-
-
Green Light Distrikt
Green Light Distrikt is about entrepreneurship focused on the cleantech sector. Edited by Chris Williams with frequent guest posts from friends, experts and industry insiders from clusters across the globe. Our goal is to provide a place where cleantech entrepreneurs in various clusters across the globe can learn from one another. Green Light Distrikt is creating the "Hitchikers Guide to Clentech" to provide a resource for cleantech entrepreneurs. Read more
Subscribe
Tag Archives: EnerNOC
October 11th, 2011
What I Learned at EnerNOC’s EnergySMART Conference
TOPICS: BOSTON, CleanTech Events
The other week I had the pleasure of attending EnerNOC’s EnergySMART conference. It was a great opportunity to meet, learn and share ideas with other smart-grid, cleantech and sustainability professionals. I summarize my experience below.
Energy Management is a Vastly Untapped Resource
Did you know that the US is only 24th in the world in terms of energy efficiency utilization (and still a novel idea in the UK)? Being able to measure and manage energy consumption to smooth out energy peaks and transform commercial and industrial complexes into virtual power plants is just the beginning of harnessing the power of energy efficiency. It is a “great time to be in energy management”, said opening keynote speaker Bill Aulet, there are so many great Boston start-ups such as Next Step Living that provide a service that enables real bottom line saving, a positive ROI for energy efficiency projects and a strategy for mitigating risk factors. “This is not your father’s energy industry,” and as it evolves, it will be important to stay nimble, constantly learning and applying new technology.
…and Demand Response is Just the Beginning
With DemandSMART, EnerNOC’s enterprise, SaaS product, companies can easily measure and cut their energy consumption, receive payment for lowering demand and gain a competitive edge (Iron Mountain are you listening?). As the correlation between sustainability and profitability becomes more direct, cost centers can become revenue centers enabling companies to see new opportunities and innovate. Given how easy it is to partner with EnerNOC and start receiving checks almost immediately in the mail – I was surprised that customers were not beating down their doors – but, as I have learned, it will take some time before their solution becomes as “widely accepted a business practice as accounting.”
Looking Beyond DR – Carbon Accounting Helps Mitigate Risk
Looking to go beyond just measuring kWh? EnerNOC’s CarbonSMART solution is designed to give organizations data collection capabilities, analytics, reporting and mitigation planning for scope 1-3 activities. Akamai “reduced its carbon intensity by 50% in 2 years” and gained a greater understanding of its energy drivers. With companies such as Walmart who are ushering in more transparency in their supply chain, companies will be pressured into disclosing and eventually mitigating their GHG – so why not be proactive? EnerNOC’s product helps companies stay ahead of the curve, avoid cumbersome spreadsheets by providing “Carbon Counseling” to help measure, prioritize and deploy GHG mitigation strategies.
Networking & Building Partnerships is Key
It’s all about making connections and learning from one another, remarked Gregg Dixon, EnerNOC’s SVP of Sales & Marketing, who actively encouraged networking at the event. By engaging, collaborating and building bridges across various industries new solutions can be developed to make energy data more meaningful. Because the market is still relatively young, fragmented and lead times for energy projects are quite long, building support networks within business, political and non-profit arenas will be key in moving our country towards energy transparency and independence.
Overall, I Thought this Was a Great Event!
The combination of excellent speakers, content and location was a great mix for learning about current energy issues as well as EnerNOC’s product offering. I will be looking to see how the company develops mobile apps that enable customers to access, monitor and implement energy measures right from their smartphone. I will also be interested to see how EnerNOC leverages customer learnings that can benefit the entire network. I also hope that the low social media adoption rate for this industry improves to help increase awareness, facilitate learning and enable real progress.
Tagged Demand Response, Energy Efficiency, EnerNOC
No Comments / Leave a comment or question
September 3rd, 2010
6 Characteristics of a Perfect B2C Energy Efficiency Company
TOPICS: BOSTON, Entrepreneurship, Resource Efficiency
4 weeks ago, Green Light Distrikt Boston had an event, ‘Energy Efficiency: Why is the Low Hanging Fruit so High?” The speakers discussed what they’re working on and why, if energy efficiency (EE) has such high returns, the adoption of these behaviors and technologies seems to be happening at a snails pace.
Based on the presentations there were 6 things that I learned why EE adoption is not happening quickly enough. If you need a refresher on the those 6 items see the previous link.
Using these 6 points, I’ll outline the 6 characteristics of what a BLOCKBUSTER company addressing homeowner and small business energy efficiency would and/should look like. If you’re a VC and reading this, your welcome, you can pay me later.
Here’s the 6 characteristics of the perfect EE company I would invest in, start, or work with.
1) The technology is simple, works, and is cheap. You need the technology to be ‘in the game’ but the technology itself won’t solve the problem. The winning combination will be a mix of technology + service. This is why, as Rob Day points out, angels will be the heros of EE technology space because the technology is so cheap to build. It is the selling, servicing, monitoring, and changing of behaviors that will make or break a great EE company.
Tagged 1 block off the grid, cleantech kingpins, energy circle, Energy Efficiency, energy savvy, EnerNOC, green build boston, new generation energy, Nexamp, next step living, rob day, wattzy
August 25th, 2010
6 Reasons the High ROI of Energy Efficiency Doesn’t Matter
TOPICS: BOSTON, CleanTech Kingpins, Resource Efficiency
All I can say is “Energy Efficiency: Why is the Low Hanging Fruit so High?” the second event hosted by Green Light Distrikt Boston in our Cleantech Kingpins series was a HUGE success. It was completely packed, it was fun, and we learned a ton. Boston insider Aaron Lindenbaum wrote a great follow up about his take on how to make energy efficiency (EE) sexy and Brian Hayden wrote an awesome piece about how the event inspired him to take action in his home and what he learned.
A huge thank you to all the speakers, everyone did an amazing job, and Alex from Wattzy who helped me find everyone. Another shout out to NEXUS for hosting us. The NEXUS Green Building Resource Center is the Mecca of green building in Boston and probably the country, in short, they’re awesome. A third thank you to everyone who came, watched, asked questions and joined in on the conversation at the end. I had a great time meeting you and can’t wait to see guys more in the future.
Here’s the little agenda for post
1) Presentations: Below are both the presentation videos and slides. Note, I’m couldn’t upload Lilah Glick’s presentation from the Cambridge Energy Alliance and I didn’t get Alex’s presentation on video.
Here are the speakers:
- Alex Patriquin – Founder, CEO at Wattzy
- Martin Flusberg – Founder, CEO at Powerhouse Dynamics
- Lilah Glick – Director, Community Outreach at Cambridge Energy Alliance
- Brenden Endicott – Senior Manager, Energy Markets at EnerNOC
- Geoff Chapin – Founder, CEO at Next Step Living
2) Problem with Energy Efficiency Adoption: The speakers addressed 6 main issues that I’ll summarize that explain why energy efficiency adoption is NOT happening.
Tagged cambridge energy alliance, cleantech kingpins, Energy Efficiency, EnerNOC, next step living, nexus green building resource center, powerhouse dynamics, wattzy
June 18th, 2010
EVENT: Energy Effiency – Why is the Low Hanging Fruit so High?
TOPICS: BOSTON, CleanTech Kingpins
Everyone who has ever read a book on renewable energy knows that the best investment, and what should be done first is energy efficiency. Business owners know it, property owners knows it, and the state governments know it. Massachusetts is putting more then $600 million into energy efficiency in the short terms, that more then 3 TIMES the amount that will go into renewable energy incentives.
If everyone knows efficiency is the biggest bang for you buck, but if this is true then why is it not happening?
This is a question that I kept asking myself but couldn’t find an answer. So, I decided to gather a group of the smartest experts in Boston working on the issue to have them to tell me, and you too of course, the event will be public and it will take place on July 22nd at 6pm in downtown Boston at the NEXUS Green Building Resource Center.
If you’ll be in Boston on July 22nd register for Energy Efficiency – Why is the Low Hanging Fruit so High?
We have some amazing speakers that are going to be talking about what they’re working on and how we can increase the adoption of efficiency, here they are:
Alex Patriquin – Founder, CEO at Wattzy
Martin Flusberg - Founder, CEO at Powerhouse Dynamics
Lilah Glick – Director, Community Outreach at Cambridge Energy Alliance
Brenden Endicott – Senior Manager, Energy Markets at EnerNOC
Geoff Chapin – Founder, CEO at Next Step Living
I can’t wait to see you there. Don’t worry if you can’t make it, we’re going to record the event and publish it. Here is the video from our first event Clean Energy Adoption in New England.
Tagged cambridge energy alliance, Energy Efficiency, EnerNOC, next step living, powerhouse dynamics, wattzy
February 24th, 2010
Demand-Response for the Average Joe
BOSTON -I was at a training last week at the Connecticut Light & Power headquarters in Berlin, CT. CL&P is a division of Northeast Utilities. The most interesting thing I learned there is that CL&P is working on a residential demand response program.
What is demand response? In this case, CL&P will begin offering rebates for customers to install special meters and switches in their homes that allows the utility to shut off certain appliances when the grid is being pushed, by pushed I mean the demand for electricity is almost more than supply. The obvious example of this is on a hot summer day when everyone is running their air conditioner. In exchange for a lower electricity rate, customers that opt in will allow the utility to shut off their equipment during these peak times. Companies like EnerNoc do this on a commercial and industrial scale.
How much of a discount will customers get? How often will appliances be shut down? When will the program roll out? None of those answers were available to me, but I was encouraged to see this kind of program happening on a residential level. It’s bound to open up new business opportunities and I’m happy to see some tangible evidence of the much-hyped smart grid. Way to go Northeast Utilities!
Tagged Demand Response, EnerNOC
February 10th, 2010
The Winners! Boston’s Top 10 Clean Tech Companies
TOPICS: BOSTON, Interviews
The results are in! Here is the list, according to you, the community, of your top 10 favorite Boston clean tech companies.
For 2010, I decided I wanted to profile some awesome clean tech companies in Boston. As I started to make my list of favorite companies it became really large, 26 to be exact. Also, I realized I knew what companies I loved but I wanted to know what companies you LOVED. The obvious decision was to create a competition. Thus, Boston’s top 26 clean tech company competition was born. We received over 200 votes and I’ve been in contact with many of the companies already.
In 2010 I will be contacting and profiling one company per month. We received tons of votes but not many questions to ask these companies.
So, I still need your help! If you have time, leave a comment answering the question:
What is one thing you want to learn about these companies or ask their CEOs?
Stay tuned as a profile these companies in 2010. It’s going to be really fun.
Without further ado, voted by you here is the top 10 company and the 5 runner ups.
Tagged A123, alt e, alteris, BigBelly, blu homes, clean tech, Emergent Energy Group, EnerNOC, first wind, green tech media, GroSolar, harvest power, vegawatt, Wakonda Technologies, zip car
January 19th, 2010
Clean Tech Tuesday: Spire Solar, Huge Tax Credits for Clean Tech, EnerNOC Expanding
TOPICS: Uncategorized
The new year in Boston has only brought an increase of activity in the clean tech sector. Federal money from the stimulus package has began to trickle in resulting in a new state solar incentive,while the new state energy efficiency program is getting developed and will be released shortly. Boston based companies have continued to sign deals, get government money, and expand into international operations.
Which of these stories is most interesting to you? As always, I’d love to hear your favorite stories from Boston or around the country. Please share via twitter with #cleantechtuesday
