When the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge was unveiled by the United States recently, a variety of impressive initiatives were included. Many of these initiatives were niche related and quite diverse, while others were aimed at improving education and awareness in the mainstream. The Clean Energy Ministerial meetings in Washington DC spearheaded these initiatives.

The recent announcements come on the heels of Department of Energy figures which show us how the government is making significant energy efficiency investments. Much focus is being placed on buildings, as they account for 60% of greenhouse gas emissions around the world. Money is being made available for technical certification, inspection, operator training, auditing, as well as grant funding for university or college-based research.

One of the most significant initiatives to come out of the Clean Energy Ministerial is the Global Superior Energy Performance Partnership (GSEP). This involves a three-pronged approach to efficiency improvements in commercial buildings and industrial facilities.

The Global Energy Efficiency Challenge has been welcomed as a timely initiative by the United States government, especially in the light of the criticism leveled by some countries following the Copenhagen energy Summit. Countries representing 80% of global pollution have signed on to support this project.

Fundamentally, the GSEP aims to establish the need for energy efficiency programs and to make sure that these improvements can be maintained. The organizations taking part in the pilot will use an energy management system to initially reveal a baseline inventory. The protocols of the Challenge require that certain improvements must be made before any independent validation can be sought.

Target and Wal-Mart, combined as the largest retail outlet companies in the world, have both committed to participate and will dedicate staff to the implementation of this commitment within the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge. Internally, staff will be trained in the details of the scheme and will subsequently upload findings to a centralized database, made available in the future to other participants.

Public buildings, retail operations, educational environments, investor facilities and commercial buildings are all covered under the GSEP program. Specific case studies will be generated and circulated with the aim of soliciting feedback prior to the certification process.

Both the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge and the GSEP partnership once again focus our attention on the need to be more efficient. Every company should take note of the fact that there is a waiting list of companies seeking participation in this project. We can clearly take from this that there is value in being seen to be proactive in this regard. Reputations could be boosted whenever a company is seen to be working strongly toward the establishment of energy efficiency and emissions control.

Daniel Stouffer has a lot of information about the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge and why a visit to www.verisae.com can aid you.