ABSTRACT
Split incentive barrier represents a legitimate obstacle to even small energy initiatives, such as turning off the lights. Companies, business units, and individuals are not as accountable for energy usage when they are master metered and billed. Organizations utilize established processes and procedures to deal with day-to-day activities. As it turns out, technical approaches to energy efficiency can also seriously suffer from reduced savings over time. Energy awareness initiatives are considered low cost or no cost activities. Start with low cost, no cost activities such as turning off equipment. Employees may think the energy awareness program is disingenuous or that the program may lack support from the future management team. Many organizational processes create pitfalls that can impede traditional energy management initiatives. With the exception of the last pitfall, organizational instability, energy awareness initiatives can provide the methodology, training, and communications techniques to help overcome these pitfalls and reduce energy costs.
