Typically, we think of the GAO focusing on territory familiar to auditors, which is what most of the high risk list does:  managing federal real property, DOD supply chain management, NASA acquisitions management, modernizing federal disability programs.  But now it has added a politically-charged topic to its list, but has taken the middle of the road on the topic.

The traditional approach to increasing national competitiveness has been to increase innovation and government investments in research and development, workforce development, and public infrastructure. Given today’s fiscal realities, the nation must explore alternative policy approaches and ways for government to do its business. These alternatives can enhance national competitiveness in an environment where major new investments will be difficult.

With the recent release of Governing to Win: Enhancing National Competitiveness Through New Policy and Operating Approaches, Chuck Prow has compiled some 13 insightful essays by leading thinkers and practitioners that can contribute to laying out that long-term strategy. “Given today’s fiscal realities,” Prow explains, “the nation must explore alternative policy approaches and ways for government to do business.” He notes that the alternatives outlined in his new book can catalyze national competitiveness in an environment where major new investments will be difficult.

Achieving renewable energy targets will involve increased deployment of some technologies, while phasing out others.  Amidst all of this discussion, a few words regarding another tool to reduce energy consumption and the associated pollutants while saving the energy consumer money may be spoken.  However, many may not realize this less flashy tool is available today and can result in lower emissions almost immediately.

Technology advances have become drivers and inspiration for actionable strategies to change the manner in which businesses, consumers and government organizations devise policies, make decisions and implement practical plans around energy use. The Three I's: Instrumentation, Interconnection, and Intelligence

“It takes money to make money”… even when “a penny saved is a penny earned” Profit-maximizing firms only invest in both revenue-generating and cost-cutting activities.  In most public sector organizations, however, money is made generally when it is not spent, but even doing that sometimes takes money.   Energy savings projects have traditionally been funded by: Grants Loans Tax Credits Other Incentives Two other vehicles have become very popular in recent years.  Let’s take a look at them.

The survey asked questions regarding sustainability initiatives that have been undertaken by local governments. Over 2,000 local governments responded to the survey. The survey was developed by ICMA’s Center for Sustainable Communities, the Center for Urban Innovation at Arizona State University, the Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability, and the Alliance for Innovation.

In the past few months, the budget has been a huge topic of discussion and federal agencies across the board have programs on the chopping block. In our previous posts, we’ve described energy challenges faced by federal organizations and the importance of adopting energy management initiatives—and these are powerful ways to reduce costs.

 In the last post, we used IBM BTV as an example of how the goal to increase reliability and to become more competitive in the chip manufacturing market evolved into a terrific Energy Management Program (EMP). In this post, we’ll describe the high-level nuts and bolts of an EMP, and how it can be applied to federal agencies to help cut costs, reduce CO2, and wean the country from its dependence on foreign oil. 

A quick read through any newspaper can bring up some dismal facts about the state of our nation and the current geopolitical climate. Among these pressures, which include a soaring deficit, budget challenges, and high unemployment, is the issue of energy independence.  We are constantly bombarded with reasons why we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil—and we should be—as it represents a positive step for our national security, our environment, and our bottom line.