High energy costs are causing stress in many organizations. If you are a CEO who believes nothing that can be done about high energy prices, I have good news for you. You can do something. Your organization can control its energy use, reduce its energy costs and more.

Is controlling energy easy? With the right approach, controlling energy can be a straight forward process.

CEOs sometimes assume controlling energy is a matter of making one person responsible for the right transactions. Actually, getting energy under control is a task for teams. Here’s why.

Everything in an organization – every operation, activity, production – consumes energy. Energy use is driven by the requirements and choices made every day, in every department. Energy costs are everyone’s problem. You can’t afford to have only one mind or one pair of hands dedicated to controlling energy. The hunt for energy solutions has to be a team effort.

Certain factors determine energy team success. The team needs corporate support. Members have to be recruited from a variety of departments. Teams have to have structure, timelines, a plan and accountability.

Above all, teams need to learn how energy is being used in the organization – when energy is used and why. They need to know how much energy costs the organization. They need to understand the link between energy use and the carbon emissions that are driving climate warming.

As the teams gain energy knowledge, they become competent at identifying solutions. Each energy team member brings familiarity with a different part of the business. With several disciplines represented on the team, they figure out which solutions are practical and feasible and which ones are not. As members learn more from each other, the team’s competence and value to the organization grows.

This method of managing energy unlocks unanticipated benefits for an organization. Energy teams create organizational capacity for innovation. They are also the foundation that delivers carbon emissions reductions and Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) targets.

This approach could be thought of as a form of democratic energy management. Engaged employees accelerate the organization’s growth and development. Motivated teams improve the culture for problem-solving. Broader responsibility for results delivers strategic outcomes.

I’ve witnessed real-world, high performing, corporate energy teams achieve these results. Listen to interviews with Rob Hunt, Plant Manager and Anyssa Rambali, Process Engineer at Durez Canada and with John Lennartz, Vice President at Samuel, Son and Company. Hear them describe in their own words, the positive impact their energy teams have made at their manufacturing companies.

Discover the silver lining in tackling adverse energy costs. Empower energy teams and prepare to uncover some unanticipated improvements in your company’s performance.