Lean & Energy Toolkit: Chapter 6

Conclusion

Going Further with Clean Energy

Addressing the environmental impacts of energy use does not need to stop with Lean. Companies are increasingly taking additional steps to reduce and offset the environmental and climate impacts of their energy use. These steps can enhance employee and customer perceptions of a company’s environmental commitments and help reduce an organization’s greenhouse gas footprint. Here are a few ideas:

  • Green Power: Many energy utilities provide the opportunity for customers to purchase a percentage of their electricity as “green power.” Utilities invest the proceeds from green power charges in the development of new renewable energy sources. See EPA’s Green Power Partnership website for more information on purchasing electricity from renewable energy sources.
  • Carbon Offsets: Some organizations supplement their efforts to reduce energy use by offsetting some of their carbon emissions with the purchase of carbon offsets. While the development of markets for selling and verifying carbon offsets is in the early stages, a number of organizations have emerged to broker carbon-offset sales. Funds generated from the purchase of carbon offsets are invested in energy-efficiency projects, renewable-energy projects, or other efforts designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Visit Carbonfund.org to calculate your carbon footprint and purchase an offset to reduce your footprint.
To Consider
  • Can you think of creative ways that your organization can reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions?
  • Do you have any major renovations, construction projects, or purchase decisions coming up in which energy savings opportunities could be considered?
  • Are there efforts you could undertake to help your customers and/or suppliers reduce their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions?

The Lean and Energy Journey

This toolkit represents the beginning of an exciting journey. As customer and societal expectations around energy efficiency, environmental performance, climate protection, and sustainability continue to increase, Lean initiatives offer compelling opportunities to improve both economic performance and energy efficiency. EPA hopes that this toolkit spurs creative thinking and innovation within your organization and encourages you to explore these opportunities.

EPA hopes to learn from your Lean and energy experiences and to refine the techniques presented here in future versions of this toolkit. EPA wishes you success on your Lean and energy efficiency journey.

Your Thoughts on the Lean & Energy Toolkit

Now that you have finished this toolkit, reflect on what you read by answering these questions:

  • What strategies and tools in the toolkit seemed particularly interesting and useful?
  • What steps will you take next to improve Lean, energy, and greenhouse gas management integration in your organization?
  • What Lean or other process improvement methods do you think might have good opportunities for improved Lean and energy performance?
  • What other information and tools would assist your organization to improve its Lean, energy efficiency, and greenhouse gas management efforts?

Please contact EPA to share your experiences with Lean and energy improvements and/or to discuss partnership opportunities via the link at the bottom of the page or by emailing us at [email protected].

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Last updated on August 20, 2024