Invest in an entirely new technology?
Example: How do we convince corporate fleet managers to buy hybrid trucks?

One of the largest environmental nonprofits asked us to develop a strategy for persuading corporate fleet managers to purchase fuel efficient, low-emission hybrid trucks. After quantifying the economic benefits of hybrids, including estimates of fuel savings, vehicle maintenance costs, tax incentives, and other factors, we developed a strategy for communicating with corporate fleet managers. By locating and sharing information about the confusing collection of national, regional, state and local incentive funding available them, we have helped fleet managers develop powerful business cases for the purchase of hybrid trucks. A number of corporations, including AT&T, Xcel Energy, Ferguson Enterprises, and Northeast Utilities now operate hybrid trucks as a result of our work.

Adopt “green” business practices?
Example: How do we persuade organizations to deploy energy-saving computer power management (aka “sleep”) settings?

On behalf of the US EPA ENERGY STAR program, we developed and implemented a national initiative to convince organizations to activate "sleep settings" on their monitors and computers, saving up to $100 per PC annually in energy costs. Our work included developing compelling, data-driven, industry-specific outreach materials to articulate benefits, seeding news articles in influential trade publications, developing turn-key software tools to facilitate participation, providing support for the internal approval processes of interested parties, and making direct personal appeals to executives. We leveraged our outreach efforts by building working partnerships with IT industry leaders, industry associations, and NGOs. Within a few years, 85% of computer monitors in the US utilized power management features to save energy, up from only 50%. The initiative continues, power managing millions of PCs each year, and saving hundreds of millions of dollars worth of energy to date.

Make more environmentally-friendly products?
Example: How do we persuade consumer electronics makers to design more energy-efficient products?

We helped plan, launch, and support ENERGY STAR's program aimed at convincing consumer electronics manufacturers to design more environmentally-friendly products. Our work included developing and presenting economic and environmental “business cases” to executives, assisting manufacturers in sourcing more energy-efficient components, and garnering positive publicity for their efforts. We also worked to raise awareness among consumers by working with trade and mainstream media. Our collaborations with Samsung, Motorola, Proctor & Gamble, D-link, Staples, and others helped bring about the widespread adoption of more efficient "switch-mode" power supplies in electronic products, despite their higher cost. Most small consumer electronics products on the market today use these energy-saving power supplies.

View more sample projects