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Sustainable Energy QLD

The Center helps companies design and implement strategies to cut energy use and pollution - particularly the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming. They work with businesses, state and local governments, and environmental advocacy groups to develop institutional 'best practices' for greenhouse gas reduction, and provide neutral, credible verification of emissions baselines and reductions. They also partner with outside organizations to promote these approaches using performance-based data and contemporary case studies presented through a variety of channels.

The Center's primary functions can be classified into four basic areas, which may be employed singularly or in parallel as the circumstances of various projects dictate:

Applied Knowledgebase:

The Center is continually building first hand knowledge of technologies and practices to reduce energy use the associated emissions - understanding not only the individual puzzle pieces but also how they fit together in the real-world. This includes original research and reporting on topics like combined heat-and-power, data centers, and the impact of the Internet on energy demand. Focusing on proven applications as well as the latest cutting edge ideas, their case studies and analysis are prepared in formats designed to reach audiences from journalists and politicians to CFOs and energy managers.

Direct Consulting & Partnerships:

Some of the Center's most effective impact results from partnerships and consultative relationships with companies and other organizations, where they are able to engage more deeply and directly with decision-makers. The most important of these efforts has been the Climate Savers Partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, which works with companies on concrete greenhouse gas reduction commitments. Climate Savers so far include Johnson & Johnson, IBM and Polaroid; many other companies have taken part in preparatory phases. Other formal project partners in the private sector include: Enron, Sure Power, Fuji, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association and the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute. Besides WWF, they have worked with environmental organizations including National Environmental Trust and the World Resources Institute.

Regulatory Analysis & Design:

The Center is increasingly providing strategic and technical guidance in legislative and regulatory debates. The addition to their staff last year of Anna Garcia, a former EPA official and expert on state and federal pollution rules, has expanded the capacity to help develop rules that foster clean technology. They are currently working on regulatory design projects in Austin and Houston Texas, and with the energy and environmental officials in the states of Wisconsin, Georgia, Utah and Maryland. A major focus this year will be helping states craft effective rules for distributed generation, ensuring that the emerging technology is a boon, not a bust for the environment. The Center has also provided analysis for journalists, environmental groups and congressional committees on utility deregulation and energy demand, and how they intersect with broader economic and technological trends.

Strategic Communications:

The fourth element in the Center's toolbox is strategic communications. With the addition in September of Jon Coifman - who joined us from Environmental Media Services - they are building a comprehensive public affairs program aimed at business and policy audiences, encompassing both media and direct outreach. Efforts include promotion of specific Center activities as well as clean technology issues in general. They are also providing advice and counsel on strategic communications to outside partners as part of their consulting and partnership work. The Center is developing an in-house database to facilitate faster, less expensive contact with journalists in trade, business and general interest media. They are also building direct links to trade and professional associations in areas where clean and efficient technologies offer major benefits. This means not only groups concerned with the environment or sustainability, but also technology, trade and engineering organizations.