Earth Day, 2007, Seattle, WA -- In three short years, energy has become a priority in almost every boardroom in America. Energy Priorities Magazine has been helping those business leaders make informed choices.

Business of climate change

Sinking islands and rising temperatures have focused attention on energy production as a major source of CO2 emissions. Companies use most of that energy, so reducing consumption is a way to reduce the corporate carbon footprint.

"Energy efficiency is a resource that could stave off the need for new power plants for several years," says the magazine's founder, Denis Du Bois. "We're not just talking about turning off lights. Fully realizing this potential will depend on intelligence at the interface between facilities and the grid."

Energy Priorities Magazine (energypriorities.com) celebrates its anniversary on Earth Day. The online magazine and its weblog, "The Energy Blog," launched in 2004. Energy Priorities is a non-technical resource for business leaders who want to be more informed energy users. (hi-res image)

The magazine's Buildings department covers building automation ideas and innovations, as well as case studies of best practices for managing electric loads. The topic has gained substantial momentum. Electric utilities are promoting efficiency with incentives, and legislatures are mandating it with building codes.

"I see Energy Priorities as a resource for executives who want to capitalize on the attention being paid to efficiency," Du Bois says. "It also provides facts for people who want to champion renewable energy in their workplaces."

Renewal of renewable energy

Management is concerned about more than climate change. Energy is a large expense, and interruptions are an even larger risk. In a haze of reliability concerns under the label of "energy security," businesses are getting serious about on-site power. Fossil-fueled generation is a reliable standby in an emergency, but many businesses would prefer a cleaner approach that they can use all year.

"Choosing solar power is no longer just a marketing or 'green' decision. It's a business decision," Du Bois says. "Commercial installations are way up, and we've witnessed a groundswell of technologies. What's hype, and what's real? It's our job to sort that out."

Photovoltaics is just one of the power sources covered in the Renewable Energy section of the magazine. Wind energy is a way for businesses to stabilize energy costs and reduce their share of carbon dioxide emissions. Marine energy also is approaching practicality, and geothermal energy is winning new attention.

New podcast: the "Energy Minute"

Energy Priorities has undergone some changes of its own this year. It introduced the "Energy Minute" podcast series, providing sound bytes for people who want to be more informed energy users. The syndicated program also appears in other podcasts. For example, Inside Renewable Energy features the "Energy Minute" as part of its regular programming.

The "Energy Minute" adds to a growing library of audio resources, which include the "Energy Priorities" podcasts begun in January 2006. Both podcasts are available through iTunes and other online media outlets.

Rational evangelist for sustainable business

Denis Du Bois, the founder and editor of Energy Priorities, is a veteran writer, technologist, and marketing consultant. He is an energy-conscious entrepreneur and a solar power user based in Seattle, Washington. DuBois blogs at Energy Priorities and at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.