The business case for energy efficiency is a powerful one. At the end of 2010, the Carbon Trust reported that the average return on investment of energy-efficiency projects carried out in commercial premises is 48%. Increasingly, it is becoming clear that to invest in sustainability is to save money.

But while the UK government is supporting carbon reduction by introducing grants and green initiatives, these have done little more than skew people’s perception of what represents an energy saving. With heavy focus applied to insulation and heating, cooling strategies have been left rather more out in the cold.

The hot topic

The government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was announced in March 2011 to drastically alter the way heat is generated and used in buildings and homes. Britain’s largest energy users are required by the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme to start lowering carbon emissions so will naturally be enticed by such offers. But incentives like the RHI fail to acknowledge that when a commercial building is designed, the crowds of people and electrical appliances that then occupy it are not taken into account.

Human bodies and devices such as computers, printers, coffee makers, toasters and refrigerators generate an exceptional amount of heat and cause room temperatures to dramatically increase. So, instead of heating, most commercial buildings need to bring temperatures down in order to maintain a comfortable environment and maintain staff productivity.

Office cooling, namely air conditioning, represents a huge energy burden, and can increase a building’s emissions by 100%, according to Carbon Trust research. So, to use it on a daily basis yet take a grant to invest in heating and insulation is a notion most people would surely see as perverse.

The reality of air conditioning is that, despite its widespread use, the energy it consumes often goes to waste. Realistically, without tackling this problem it is unlikely than any commercial building will be able to create a truly energy-efficient environment, no matter how much government grant money it is awarded.

Here comes the sun

As we all know, when the sun comes out in the UK, it is met with something resembling blind panic. Whether in the heights of summer or the depths of winter, sunshine causes heat to build up through unprotected glass windows. These windows then get thrown open to create a through draft, or in colder months, blinds will be snapped shut to block out the sun’s glare, meaning that lights have to be switched on. Either way, this behaviour ends up negating the effect of air conditioning, causing wildly fluctuating internal temperatures and eating up a large, unnecessary supply of heat and energy.

Such widespread and basic energy wastage should not be allowed to continue. Maintaining stable internal temperatures requires more than efficient heating and insulation; businesses need a cooling solution that minimises air conditioning, allows natural light to enter the building and helps to block out heat, rather than trap it within the building. One of the most simple and most cost-effective solutions that can deliver all of these benefits is one you may not have heard of: solar-control window film.

By rejecting up to 82% of solar energy, window film can reduce internal temperatures by up to ten degrees. This stops air conditioning units from being maxed out during sunny spells, meaning that internal temperatures are kept stable and extreme peaks in energy usage are reduced.

Cooling systems can therefore be run more efficiently and inexpensively, reducing a building’s cooling load by 30%, or roughly 5% of the energy bill. If window film were taken into consideration during the design stages of a new building, savings would be greater still as businesses would reduce cooling requirements from the outset; using smaller, cheaper air conditioning units that are easier to install and maintain. In plain English, this could mean thousands of pounds in savings to many UK firms.

Love in a cold climate

With budgets being squeezed and such significant carbon reductions to be made, the heat is on for UK businesses to find meaningful ways to lower emissions. It is the responsibility of our government to steer them in the right direction. Improved insulation and heating is, without doubt, an effective means of preventing energy waste, but without considering the likely effects of over-heating, businesses are in danger of missing the bigger picture.

While most UK businesses will currently look to insulation as their first port of call for energy savings, more vocal support for solutions such as window film by government schemes and incentives, would show these companies that such measures are just the tip of the iceberg.

An all new crossover SUV or multi-purpose vehicle enters the Ford line up this year. The C-MAX, a model that has been sold in Europe for several years, will be sold in the United States and Canada beginning this fall. Based on the platform underpinning the all-new Ford Escape, the Ford C-MAX will be offered as a hybrid only, sold as a conventional and plug-in hybrid editions.

Price Check

The standard C-MAX Hybrid will retail from $25,995, about $1,300 less than the competing Toyota Prius V. Its estimated fuel economy is 47 mpg, beating out the Prius V by 3 mpg. Expect Ford and Toyota to battle heavily for customers in this hybrid niche.

Ford powers the C-MAX with a 2.0-liter four cylinder engine that runs on the efficient Atkinson cycle and pairs it with a continuously variable transmission. This model also features a lithium-ion battery that is smaller and lighter than the previous generation nickel-metal-hydride batteries used in previous Ford hybrid models. The C-MAX makes use of regenerative braking to harness electricity and store it for later use.

Ford is building the C-MAX at its Wayne Michigan Assembly Plant. Another model, the C-MAX Energi, will also be released, the latter a plug-in variety that will yield even greater fuel efficiency.

Economy Aids

The C-MAX allows drivers to benefit from SmartGauge with EcoGuide, a feature that offers real-time information that allows drivers to enjoy improved fuel efficiency. SmartGauge “teaches” drivers how to best maximize fuel economy, by displaying what driver actions help fuel economy and which ones hurt it.

The five-passenger C-MAX is equipped with seven airbags including a driver’s knee air bag. This vehicle features an advanced roll stability control system and offers SYNC with MyFord Touch, a voice-activated telematics system that controls the cell phone, navigation, climate and entertainment functions.

Advanced Technologies

Advanced technologies can be found in many of today’s Ford vehicles and the C-MAX is no exception. This model features active park assist, an available option that uses sonic radar to help drivers find a suitable parking space and automatically steer the car into its place. Curve control ensures that the C-MAX always stays planted on the road and electronic power-assisted steering improves handling.

One feature that is sure to please people with full hands is this model’s hands-free liftgate. The way that this works is that as long as the driver has her proximity key on her person or in the purse that she is carrying, the rear liftgate will automatically open when a simple kicking motion is performed under the rear bumper. Just kick and the trunk or liftgate automatically opens.

C-MAX Dimensions

The front-wheel-drive C-MAX seats five passengers and sits on a 104.3-inch wheelbase. This vehicle is 173.6 inches long, 72.0 inches wide and 63.9 inches tall. Weighing from 3,682 pounds, the C-MAX offers 99.7 cubic feet of total passenger volume, 24.5 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seat and 52.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

Forward thinking companies have immediately taken steps towards initiatives in response to the Global energy Efficiency Challenge that was recently launched by the U.S. government. While some initiatives are very diverse and also niche related, others are focused on the promotion of education and awareness towards taking action in the mainstream market. Most of such initiatives were already launched at the Clean Energy Ministerial that recently took place in Washington DC. The United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) points out that there are recently significant investments made on energy efficiency across the board. Most of such initiatives are focused on building efficiency, that are estimated to account for about 60% of the GHG emissions worldwide in every year. Seeing such as a priority, the DOE has already invested funds for the certification of inspectors, operators, technicians, auditors while allocating grants for research as it is pushing energy efficient initiatives.

A variety of forward thinking initiatives have been created as a result of the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge, which was launched recently by the United States government. There would be diverse initiatives which could also be niche related, with the other aiming towards the promotion of education and taking action in the mainstream. The Clean Energy Ministerial has launched many of such initiatives in Washington DC.

The Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership (GSEP) is among the most significant initiatives out of the Clean Energy Ministerial. This partnership involves a three-pronged approach to efficiency improvements in commercial buildings and industrial facilities. Some countries that have participated in the Copenhagen energy Summit have thrown criticisms at the United States, and the United States government’s initiative on the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge could concoct a very welcome buzz. There are some other countries which have signified support to the project to become part of such partnerships, with such countries combined would represent over 80% of the total worldwide energy consumption.

One of the primary goals of the GSEP is to develop a certification process to make sure that energy efficiency improvements are meaningful and sustainable. The companies that are participating in the pilot program will need to adopt an energy management system and establish baseline energy performance. There is also a need to undergo a process that ensures the improvements of efficiency in the future, which are to be done according to approved protocols that have been subjected to unbiased validation. Large companies like Target and Wal-Mart, which comprise the largest retail outlets across the globe, have signified commitment to have a dedicated staff implement partnerships which are created under the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge. The staff will in turn ensure that employees within the organization are trained on the program. Participating companies will upload their findings to a centralized database, where the data will be made available as generic sector benchmarks.

The companies selected to take part in the GSEP represent commercial buildings, retail operations, industrial facilities, public buildings and educational settings and the information collected from their operations will be made available as application specific case studies. As soon as the feedback is achieved, the actual process of certification shall be deemed final which will be released to be adopted across the board. Companies are in a waiting list, ready to participate, which is also an indicator that the GSEP pilot project is very popular. The GSEP partnership and the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge are further reminders that every organization needs to be fully aware of its relative efficiency. This program is so popular, which becomes a very strong indicator of its consequent impacts to energy efficiency that would bring gains in any company’s reputation and improving an organization’s proactive stance in such direction.

If all the existing high-rise structures and buildings that heighten the skyline of the United States were to be retrofitted with LED Retrofit Lighting, as much as $33 billion can be saved in a single year by the end of 2030. Sounds too far-fetched? Well, it is not too far from the stark reality that the country urgently needs to plan an energy-efficient retrofit to save energy as well as the planet.

Buildings are the largest source of energy efficiency, especially in the United States. LED retrofitting light helps achieve environmental synergy through energy efficient lighting fixtures installed at commercial centers, buildings and homes. Retrofitting buildings with this technology helps to save money on energy bills and reduce global warming.

Within the next twenty years or so, if all buildings in the United States were to be upgraded with LED Retrofit Lighting, the surging demand in lighting electricity can be reduced by as much as 33 percent, generating energy savings of around $265 billion. By using energy efficient lighting for just one-twentieth of all the homes in the United States, the government can definitely, avoid the need for 13 new medium-sized (300MW) power plants every year. At the same time, the total associated greenhouse gas emissions can be lowered by up to 160 million metric tons annually, thus saving our planet from further depletion of natural resources.

The mission behind every strategic initiative towards energy-efficiency is to reduce the emission of harmful carbon dioxide with the help of breakthrough concepts, such as LED Retrofit Lighting, that produces higher levels of energy output using lesser amount of energy. Advancement in technology has made it possible to retrofit any interior or exterior lighting to an LED component with minimal downtime.

However, despite the energy savings and environmental benefits of energy efficiency with LED retrofitting lights, several barriers had earlier prevented homeowners and businesses from retrofitting their buildings. Until a few years ago, affordable financing was one such barrier. Homeowners who were willing to invest in home retrofits and undertake energy efficient improvements were not aware of any financing options that could have been devised keeping the best interest of the community in mind.

The scenario has changed today, thanks to licensed companies in the energy smart industry, who offer innovative retrofit lighting service for homes, commercial complex and other governmental buildings, ensuring guaranteed energy cost savings and unbelievable positive cash flows. These companies specialize in LED Retrofit Lighting and encourage home owners or businesses to upgrade their existing facilities with state-of-the-art energy-efficient lighting with no money paid up-front.

The leading providers of LED retrofitting lights in the United States are well-equipped to retrofit an entire building through a professional turn-key approach, bringing about a neat 75 percent saving in energy bills. In fact, buildings that are powered by LED Retrofit Lighting require less power generation compared to facilities that are powered by other green-power systems. This makes LED Retrofit Lighting a far more economical and technically-feasible energy solution for the modern man. It goes without saying that American homes and buildings present an unprecedented opportunity to save energy and make the world a greener place.

Director of Programs and Partnerships, The Gold Standard Foundation
Looking back at the first half of 2009, what has Gold Standard seen as the years most significant developments to date?
The most significant change at the Gold Standard is that weve tripled our staff and grown from a European to an international organization. I remember at the Carbon Expo in 2008 a participant said to us during our side event, You either need to grow or youll choke. At the time we had about 200 pending applicant projects. Now weve got 300 projects in our pipeline, technical expertise (we call them our Local Experts) in seven developing countries, and weve re-ignited our US programme with the hiring of Director of US Markets, Lisa Hodes. Ms. Hodes brings a strong legal and policy background to the team, and has already taken the U.S. by storm. In short, its been a big year.

What is the view from Europe on U.S. efforts to launch a cap and trade system? What do the prospects of the passage of a U.S. cap and trade regime mean to Gold Standard and to Gold Standard certified projects?

The Gold Standard tries to remain neutral to political developments; meaning, so long as the US gets on board somehow with a regulated cap and trade market, the Gold Standard (and the rest of the world) will be relieved. That said, it would be favorable if the US would sign onto a climate bill that could be complimentary to the existing global carbon market. Kyoto was ratified on February 16th 2005, and the market is still going through growing pains associated with building human capacity, securing ample validators and verifiers for projects, and implementing the projects themselves. It would be a shame to reinvent the wheel.

Are you hopeful that a post-Kyoto (2012) global accord will be reached? What do you see as the biggest hurdles and opportunities ahead for reaching such an accord?

Im hopeful because being pessimistic is just too scary. The climate science is clear: we need stricter caps, policy that follows the science, and emissions stabilization at 450 ppm (or less).

The hurdles are always political. It is easy to take a short term view and claim that carbon reductions cost too much, when any careful look at the figures (such as the Stern report) make the economic case for early action very clear. Specifically, I think the larger rapidly developing countries need to show willingness to accept some of the climate burden, but that will only happen once the industrialized countries sign onto serious carbon reduction agreements.

In terms of opportunities, I do think the carbon market is a unique political device whereby environmental groups, oil companies, and governments all stand to gain. While I dont think carbon markets can do enough to mitigate climate change on their own, they have thus far surpassed the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in terms of new finance for renewables and they represent an opportunity to rally resources for a more efficient economy without necessarily winning over the hearts of business and governments. The opportunity behind the carbon market is precisely that you dont have to be an environmentally concerned person to be interested in the economic opportunity.

Please explain Gold Standards approach to project certification. What is Gold Standard 2.1, and why is it important for the standard to continue evolving?

The Gold Standard builds on the Kyoto Protocols project cycle: we use the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changes (UNFCCCs) project methodologies, its validators and verifiers, and the same

equivalents when evaluating greenhouse gases against carbon dioxide. In the voluntary market, the Gold Standard accepts methodologies independent of the UN, and were also open to new additionality tools that seek a certification scheme to recognize them.

What makes Gold Standard different, however, is our strong emphasis on sustainable development (both local and global) and the local stakeholder consultation process. We really expect Gold Standard projects to contribute to the local community in tangible, monitored ways. Like any good standard, we employ conservative calculations and try to keep our documents updated to reflect a fast evolving market: thats why we just recently launched GSv2.1. Dont worry, its similar to the old Gold Standard: weve simply clarified some technical details and taken into account user feedback in order to further streamline our processes. Next up: were looking to improve our rules for micro-scale projects.

What would you like carbon market/project investors to understand about Gold Standard certified projects? Is there a long-term role for standards bodies in an evolving global carbon market?

A ton of carbon is not a ton of carbon. Many people, particularly in the United States, are wary of the carbon market. After all, youre buying an invisible commodity, and how can you know that the greenhouse gas emissions were actually avoided? The Gold Standard was created by environmental groups worldwide, who set up guidelines for what a really remarkable offset project looks like. So when youre purchasing or investing in Gold Standard, you know you have the brand that many governments, Fortune 500 companies and environmental groups like WWF and Greenpeace endorse as being top in the market.

Id like people to understand that quality carbon can also happen in large volumes. I think theres a funny myth out in the market that there are currently very few Gold Standard projects, when in fact weve seen a steady stream of new projects throughout the economic crisis. GS projects can be large-scale, and weve also got the small charismatic projects for which our brand is famous.

There is a long term role for standards bodies provided they are willing to evolve with the market and support its innovation. As a standards body, the core of our task is to reward excellence in carbon markets, assure buyers that theyve purchased something of quality, while also encouraging project developers to take risks and bring new ideas to the climate challenge.

About The Gold Standard Foundation

The Gold Standard Foundation offers the leading brand label for CDM/JI and voluntary offset projects, fetching premium prices. Projects in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector are eligible. The Gold Standard sustainable development requirements ensure that all projects benefit the local and global community in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. The Gold Standard is endorsed by over 60 non-governmental organizations worldwide. Gold Standard projects are preferred by a range of government and private actors. Initiated by WWF, SSN and Helio International the Gold Standard for CDM projects was launched in 2003 after a wide-ranging stakeholder consultation among key actors of the carbon market as well as governments. A methodology for voluntary offset projects was launched in May 2006.