Networked Enterprise Featured Article

Government and private facilities are keenly aware of the effect “big business” has on the environment, and this notion of corporate social responsibility (CSR (News - Alert)) is not new just simply evolving. A key piece to this puzzle is a sustainable power system; recently the Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI) announced PEER, its new rating system for sustainable power systems.

The acronym stands for Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal. Sculpted from LEED, the U.S. Green Building Council’s certification program, PEER will measure power generation transmission and distribution system from an end user’s perspective with a focus on the environment, resiliency, reliability, quality and efficiency.

“Buildings don’t exist in a vacuum, so integration with other industries, such as energy and power, is crucial if we are to create a more sustainable built environment.  PEER will be a transformative tool for power systems regulation, design and operation,” said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO & founding chair, USGBC, and CEO, GBCI. 

PEER sets the bar high, and measures performance via four categories.

• Reliability and Resiliency: This category takes a look at power quality, power supply, interruptions, risk mitigation, restoration, redundancy and microgrid capabilities with the goal of quantifying reliable power delivery, reduced injuries and issues as a whole
• Energy Efficiency and the Environment: By evaluating efficiency of power delivery, air emissions, resource use, renewable energy credits, and power delivery impacts one can measure the environmental impact of electricity transmission and generation while pushing the adoption of clean energy methods.
• Operational Effectiveness: In measuring electricity costs, asset utilization, load shaping, general operation expenses, capital spending or investment, corrective maintenance and indirect costs waste can be identify and removed.
• Customer Contribution: This category views grid service contributions, meter data access, tools, choice and different pricing models to take an honest look and evaluation of innovation, investment and overall customer contribution.

“Through LEED, USGBC has created a common language, standard and platform for advancing knowledge, technology and innovation in green building.  It now aims to do the same in the power sector with PEER,” said John Kelly, program lead of the PEER rating system, “and we anticipate similar transformative results.”

While much of industry is slow to adopt green practices, the many that are leveraging available assets to create sustainable power in their networked enterprises are experiencing the benefits. The most notable being lower power costs, smaller environmental impact and more efficient and effective energy practices.