JadeTrack https://www.jadetrack.com Tue, 24 May 2022 11:42:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.jadetrack.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/favicons.png JadeTrack https://www.jadetrack.com 32 32 Carbon Mandates Are Coming: What Does This Mean for Your Business? https://www.jadetrack.com/sec-carbon-madates-are-coming/ https://www.jadetrack.com/sec-carbon-madates-are-coming/#respond Fri, 20 May 2022 14:11:55 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=10663 By now you’ve likely heard about the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s new proposed rule on carbon disclosures for businesses. The purpose of this new rule is to standardize and enhance climate-related disclosures for investors, as climate risks are financial risks.

Carbon reporting regulation proposal for businesses

Many ambitious organizations are already voluntarily disclosing climate risks and GHG emissions, but the proposed SEC rule would require all businesses to submit climate risks and GHG emissions both in registration documents for new businesses, as well as in periodic reports. 

SEC Chairman Gary Gensler stated, “If adopted, [this rule] would provide investors with consistent, comparable, and decision-useful information for making their investment decisions, and it would provide consistent and clear reporting obligations for issuers.” 

Regulations could start as early as 2023

On March 21, 2022 the SEC proposed a new rule on mandatory carbon emission disclosures with proposed compliance dates starting in fiscal year 2023. This new rule would require companies to disclose the risk climate change poses to their business, as well as the GHG emissions generated, such as Scope 1 ,2 ,and 3 (when applicable).

The proposal is currently in a comment-period which will end May 20th.  

Automated Benchmarking

How can you get ahead of this new carbon reporting requirement?

Carbon accounting has traditionally been done in complicated Excel spreadsheets, shared across teams. Data for this accounting has also traditionally been harvested manually with many team members spending countless hours pulling utility data from disparate sources. 

With automated solutions like JadeTrack, automate your Utility Bill Management, ENERGY STAR benchmarking and GHG emissions data. 

Learn more about JadeTrack’s software solutions

Want to learn more about JadeTrack’s software and solutions? Request a free demo here and our team will show you how JadeTrack can help you automate your Utility Bill Management, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager scores, and GHG emissions.

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How To Get C Suite Buy-In For Your Next Energy Project https://www.jadetrack.com/how-to-get-c-suite-buy-in-for-your-next-energy-project/ https://www.jadetrack.com/how-to-get-c-suite-buy-in-for-your-next-energy-project/#respond Fri, 28 Jan 2022 18:17:13 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=10598 Are you trying to implement changes in your organization to do what’s right for our planet? Or, needing to collect data for your upcoming sustainability or climate action plan?

One easy strategy is to implement energy management and sustainability reporting software to save time and money on your utilities.

The problem is, you’ll need to gather buy-in from your manager, the C-Suite, and leverage champions across teams.  So how do you build a business case to generate buy-in for your proposed changes? Let’s take a quick look. 

Energy Management is good for the planet

First, let’s address the obvious: Reducing your company’s energy usage is good for your environmental impact— something customers care increasingly more about these days.

According to ENERGY STAR, a program by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR-certified buildings use 35% less energy than typical buildings nationwide and generate only 2/3 the CO2 emissions that contribute to global warming.

That alone should intrigue your C-Suite, but if you really want to grab their attention, put things in numbers that will likely matter more than doing the right thing for the environment: reducing costs for the business.  

Monitoring energy can significantly improve your organization’s bottom line

Why does energy management matter to your C-Suite? The significant impact to your bottom line. Energy savings allow organizations to re-allocate funds from energy savings to capital improvement projects, new employees, and other sustainability initiatives.   

Even if you’re a facility, sustainability, or energy manager who already understands the value of energy management, you still need to sell the concept up the chain to key stakeholders within your organization. Members of the C-Suite are often focused on ROI for the organization and may ask, “What are the benefits of benchmarking our buildings with an energy management software?” 

Automated Benchmarking

What could a 9% savings on energy look like for your organization?

According to a case study by ENERGY STAR, organizations benchmarking their office facilities for the first time, typically see a 9% savings on their utility spend during the first three years of benchmarking.

Savings can differ per building type, so check out the report by ENERGY STAR and be sure to share with your manager or C-level team.

But consider what a 9% savings on your utility spend might look like for your business. It could be significant! 

Using Energy Management software to find additional savings

Energy management software can catch errors on utility bills to help you get refunds from utility companies with Utility Bill Management. By harnessing the power of your utility bills, you can see how your buildings use energy on a monthly basis.

If you have low performing buildings, or want quicker data points, you can leverage Real Time Monitoring.

By comparing facilities in your portfolio, you can easily identify low to no-cost solutions to improve energy efficiency in your buildings. 

Showcase example return on investment

By leveraging JadeTrack as their energy management software, Olentangy Local School District in Ohio was able to save close to $1 million dollars in their first two years.

Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction was able to recoup $380k on their natural gas bill alone. With enterprise energy management software, it’s easier than ever to save on utility bills, and put the money to use where it matters most.

Sustainability data

Leverage champions across teams

By building buy-in for sustainability and energy efficiency projects across teams at your organization, you will build a culture committed to reducing costs and improving environmental impact, as well as a team ready to back you up on the investments needed to champion change.

If you’d like to learn more about how to build a culture of energy efficiency at your organization, check out this blog post.

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How To Create An Energy Awareness Campaign At Your Organization https://www.jadetrack.com/how-to-create-energy-awareness-campaign/ https://www.jadetrack.com/how-to-create-energy-awareness-campaign/#respond Mon, 25 Oct 2021 13:42:50 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=10559 Did you know October is Energy Awareness Month? This is a great time to implement an Energy Awareness Campaign at your organization to drive down energy usage and reduce costs. The Federal Energy Management Program via Energy.gov recommends the following steps for creating an Energy Awareness Campaign within your organization. 

What is an Energy Awareness Campaign?

An Energy Awareness Campaign will help your organization raise awareness of energy and water saving possibilities. Energy

Whether you implement a campaign organization-wide, or within specific facilities, every action taken by employees will contribute to strengthening the health of your buildings. To learn more about Healthy Bulidings, check out the JadeTrack: Strategies for Healthy , Data-Driven Buildings on-demand Webinar.

4 Steps to Create & Implement An Energy Awareness Campaign

  1. Plan Your Energy Awareness Campaign

The first step in creating an Energy Awareness Campaign for Energy Awareness Month is to evaluate your energy patterns within your facilities. 

Some key questions:

-What is the size of your staff?

-What are your types of equipment?

-What are your hours of operation?

Next, you’ll want to define your goals that are best suited to your organization’s particular needs. What are the objectives of your Energy Awareness Campaign?

After evaluating your energy use patterns and defining your program objectives, it’s time to enlist the support of key decision makers within your organization. A member of upper management is well suited to serve as a strategic advisor to endorse the program’s messaging. You will also want to enlist the support of colleagues who are passionate about reducing energy and water. Campaign champions will help spread the message of your Energy Awareness Campaign.

Meet with your communications team to understand your access to communication channels within your organization. For example, can you include information about Energy Awareness Month within the company’s monthly newsletter? Are there other internal communications channels, such as a company Intranet, or social media group? Can you print flyers or posters to hang in your facilities to drive awareness amongst employees?

  1. Design and Implement Your Energy Awareness Campaign

To design a top notch Energy Awareness Campaign get input from employees to understand their attitudes about energy, the environment and sustainability. 

Identify how you will motivate employees to take action. What specific behaviors do you want to motivate employees to take? Can you incentivize these behaviors?

You may need to develop a budget for the products and programs you want to implement for your Energy Awareness Campaign.

Finally, develop your schedule for activities and messaging and produce needed visuals and materials. Here’s some examples of messaging:

-Company newsletter

-Company intranet/ social

-Flyers

-Posters

-Events / Webinars

3. Evaluate and Report On Your Energy Awareness Campaign

Now that your Energy Awareness Campaign has ended, it’s time to evaluate the success of the program and report on energy and water savings.

Share employee achievements and sustainability successes within those same communication channels you leveraged to promote the program.

You may also want to share energy reduction achievements via your company’s Annual Report within the Sustainability section. Check in with your upper management advisor to see how best to share your successes, and liaise with your company’s communication team to see how they’d recommend leveraging energy and water reduction successes externally.

4. Use Your Findings to Plan Your Next Energy Awareness Campaign

You can easily create an online survey to share with employees and stakeholders to harness valuable feedback on what they learned, what actions they took, and how they perceived the campaign. How can you improve for the next Energy Awareness Campaign? It’s never too early to begin planning for next year! Energy and water reduction is a mindset and behavioral change that takes constant reinforcement. 

Sources:
Energy.gov, “Energy Awareness Month”

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5 Strategies to make your Sustainability Data Actionable https://www.jadetrack.com/5-strategies-to-make-your-sustainability-data-actionable/ https://www.jadetrack.com/5-strategies-to-make-your-sustainability-data-actionable/#respond Thu, 22 Apr 2021 21:15:15 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=10484 Looking to turn your sustainability data into something you can act on?

Collecting data on sustainability-related factors—including energy and resource use, greenhouse gas emissions, and supply chain performance—you can uncover insights to guide your sustainability-related initiatives and improve your overall resource efficiency. 

But if you’re struggling to sort through all the data, you’re not alone! One of the top questions we hear is, “I love having visibility to my data, but what now?” The truth is, collecting the right data is one thing; making it truly useful often requires a different mindset.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of our top five strategies to help you start making an impact with your sustainability data.

1. Identify what matters most

In the age of big data, figuring out where to get started can feel daunting.

Identifying which KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are the most important to both your long and short-term sustainability goals can help you focus on where to begin.

Ideally, your goals are specific. Making it easier to figure out the best KPIs to track your progress. If you’re still figuring out where to start, some areas to consider might be:

  • Energy consumption
  • Water consumption
  • Waste reduction
  • Direct and indirect emissions
  • Sustainability training
  • Workplace safety
  • Supplier diversity

2. Ask the right questions

Before you start analyzing your data, it’s essential to consider your top business questions related to your already established goals and KPIs. Without a clear business question, you can easily waste hours of your time getting lost in all the data. You may even come up with insights that are not relevant or important to what you’re working on. That can be pretty frustrating!

Data is only as good as the questions you ask. Perhaps a school district wants to improve their energy efficiency, so they ask, “Which school buildings are the least energy efficient?” They then look at a metric like energy use per square foot to help uncover which school buildings are their bottom performers.

3. Tell the full story

Without the proper context, your sustainability data isn’t that meaningful. Make sure to provide the full story about the sustainability data you are presenting. What do the numbers mean? Why does it matter? How do they compare?

You can add context to your data by pulling together relevant information to help you and your team make a more informed decision. At JadeTrack, we like to use benchmarks (like ENERGY STAR) to help add context to data. Comparing your performance to benchmarks means understanding how you perform above or below industry averages.

4. Make the complex simple

Simplification is perhaps our favorite strategy. Even if you love data, presenting sustainability data in a way that non-data-loving teammates can actually use is key. That means you don’t necessarily need to produce lengthy reports. Instead, focus on sharing the most timely, relevant, and compelling information.

In practice, that can look like this:

  • Only including numbers that relate to your story – less is more!
  • Using bold, compelling headlines or call-outs to express your key takeaways
  • Incorporating visuals and charts

Bonus – know your audience and use terms that resonate most with them.

5. Break down organizational silos

A consistent hurdle to making your sustainability data actionable is managing data and sharing insights across organizational silos. A data silo happens when one department owns data and it is inaccessible by other teams.

Cultivating a collaborative culture is key to promoting communication and reducing isolation. Meeting regularly with important cross-functional stakeholders is a great way to engage the entire team, which you will need to do if you want to implement your sustainability goals.

Investing in new technologies like JadeTrack can also help integrate siloed data into one central location. With JadeTrack, you get unlimited user seats, which allows for organization-wide access and visibility across teams.

Find what works best for you

Each of the strategies mentioned above will help turn your data into insights and initiatives that help your business operate more sustainably and save money.

It’s important to note that there is no one size fits all approach, so try experimenting with what works best for you. Look for popular best practices in your industry and continue to go from there!

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Introducing the New Admin Hub https://www.jadetrack.com/admin-hub/ https://www.jadetrack.com/admin-hub/#respond Thu, 15 Apr 2021 03:07:50 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=10419 We’ve redesigned our account administration settings to make it easier to manage your JadeTrack account. The Admin Hub is a one-stop spot for managing all aspects of your JadeTrack account – from personal settings to adding properties.

What’s Changed?

You’ll no longer see the “Administration” dropdown in the portal navigation – instead, you’ll see an updated navigation option that says “Admin”.

Clicking here will bring you to the Admin Hub overview, where you’ll notice a new side navigation that houses all of your account administration tools.

From this view, you can edit your account information, manage properties, and more.

You can still access your personal account settings from the far right-hand side dropdown, which will now display your name and organization name.

Stay tuned for more product updates!

Ready to get started? Log in now to view your Admin Hub or request a demo.

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Powering Innovation: IGS Energy Acquires JadeTrack https://www.jadetrack.com/igs-energy-acquires-jadetrack/ https://www.jadetrack.com/igs-energy-acquires-jadetrack/#respond Tue, 16 Mar 2021 02:00:00 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=10276 This week we are happy to share the news that JadeTrack was acquired by Columbus-based IGS Energy!

At JadeTrack, we will continue to operate independently as our own company, product, and brand but with even more resources and support to help us navigate a rapidly evolving market. 

For background, IGS Energy is an innovator, and leader in sustainable technologies and services, including:

  • 100% renewable electricity,
  • Carbon-neutral natural gas
  • Solar energy systems
  • Other energy-efficiency products. 

And on top of that, the company is a founding member of the Conscious Capitalism Columbus chapter, rated one of the Best Places to Work, and is deeply committed to social impact, including becoming net zero by 2040.

Most importantly, JadeTrack shares IGS Energy’s vision for a more sustainable energy future and the company’s spirit of innovation. 

“Our goal of becoming net zero by 2040 means that over the next 20 years, we will work to reduce the direct and indirect emissions from our operations and products as much as possible and offset any remaining emissions through the purchase of carbon offsets.” 

Scott White, CEO at IGS Energy

Introducing IGS Labs

Integrating access to the JadeTrack platform is part of an ongoing effort by IGS Energy to invest in new technologies and leverage strategic relationships to offer cutting-edge products and solutions.

When it comes to joining the IGS Energy team, we get to work with an incredible group of people. And this relationship will provide massive benefits to our current and future customers. 

Specifically, JadeTrack will collaborate with the innovation team, IGS Labs. IGS Labs focuses on identifying new, breakthrough opportunities and launching products related to: 

  • Energy Storage – Solutions to capture and utilize energy.
  • Renewable Energy Generation – Sustainable options for a cleaner energy future.
  • Demand Controls – Innovative solutions to adjust usage for greater grid reliability.
  • Energy Monitoring – Driving energy efficiency by harnessing usage data.
  • Energy Efficiency – Solutions to reduce energy consumption without sacrificing output.

JadeTrack fits nicely under these strategic focus areas, particularly energy monitoring and energy efficiency.

Meet the IGS Labs Team

Complementary to the JadeTrack team, we’d like to introduce you to a few of the leaders at IGS Labs that will be supporting us from behind the scenes. 

Brandon Childers // Chief Strategy & Technology Officer

Brandon is the “big ideas” type, which is why it makes sense that he leads the company’s marketing, IT, and innovation teams. He ensures technology plays a key role when it comes to serving IGS Energy customers.

When he’s not working, Brandon enjoys spending time with his shaggy labradoodle, Rupert.

Reagan Mamer IGS Labs

Reagan Mamer // Director of Innovation

Reagan Mamer currently leads IGS Labs, the Innovation team at IGS Energy. She has been instrumental in the organization’s product evolution and is passionate about creating products that provide true value to the end consumer. 

Reagan has a relentless passion for achieving gender equity in the workplace. She leads the Women of IGS Energy Network and is a member of the WELD Columbus chapter.

Evan Wilson IGS Labs

Evan Wilson // Business Development, Partnerships & Product Commercialization

Evan Wilson is a product management and business development professional with experience developing early-stage energy technology business lines. He is most productive when building internal and external partnerships to solve meaningful, mission-driven problems.

Outside of work, Evan is interested in improv comedy, climbing/backpacking adventures, and geeking out on watches and personal finance.

What can JadeTrack customers expect in the future?

Over the coming months, JadeTrack will be heavily focusing on making improvements to our product, customer experience, and operations. 

Customers can expect:

  • Updates to the JadeTrack product with new features and an upgraded user interface.
  • Enhancements to our operations and customer experience, supported by a growing team. Starting with a new hire to our Customer Success team.
  • More materials and resources to support users and those just getting started with energy management.

There’s a lot of work to be done, but we’re confident in our remarkably talented team. Without further adieu, welcome to the next phase of JadeTrack — we are excited to be on this journey with you!

Follow along @jadetrack, read the official press release, and watch the quick video below:

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The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences to Attend in 2021 https://www.jadetrack.com/the-best-energy-and-sustainability-conferences-to-attend-in-2021/ https://www.jadetrack.com/the-best-energy-and-sustainability-conferences-to-attend-in-2021/#respond Mon, 15 Feb 2021 23:09:35 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=10109 No matter what field of work you are in, attending events and conferences (even if virtually) is beneficial. That’s why we created a list of the top energy and sustainability conferences to attend in 2021.

Beyond networking with other people you might not meet otherwise, you also gain new knowledge and inspiration to bring back to your organization. And there are many great virtual and in person opportunities covering a range of energy and sustainability topics.

Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.

Michele Jennae

What to Expect

To adapt to the current times, conferences and events are continually evolving. Many of the meetings listed below are online only.

While sitting in front of your computer may not live up to the in-person event experience, they still offer plenty of opportunities to build your network and stay plugged into industry trends.

More and more events that may have been previously inaccessible due to geographic limitations are now accessible for anyone to attend virtually. Many events do have registration fees. If your budget is tight, be sure to inquire about scholarships or special discounts!

2021 Energy and Sustainability Conferences

Here are a few of the top energy and sustainability networking conferences from around the country to have on your radar.

Note: Click the shortcut links below to read the full details on each energy and sustainability conference (or just scroll down).

February
IDEA Campus Energy Conference
MEEA Midwest Energy Solutions Conference

March
MIT Energy Conference

April
BNEF Summit
USGBC & CSI DesignColumbus Conference

May
BuildingEnergy Boston Conference
Sustainable Pittsburgh Sustainability Conference
U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit
EEI Building Diversity Virtual Conference
NAEM EHSTECH21 Software, Innovation & Technology Showcase

June
ACSCE/ERI World Environmental & Water Resources Congress
AWEA CLEANPOWER Expo
Forth Roadmap Conference
GreenBiz Circularity21 Conference

July
ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry

September
IDEA 2021 Powering the Future
BuildingEnergy NYC Conference

October
AEE World

November
ACEEE Behavior, Energy, and Climate Change


CampusEnergy2021 The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

IDEA Campus Energy Conference

When: Tuesday – Thursday, February 16 – 18

Format: Online

About: College and university campuses have emerged as global leaders in the operation and optimization of world-class district energy systems. For over 30 years, the annual IDEA Campus Energy Conference has earned a reputation for excellent technical content, valuable peer exchange, and open constructive dialogue with business partners in a relaxed, collegial atmosphere.

Learn more about Campus Energy


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

MEEA Midwest Energy Solutions Conference

When: Tuesday – Friday, February 16 – 19, 2021

Format: Online

About: MES is about celebrating accomplishments in energy efficiency, as well as laying out the efficiency program and policy landscape for the coming year.

Learn more about Midwest Energy Solutions Conference


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

MIT Energy Conference

When: Wednesday – Friday, March 10 – 12, 2021

Format: Online

About: Dive into the critical decisions the US energy industry is making to drive a cleaner energy future. We bring you the 2021 MIT Energy Conference via the innovative Hopin platform, where you will interact with energy leaders making high-stakes decisions that will drastically improve the energy landscape over the next 30 years.

Learn more about the MIT Energy Conference


BNEF The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

BNEF Summit

When: Tuesday & Wednesday, April 13 & 14, 2021

Format: Online

About: Where energy, finance and technology converge. The BNEF Summit has been convening leaders in energy, industry, transport, technology, finance and government since 2008, generating ideas, delivering insight, and making the connections that help them formulate successful strategies, capitalize on technological change and shape a cleaner, more competitive future.

Learn more about the BNEF Summit


USGBC & CSI DesignColumbus The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

USGBC & CSI DesignColumbus Conference

When: Monday – Friday, April 26 – 30

Format: Online

About: The Ohio Community of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC Ohio) and the Columbus Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI)–co-hosts of DesignColumbus–will once again be offering an opportunity to learn and engage in the transformation of our built environment to be more healthy, prosperous and sustainable. DesignColumbus attendees can earn AIA and GBCI continuing education units (CEUs) for each education session, with some also earning IDCEC CEUs.

Learn more about Design Columbus


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

BuildingEnergy Boston Conference

When: Wednesday – Friday, May 5-7, 2021

Format: Online

About: BuildingEnergy Boston is a conference designed by and for practitioners in the fields of high-performance building and design, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.

“This is the best place to geek out about energy, health, carbon, and the build environment.”

Learn more about BuildingEnergy Boston


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

Sustainable Pittsburgh Sustainability Conference

When: Thursday & Friday, May 6 & 7, 2021

Format: Online

About: Save the date for this 2 day virtual conference presented by ASCE/EWRI, and Sustainable Pittsburgh.

Learn more about the Sustainable Pittsburgh Sustainability Conference


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit

When: Monday – Thursday, May 17 – 20, 2021

Format: Online

About: This will be a virtual, no-cost event featuring engaging and interactive sessions, as well as opportunities for attendees to network with their fellow industry peers and experts.

JadeTrack customer Wendy’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability includes participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Building Challenge. Learn how JadeTrack works closely with their team to take the initial challenge out of managing their data.

Learn more about the Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

EEI Building Diversity Virtual Conference

When: Tuesday & Wednesday, May 18 – 19, 2021

Format: Online

About: As the leading trade association for the electric power industry, EEI is committed and qualified to address all things industry related. This conference brings together electric companies, primes, diverse business owners, and governing bodies for the purpose of education, training, and business opportunity exploration.

Download our e-book of game-changing ideas, advice, and inspiration from a previous EEI Key Accounts workshop.

Learn more about the EEI Building Diversity Virtual Conference


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

NAEM EHSTECH21 Software, Innovation & Technology Showcase

When: Tuesday – Thursday, May 25 – 27, 2021

Format: Online

About: Whether you are shopping for new environmental, health, safety or sustainability management (EHS&S) software, implementing a just-purchased system, trying to get the most of your current systems(s), or wanting to stay on the cutting edge of how to use technology to drive innovation in your EHS&S department, NAEM’s Software, Innovation & Technology Showcase has something for you.

Learn more about the EHSTECH21


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

ACSCE/ERI World Environmental & Water Resources Congress

When: Monday – Friday, June 7 – 11, 2021

Format: Online

About: Now being held virtually, attendees taking part in the EWRI Congress will have the opportunity to share their research on issues affecting the environment and the policies relating to water resources. As a water community, we will focus on using our existing knowledge, combined with fresh ideas to maximize resources and develop best practices as we strive for a healthy future environment.

Learn more about the World Environmental & Water Resources Congress


Energy and Sustainability Conference

AWEA CLEANPOWER Expo

When: Monday – Thursday, June 7 – 10, 2021

Format: Indianapolis, IN

About: CLEANPOWER offers the most efficient and targeted event for utility-scale renewable companies in the Western Hemisphere. This expanded and targeted business development event will help your company reach new heights.

Learn more about the AWEA CLEANPOWER Expo


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

Forth Roadmap Conference

When: Monday – Wednesday, June 14 – 16, 2021

Format: Online

About: Accelerated and widespread electric, smart, and shared mobility adoption requires a diverse and supportive “ecosystem” of industry and community leaders – from utilities and local governments; to vehicle OEMs, charging providers, and technology startups; to public interest groups and drivers. The annual Roadmap Conference brings all of these stakeholders together in a highly interactive format to explore emerging trends, share best practices and lessons learned, and build the road ahead.

Learn more about the Forth Roadmap Conference


GreenBiz Circularity21 Conference

When: Tuesday – Thursday, June 15 – 17, 2021

Format: Online

About: The circular economy is a bold vision for tomorrow — and today — empowering leaders across industries and communities to increase resilience, mitigate climate risk and unlock new business opportunities. Circularity 21, the largest online circular economy event, offers an engaging and informative program, expo and networking opportunities. Join the growing global community of thousands of visionaries and practitioners to learn, connect and accelerate the circular economy.

Learn more about the Circularity21 Conference


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry

When: Tuesday – Thursday, July 13 – 15, 2021

Format: Online

About: Our 14th biennial conference will offer a provocative and dynamic discussion of industry on the brink of transformation. With industry accounting for more than one-fourth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, its decarbonization is more important than ever, and energy efficiency is a critical path forward.

Learn more about the ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

IDEA 2021 Conference

When: Monday – Wednesday, September 27 – 29, 2021

Format: Austin, Texas

About: Registration and program details will be available in early Spring.

Learn more about the IDEA 2021 Conference


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

BuildingEnergy NYC Conference

When: Wednesday & Thursday, September 29 & 30, 2021

Format: Online

About: NESEA’s BuildingEnergy NYC conference is designed by and for practitioners in the fields of high-performance building and design, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and building/energy policy.

“A day of intense energy nerd bliss.”

Learn more about BuildingEnergy NYC


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

AEE World

When: Wednesday – Friday, October 20 – 22, 2021

Format: New Orleans, LA

About: Key energy issues, energy-efficient solutions, new energy initiatives, and developments in clean energy technologies.

Learn more about AEE World


The Best Energy and Sustainability Conferences

ACEEE Behavior, Energy, and Climate Change

When: Sunday – Wednesday, November 7 – 10, 2021

Format: TBD

About: The Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference (BECC) is the premier international conference focused on understanding human behavior and decision making and using that knowledge to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future. Currently, in its 14th year, BECC is associated with a growing set of allied conferences in Europe and Asia.

Learn more about the ACEEE Behavior, Energy, and Climate Change Conference


Thanks for reading! Did we miss any good energy and sustainability conferences on our list? Send us a message. 📧

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Introducing the “Careers in Sustainability” Video Series for Students https://www.jadetrack.com/careers-in-sustainability-video-series-for-students/ https://www.jadetrack.com/careers-in-sustainability-video-series-for-students/#respond Wed, 06 Jan 2021 12:44:14 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=9985 Jobs in the environmental, sustainability, and energy fields are on the rise. In fact, the jobs students will hold in the next 10-15 years may not even exist today. So, how can we support and empower students to be ready for a future career in sustainability?

In partnership with schools and universities across the U.S., JadeTrack is committed to the mission of a better future for people, planet, and profit.

As part of our ongoing efforts to support of school districts, we’re proud to announce our latest video series to inspire the next generation of sustainability and energy conservation professionals.

How to use the Careers in Sustainability Video:

  • Pause the video on the discussion questions to allow students to answer individually or in small group discussions.
  • Make a copy of the Writing Prompt Reflection document and share it with students as class or homework
  • Use the video as a starting point for a broader sustainability discussion. Can students research environmental jobs in your region? What sustainability efforts are taking place in your community? 

Learn about Career Paths from Sustainability Professionals

In this video, you’ll hear from three fascinating sustainability professionals speaking about their unique career journeys, including stories of moving abroad to study architecture, serving on a local environment and energy committee, and creating pollinator-friendly gardens for bees.

We hope that by sharing multiple perspectives, students may resonate with different roles in sustainability.

Speakers include: 

Marianella Franklin, Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley Logo

Doria Brown, Energy Manager at the City of Nashua, New Hampshire

TikTok: @earthstewardess // Instagram: @theearthstewardess

Nashua, NH

Amanda Nesheiwat, Director of Sustainability at Hudson County Improvement Authority

Twitter: @amandanesh

NORTH BERGEN BRIEFS - Hudson Reporter

Did you watch the video?

Drop us a line info@jadetrack.com, or tweet us @jadetrack. What careers or topics should we highlight in the next video?

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Coming Soon: ENERGY STAR Score and Certification for Convenience Stores https://www.jadetrack.com/energy-star-score-and-certification-for-convenience-stores/ https://www.jadetrack.com/energy-star-score-and-certification-for-convenience-stores/#respond Fri, 20 Nov 2020 17:10:37 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=9861 Industry-specific benchmarks from ENERGY STAR help businesses plan and manage their energy consumption goals. Operating an energy-efficient building helps save on costs and can even win favor with customers as having a positive impact on the community.

In developing these benchmarks, there’s exciting news for Convenience Stores owners. The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) will be helping create the first-ever ENERGY STAR® Score for Convenience Stores.

ENERGY STAR for Convenience Stores

Currently, Portfolio Manager cannot score Convenience Stores on the 1 -100 ENERGY STAR scale but is working with NACS to create one. 

According to ENERGY STAR, “the ENERGY STAR score and label may soon be available for convenience stores, identifying those stores that are among the most energy efficient in the nation.”

This score will compare a store’s energy performance to similar stores nationwide. A score of 50 represents median energy performance. In contrast, a score of 75 means your building performs better than 75 percent of all convenience stores buildings nationwide — and may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.

For now, Convenience Stores can reference their national median Energy Use Intensity (EUI), or energy use/ square foot. For example, benchmarking your EUI can give a frame of reference to know when your savings take your energy use below the national median.

You can determine your Energy Use Intensity (EUI) by benchmarking your store in Portfolio Manager. However, many stores can do even better than the national median EUI of 231.4 Site EUI (kBtu/ft2). Ask us how!

The Different Energy Demands of Small Business Types; Data from Commercial Building Energy Use Survey (CBECS 2013)

Convenience Stores: Your Data is Needed!

Before NACS can develop a scoring model on which to base ENERGY STAR certification, they need to know more about convenience stores’ energy use.

To collect the necessary data, NACS is surveying convenience stores through December 22, 2020. At least several hundred diverse convenience stores must participate in the survey to develop this energy efficiency rating.

Please make sure to share the news and if you can, help with this important industry project by completing the survey today.

According to NACS, the survey should take approximately 30 – 45 minutes to complete. Ideally, you will be completing this survey on a tablet or smartphone as you walk the store. You will also need:

  • Store square footage (you can approximate if you don’t have actual building blueprints.)
  • Usage data for all fuels used for the property (electricity, gas, water, propane, etc.)
  • Water bills covering the entire period from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019.
  • Energy use for all meters in the buildings on the entire property, including outdoor lighting. Include electricity use associated with fuel pumps, but not fuel or diesel sold by the store’s gas pumps.
  • If the store uses EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool, you may not need to gather utility data. If you already use Portfolio Manager to benchmark your energy use, you can save time by submitting energy data through Portfolio Manager.

Sadly, if enough participants don’t take the survey, ENERGY STAR will not develop a 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR score for convenience stores.

To sum things up, are you ready to complete your survey? 👏

Learn More

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Get your Buildings Benchmarking Ready with JadeTrack and the City of Columbus https://www.jadetrack.com/get-benchmarking-ready-with-the-city-of-columbus/ https://www.jadetrack.com/get-benchmarking-ready-with-the-city-of-columbus/#respond Fri, 09 Oct 2020 20:57:49 +0000 https://www.jadetrack.com/?p=9647 The City of Columbus, JadeTrack, and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance are teaming up to offer two free virtual sessions on October 21st as part of the 11th Annual Midwest Building Energy Codes Conference.

Columbus building owners and managers will learn about the City of Columbus’ new benchmarking requirements, have an opportunity to network, and hear from leading experts.

You won’t want to miss these action packed sessions!

Event Details

Benchmarking & Beyond // Wednesday October 21st, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM ET

Existing buildings are the elephant in the room when it comes to reducing energy use in buildings. This free virtual panel featuring The City of Columbus, The City of Cleveland, and JadeTrack will provide an overview of several approaches, policies, and programs that improve efficiency in existing buildings. It’s the perfect primer to attend before the Columbus Data Jam!

Register for the Building Energy Codes Conference

City of Columbus, OH Data Jam // Wednesday, October 21st, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM ET

Looking for personalized, hands-on instruction to get compliant with the new Columbus benchmarking ordinance? Set your buildings up for success by signing up for the Benchmarking Data Jam session helping building owners and managers to:

  • Get familiar with the requirements of the Columbus Energy and Water Benchmarking Ordinance
  • Enter their utility data into benchmarking software
  • Find out how their buildings stack up with ENERGY STAR

All levels of knowledge and experience are welcome!

Register for the Columbus Data Jam

Event questions? Contact Alison Lindburg (alindburg@mwalliance.org) with any questions

What to Bring to the Data Jam

Please bring the following to the event:

Utility Bill Information

  1. One current and one previous utility bill for each account you want to link
    • Example: 1 electric/gas/water bill for August 2020 and 1 electric/gas/water bill for December 2019.
    • For Columbus Department of Public Utilities specifically, you’ll need the current bill and the bill from 3 months prior.
  2. The account number 
  3. The account service address

Portfolio Manager Account Information

If you have an existing Portfolio Manager account, make sure you have access (login and password) to your account. If you don’t have one already, no worries, we’ll get you set up!

  1. Login
  2. Password

In order to obtain an ENERGY STAR score and benchmark your performance against other similar buildings, you will also need:

  1. Property Information
    • Building type (e.g. office, retail, etc.) 
    • Name, street address, ZIP/postal code
    • Gross floor area
    • Year built

About the Speakers

Leah Morgan, Director of Product & Strategy at JadeTrack

Leah Morgan’s energy conservation and sustainability experience spans multiple industries, including work in corrections, utilities and non-profits. She currently works as the Director of Product and Strategy at JadeTrack – a software company that helps organizations track, visualize and manage natural resource data to improve conservation and cost savings efforts. Prior work included the development and management of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Energy and Sustainability programs, where she was a JadeTrack customer.

Jenna Tipaldi, Climate Advisor at The City of Columbus Office of Sustainability

Jenna Tipaldi is the Climate Advisor for the City of Columbus through the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge. After joining the Climate Challenge in early 2019, she worked diligently with City staff to pass Ohio’s first benchmarking and transparency policy in the City of Columbus. She is passionate about sound climate policy that improves our environment and brings the benefits to those impacted first and worst by climate change.

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