Ways to Realistically Achieve Sustainability Goals

Chances are your company has made commitments to environmental sustainability, but do you truly understand what they are? Do you know how to address them – or even where to start?

For organizations, energy sustainability means being able to meet corporate efficiency goals through strategic solutions, including renewable energy options and energy efficiency initiatives. These reduce energy consumption – and thereby a company’s overall carbon footprint.

Businesses are leading the charge on strengthening sustainability and resource management with measures such as the implementation of solar and battery projects, innovative water reduction programs, fuel cells, electric vehicles and proactive monitoring of waste.

Sustainable energy has two key components:

• Renewable Energy: energy produced from sources that do not deplete or can be replenished within a human’s lifetime (compared with non-renewable sources like fossil fuels)
• Energy Efficiency: using a lower quantity of energy to provide the same amount of energy as a non-energy-efficient alternative, which can help lessen greenhouse gas emissions and therefore safeguard the environment

A sustainable energy strategy can and should take on a mix of energy sources. Below are three action steps (in no particular order) that could be a part of your strategy:

Action Step #1—Choose carbon-free energy sources

A meaningful step to take on the road to sustainability is choosing carbon-free energy, the sources of which do not emit any carbon dioxide when they generate energy. Carbon-free options include nuclear, solar, wind and hydroelectric energy.

Action Step #2—Leverage RECs to offset carbon footprint

Renewable energy certificates (RECs) are proof that energy has been generated from renewable sources, such as solar energy, wind power, hydropower, geothermal energy and/or biomass energy. Each REC represents the environmental benefits of 1MWh of renewable energy generation and may be sold and traded. The purchase of RECs helps replace fossil fuel-based electricity generation in the region where the renewable electricity generator is located, and REC owners can legally claim to have purchased renewable energy.

Action Step #3—Invest in local renewable energy

Corporations, their employees, their customers and their supply chain partners have made sustainable energy procurement a priority. Current trends show that companies are looking not only to source energy from renewable products but also to be able to unequivocally show where that renewable energy comes from. Depending on your specific needs, through retail electric power supply contracts or Offsite Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) contracts, you can now invest and source energy from new renewable projects through Constellation’s CORe+ product.

Most importantly, when it comes to your company’s sustainability goals, keep in mind you don’t have to hit a home run right away – you can use an incremental approach. You could start, for instance, by switching to carbon-free products; that is a solid first step. Based on your company’s specific needs, your solution can be as simple or complex as necessary to help achieve your corporate efficiency commitments.