 7a.m. – 4p.m. at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.  The event is designed to pull together decision makers who are looking to maximize their organizations’ energy efficiency, while earning continuing education units and offering peer-to-peer networking opportunities.

April 1st is no joke for Walmart Suppliers - IMEC's North Carolina partner MEP (NC State Industrial Extension Service) has recently been busy helping Walmart suppliers tackle the ever growing/changing world of Walmart Sustainability. So, what Walmart suppliers are in your area? Do they understand sustainability? Do they understand your Centers ability to help them both answer and improve their Walmart Sustainability Scorecard?

Beginning in 2009, Walmart has increasingly engaged their supply chain in sustainability goals and initiatives. See an overview of Walmart's supplier sustainability requirements and process here.

Precision Engineered for the Manufacturing Executive

PREPARE FOR YOUR COMPANY’S FUTURE

The TMA’s Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of “Next Generation” leaders who anticipate taking on top level leadership roles in their organization.

The learning environment includes classroom lecture and discussion, small-group exercises, a 360° Feedback component, self-assessments, a capstone project, plus coaching.