Clean Energy Application and Management Initiative (CEAM-I)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has noted that industry accounts for about one third of U.S. energy usage and carbon emissions. It further notes that the International Energy Agency has estimated that manufacturing can improve energy efficiency by 18 to 26% and carbon dioxide emissions by 19 to 32% using proven technologies.

As we look for the development of alternative energy sources, in the short to intermediate time frame the most effective and practical ways to reduce energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. is through a program of energy conservation and management. In fact, in 2007, the International Standards Organization (ISO) noted that energy conservation and management provides the single most effective and practical way to address the growing problems stemming from energy usage and Green House Gases (GHG) production. More recently, the new U.S. Department of Energy Secretary, Dr. Steven Chu, noted in an interview with Reuters that, "If I were emperor, I would put the pedal to the floor on energy efficiency and conservation."

From a public policy perspective, energy conservation and management are quickly becoming a major focal point for government -- as it tries to address the growing importance of achieving energy independence and GHG mitigation objectives. From a business management perspective, firms have to look at energy alternatives strategically and look for applications of alternative energies in various organizational operations to address broader shareholder value – environmentally, monetarily and socially.

The goal of the Clean Energy Application and Management (CEAM) Initiative in the SBA’s Center for Integrated Business Research and Education (CIBRE) is to:

1. Position energy consumption as a firm’s strategic function and make the reduction of energy related costs and greenhouse gas emissions a corporation’s “Energy Journey.” This is similar to the “Quality Journey” that has helped develop quality methodologies for achieving competitiveness.
2. Use a public/private partnership as a platform to address energy reduction and greenhouse gas mitigation concerns across the entire value stream of a firm by investigating alternative energy applications and their management.
3. Establish a regional base for the training and deployment of a cadre of strategically focused energy efficiency/greenhouse gas mitigation experts and/or future business leaders, who can support local businesses in achieving the institute’s goals. Towards this end, the Initiative uses
   1. A university-based consortium of experts and/or partners will be used to support both the university-based training programs, as well as supporting local government energy programs and re-education and employment of displaced workers.
   2. A cadre of OU students, who are being trained as business and energy management/technology professionals, so they can take on the role of energy efficiency/greenhouse gas mitigation strategies of a firm both as interns and full-time employees. The goal is for these trained individuals to help firms take the “energy journey” towards a cleaner environment in the next coming decade.