At its recent Net Zero Forum, Smart Energy Decisions recorded onsite interviews with energy customers at various stages of their decarbonization strategies. Today’s inaugural episode features conversations with multiple energy customers in the industrial energy space. This series of interviews aims to provide listeners with insights and inspiration to help them on their clean energy journeys.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

Sustainability challenges for Mohawk Industries [02:10]
Global footprint strategies [08:11]
Prioritizing energy efficiency projects [11:40]
ESG initiatives and sustainability at Arcosa [17:47]
Accountability in energy initiatives [20:51]
Sustainability and pioneering at Kirkhill [29:28]
Opportunities in clean energy [35:57]

Focusing on energy efficiency first

Mohawk Industries has many customers that hold sustainability as a high priority. For example, within its commercial product division, which includes carpets used in the hospitality industry, the industrial industry, and government, some customers have net zero goals built into their contracts. In addition, Mohawk itself has set a net zero goal for 2035 and is also working toward a way to apply those goals to its global market.

Mohawk’s sustainability team is currently focusing on energy efficiency projects, using both internal and external capital when necessary. The company wants to reduce its footprint as much as possible before initiating its greater energy goals. The energy efficiency projects reduce emissions while providing a favorable return on investment.

Sustainability in a young company

Arcosa has been a publicly traded company for five years. From the start, it made ESG a company priority. In 2022, Arcosa published its first sustainability goal: a 10% emissions intensity reduction by 2026. Within the first year, the company almost met that goal. As a young, acquisitive company early in its journey, Arcosa is looking to make a solid commitment to sustainability that mostly avoids making exceptions or exclusions.

Many companies early in their sustainability journeys are still tracking progress in spreadsheets. With the future of regulation becoming increasingly clear, that business process is not sustainable. Arcosa has helped plants operationalize their data and provides a specific emissions target rather than a broad aspiration.

Communication and interconnection

Kirkhill is primarily a rubber manufacturing business supplying commercial aircraft, defense and space. The company has several California businesses, where the escalating cost of energy and the increasing availability of incentives are making the ROI of energy projects similar to that of other productivity projects, so it’s become easier to make energy a priority.

Among other clean energy projects, including a small energy storage battery and LED lighting, Kirkhill has installed microturbines that are functionally ready but waiting for utility approval. The company’s next project is carport PV solar. Ultimately, it is working toward building an onsite microgrid one piece at a time. After facing expediency challenges with its utility, Kirkhill advises anyone starting an energy project to begin early on the interconnection process.

Resources & People Mentioned

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