We hear a lot about the importance of being "green" in our everyday business practices:  conserve, recycle, and reuse.  Equally important to "green" practices are sustainable business practices:  support, increase, and maintain environmentally friendly and responsible initiatives.  I’ve outlined below some ideas for you and your company to consider and explore, and perhaps, to adopt.  These programs can be powerful tools in a company’s overall energy management strategy.

Demand Response Capacity Programs compensate participants for reducing their energy consumption in response to peak system demand (i.e. hot summer days) and grid emergencies.  The program is designed to reduce the demand on an area’s central energy grid.  Companies are asked to curtail their energy requirements; they are not asked to shut down.  Participants in the program receive monthly payments based on a previously agreed upon reduction in electricity consumption during system emergencies, regardless of whether or not they are ever called upon to respond.  These programs provide numerous cost savings and environmental benefits including earning revenue for your company, reducing your company’s energy expenses, reducing the need for more power plants, and lowering carbon dioxide and other emissions.

Energy Efficiency Programs are designed to assist customers in managing their energy usage and costs.  By purchasing or installing specific equipment and systems, your company will receive rebates credited to your electric account.  Specific program details must be met; however, it’s a measurable way to save money and to reduce energy requirements.  To get started, you need only to contact your utility representative.

White Certificates are credits provided to participants for investing in energy efficient products, or achieving a predetermined reduction in energy consumption.  Every validated kilowatt a company saves accumulates towards a white certificate.  These certificates can then either be traded to other participants who cannot meet their predefined targets, or used for their own usage.  Benefits include reducing both energy consumption and costs.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) represent one megawatt hour of electricity generated from renewable resources (i.e. solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and geothermal).  Companies that produce renewable energy sell it to the wholesale power market for some market value.  All energy sources are then commingled on the power grid.  Consumers do not necessarily receive electricity generated from the renewable resources; however, their purchasing RECs support the production of renewable energy.  Ultimately, RECs subsidize the development of renewable energy resources to displace energy generated from fossil fuels.

Data-Mail understands the importance and impact of our efforts both as a company and as individuals on the environment.  We participate in Demand Response Capacity Programs and Energy Efficiency Programs.  Additionally, we plan to operate on 100% green power credits by the end of 2009.