At a recent sustainability forum held in Chapel Hill, NC comprised of some of the largest corporations and government institutions in the Triangle, among the greatest needs for the business community is a comprehensive means of communication and networking for ideas via the Internet to accelerate the growth of alternative energy and innovative ideas for sustainable economic growth. Sites like Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn dominate the space now with millions of active users, with tens of thousands of new sites emerging every year. The social network format is ideal for the development of an emerging business community interested in becoming more sustainable. Such a web resource could fill an immediate need for metropolitan areas or an entire region to which the energy providers reach. More than just a resource for looking up current information, this social networking site would be a means to increase transparency of corporate energy use and diversity, seek out best practices across multiple sectors, and educate an ever-increasing number of consumers interested to know which corporations are taking steps towards a sustainable future.

With the increasing changes in the global marketplace towards more environmentally sustainable models for energy solutions and product development, business leaders and entrepreneurs are eyeing the opportunities for new or re-development of their products to meet this new demand. Current indicators demonstrate an increasing demand for products and services developed with a sustainable process and in spite of this demand, there is a dearth of such products and accurate information available. Moreover, as consumers become more discerning of sustainable options, they will begin pressuring for change through their pocketbook. This condition creates an unprecedented challenge and opportunity for forward-thinking enterprises to begin evaluating their energy sources, carbon footprint, and overall sustainability strategy. This condition is also an opportunity for energy providers to educate and encourage the corporate community to begin learning more about energy efficiency.

What would this social network look like? Each of the participating stakeholders in the initiative, for example, could benefit as follows: Energy providers could gain marketing notoriety, insights into the interests and motivations of corporations seeking to diversify their energy sources, and metrics for analysis to provide guidance to companies and consumers for better cost savings and return on investment. Corporations could potentially increase their positive marketing position to the ever-widening interest in sustainable practices and a better understanding of the implications of strategy and spending for energy for the greatest benefit to the environment while continuing to thrive economically. Consumers could make better decisions about services and energy choices by exploring corporation’s sustainability profiles. Advocacy groups could benefit by increasing the influence of its overall agenda to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy diversity that is less harmful to the environment, engage the business community as a force for change with up-to-date information and direct access through the social network site.

The main target group could be all corporations with more than 100 employees within the energy provider region. Smaller companies could be invited to participate through connections with the Chambers of Commerce in the same area. Consumers could be invited to participate as well. The purpose of developing a social network among the larger corporations would be to establish an early benchmark of change towards sustainable practices among the largest consumers of energy—the low-hanging fruit with the largest potential financial savings and resources available to explore a variety of options.

This social networking site could be developed in stages, targeting smaller groups and then expanding to reach a variety of sectors, types of companies, and geographical areas. Moreover, the long-term purpose of the site could include companies across the country and expanding into other environmental impact areas such as air, water, land, waste, etc.

Beyond the default social networking features of forming groups, live chat—much of what you would experience in FaceBook or MySpace, the main activity of the Social Network site is the development of corporate profiles with varying degrees of complexity and exposure of energy use as well as the interaction between peer individuals across many sectors about the application of sustainable energy. The following additional features assist in prompting additional discussion:

Sustainability Evaluation: Online tool to assess current thinking and approaches to elements of the triple bottom-line.

Energy Source Guide: Database and educational material on current energy technologies, current state of availability, and case studies of application of approaches.

Business and energy calculator: Assessment tools for calculating various indicators of energy use, carbon emissions, carbon footprint, cost/benefit analysis of energy diversification over time, energy efficiency, and other triple bottom-line indicators.

Energy Strategic Planning Guide: Information and tool for developing a sustainability strategic plan specifically designed for energy efficiency.

Transparency Profile Options: Users will be presented with a series of options for providing more or less information about the company’s energy output and changes from year to year.

Energy Cost Savings Reports: Tools for developing a business case for any size company towards energy efficiency and diversification.

Small Business Profiles and Tools: Adapted versions of the features mentioned above will be made available to small businesses.

Consumers: Resources, expert information, and profiles of local companies provide consumers with new discriminating insights in their product and services purchases. Basic functionality includes:

• Energy saving ideas,
• Energy diversification ideas,
• Energy planning guide
• Energy footprint report
• Green business networking
• New Ideas Box (plug-in vehicles, etc.)
• Green products that use less energy

Let’s get it started!