Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Can you say "DUH"!

Kudos to McDonald's. They figured out that if they simply reduced their energy use by 14% they could save $1.5B (yes "B" as in BILLION DOLLARS) per year. So what Herculean efforts did they have to do? Tap the energy content of their french fry grease?Install a microturbine on every golden arch? Tap the kinetic energy of the kids playing with Ronald McDonald? Nope, nope, and heck nope. They're turning out the lights and turning down the temperature when they are closed. It's elegence in its simplicity and it is what my mom has always told me "Dear, please turn off the lights!" Who'd a thought...

Of course they won't be having my mom standing at the door of each Micky D's. They are taking a slightly higher tech option. They are using sensors and monitors to track this stuff. This takes the human (error) element out of the loop. The cost of installing these gizmo's will be paid back quickly with the energy costs avoided.

Only 14% decrease in energy use, $1.5BILLION! Imagine all restaurants, offices, and businesses simply installing gizmo's to be energy smart (like my mom). Think about the number of people that won't need to be laid off to control a company's cost. That would be good for the environment as well as for the economy. Wouldn't it?

Sustainability is not rocket science!

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