Expert Columns

Sol Systems celebrates leadership in the renewable energy space alongside Smart Energy Decisions through their DEI Impact Awards. In this column, the company explains why this is not just a celebration of achievements — it is a reaffirmation of the power and potential that diversity, equity, and inclusion bring to our industry and beyond.

Private and public electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) are essential to the transformation of the transportation sector, yet associated expenses outside of the actual hardware, software, and construction called “soft costs” are not well understood. A new multilaboratory initiative led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) aims to find pathways to reduce soft costs for EVSE installation.

On June 6 the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) rolled out the National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building. In this column, the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) breaks down the elements of the definition, outlines how the industry will use the definition, and suggests what may be next in its evolution.

To achieve its Scope 1 and Scope 2 sustainability goals of reducing GHG emissions by 30%, Sherwin-Williams recognized the need for external energy audits to identify new opportunities and accelerate energy and emissions savings. In this Better Buildings column, find out how third-party audits produced energy reduction opportunities for the company with a potential of 7.7 million kWh in energy savings and a GHG emissions reduction potential of 10,000 metric tons of CO2.

In 2022, Norfolk City Council adopted a resolution around the commitment to reduce energy consumption by 20% as part of the Better Buildings Challenge. To increase awareness of participation, the City’s Environmental Sustainability Division created the Watts Going Down, Norfolk campaign, which has engaged 87% of City staff.

Five years into The Climate Pledge, Amazon's 2023 Sustainability Report showcases its progress in becoming a more sustainable company. This column presents highlights from the report, including how the company is meeting its energy goals, making strides to decarbonize its transportation and delivery fleet, improving delivery efficiency to reduce emissions, investing in climate solutions and more.

Google is launching a first-of-its-kind clean energy partnership built around a new clean transition rate that can be replicated in many electricity markets across the United States. Over the past two years, the company has worked with partners across the U.S. to create a new, scalable pathway for utilities and large energy users to invest in clean firm capacity and accelerate the commercial deployment of advanced, clean technologies like geothermal energy.

Did you know certain refrigerants have a global warming potential over 10,000 times that of CO2? Refrigerant emissions don’t get the fanfare that buildings and renewable energy generation do, but in this column, Second Nature's Bridget Flynn explains why campuses are the right target to take responsibility for these fugitive emissions.

Microsoft has issued a Datacenter Community Pledge to build and operate digital infrastructure that addresses societal challenges and creates benefits for communities. In this column, Noelle Walsh, Corporate Vice President, Cloud Operations and Innovations, explains the Pledge's focus on three core areas: contributing to a sustainable future, advancing community prosperity and well-being, and operating responsibly as a good neighbor.

Des Moines Water Works (DMWW) became the first water utility in the nation to have all of its water treatment plants—three, in this case—certified to ISO 50001 and SEP 50001. The utility has an energy policy that commits financial and labor resources to achieving continual improvement in energy performance. Read this column from Better Buildings Solutions Center to learn how DMWW improved its energy performance by 19%.