Energy intensity is an aggregate indicator applicable in both public and private decision-making scenarios, lending itself to scaling, allowing users to draw from a wide variety of benchmarks at the local, regional, national and international levels.

The first company to significantly reduce its US energy intensity within a one year time frame was Volvo: its New River Valley manufacturing plant, producer of 100% of its North American trucks, reduced its energy intensity by 30%, from 79.64 MMbtu per truck in 2009 to 60.42 MMbtu per truck in 2010.

Resources:

Department of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.  Energy Intensity Indicators.  Retrieved September 8, 2011 from http://www1.eere.energy.gov/ba/pba/intensityindicators/

The Economist.  Power Slide. Energy Use.  Retrieved September 8, 2011 from http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/01/energy_use

It is used in private projects as well as urban and regional forecasting, bridging sustainable management and economic development. For instance, the US’s Environmental Protection Agency has been required for the past 15 years to quantify the benefits of environmental protection, relative to costs, using cost-benefit analysis. It is an increasingly applied tool in risk management modeling, as it not only factors in the economic valuations of a project or program, but the environmental and social valuations as well.

Resources:

The series demonstrates how to apply the 7 core principles of socially responsible behavior: accountability, transparency, ethical behavior, respect for stakeholders’ interests, respect for the rule of law, respect for international norms of behavior, and respect for human rights. The ISO 26000 series implements sustainable management practices for all stakeholders: media, regulators, suppliers, clients, investors, NGOs, local community development organizations and others.

Resources:

International Standards for Business, Government and Society.  ISO 26000 – SR – Resources.  Retrieved September 8, 2011 from http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/management_and_leadership_standards/ social_responsibility/sr_resources.htm

Global Reporting Initiative.  Research and Development Publications, Tools.  Retrieved September 8, 2011 from http://www.globalreporting.org/LearningAndSupport/GRIPublications/Research Publications/

TriplePundit.  ISO 26000 and the Definition of Social Responsibility. Retrieved September 8, 2011 from http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/03/iso-26000-definition-social-responsibility/

Basic requirements for NEPA are outlined in the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR 1500).  Types of NEPA documentation include an Environmental Assessment (EA), which often paired with a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  Standards and thresholds for what constitutes a “major federal action”, and what type of NEPA documentation is appropriate for each type of action, are determined by implementing regulations developed by each federal agency or Department.

The intention is to incentivize a reduction in emissions and penalize those who don’t comply. Participants in Cap and Trade receive allowances and can design their own compliance strategy giving them flexibility to sell and purchase emissions, in addition to other methods in order to comply with total allowances limited by the cap.

This system is a popular option used to reduce emission of pollutants, most notably green house gases. It operates similarly to a stock market in which the benefit of the system goes to the nations, regions or industry that are able to reduce their emissions through its use.

In all U.S. states besides Maryland and Vermont, the Benefit Corporation designation is not yet an official legal corporate structure such as a C corporation or a limited liability company.  For corporations formed in states without Benefit Corporation legislation, and for existing entities, nongovernmental certification as a “B Corporation” is available from B Lab (http://www.bcorporation.net)

To become certified as a B or Benefit Corporation, a company must a) agree to a set of specific reporting requirements and b) amend its corporate bylaws to acknowledge a legal responsibility to non-shareholder stakeholders.

1. fair (re)distribution of resources opportunities and responsibilities
2. challenge the roots of oppression and injustice
3. empower all people to exercise self-determination and realize their full potential
4. and build social solidarity and community capacity for collaborative action (School of Social Welfare, University of California, 2011).

It is based off the principle that all individuals, groups, and communities are equal and thus are entitled regardless of gender, race, wealth, sexuality or heritage to receive fair and just treatment.

The term was coined by Bob Willard, author of The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook.  Sustainability Champions are most effective when they: establish personal credibility about sustainability; pursue dialogue; seek collaborations and networks; meet people where they are; piggyback sustainability initiatives on existing processes; influence the influencers; and practice “planful opportunism.”