The 2017 Sustainability Outlook webinar emphasized the importance of integrating sustainability into core business strategies, with a significant majority of organizations (73%) maintaining their commitment to sustainability. Despite potential challenges posed by changes in administration, trends indicate that corporate focus on environmental stewardship is likely to continue, driven by customer expectations. The session discussed the need for accurate data collection, investment in energy efficiency projects, and preparation for evolving regulatory requirements in sustainability.

1. Sustainability in the Age of Trump
2017 Sustainability Outlook Webinar
Presented by:

2. • Introductions
• Sustainability Survey Results
• Panel Discussion
• Audience Questions
Agenda
Tim Porter
Director, OEM/Channel Sales
@urjanet | @timporta_urja
Zachary Shelin
Energy Efficiency Manager
@cadmusgroup
Ralf VonSosen
CMO
@lucidconects | @rvonsosen
Panelists

4. “For the foreseeable future, perhaps more than ever, the most
effective enterprises will be those with strategies that account for
sustainability factors at the core of the business and have the
capacity to measure and communicate performance on the merits.”
– William L. Thomas Willkie Farr & Gallagher, LLC
Is Sustainability Still a Priority?
73% of surveyed
organizations expect
their commitment to
sustainability to remain
the same in 2017
21.3% plan to increase
their commitment
Only 7.7% plan to
decrease sustainability
efforts

5. Organizational Commitment
12.5%
25%
37.5%
50%
10%
20%
30%
40%
15%
30%
45%
60%
7.5%
15%
22.5%
30%
10%
20%
30%
40%
Compliance/Government Reporting
Business Performance
Industry Recognition
Corporate Mission
Employee Satisfaction
Not at all Slightly Moderately Significantly N/A
To what extent do the following factors
drive your organization’s sustainability
operations?
“I believe we will see some companies become more vocal about
sustainability as a push back. Before, they preferred to say
nothing because sustainability was seen by some of their
customers as an ecologist thing. This is changing right now.”

6. The Question of Budget
12.5%
25%
37.5%
50%
Expected Change in 2017 Budgeting
Decrease
Greatly
Decrease
Slightly
No Change Increase
Slightly
Increase
Greatly
How do you expect the part of
your job related to budget to
change in 2017?
“Our firm anticipates that any downturn in sustainability funding
will not be seen until after the next two years. We also feel that
local regulations and government commitments in Washington
state will ameliorate legislation at the national level.”
“While a change in administration could have an effect on
activities, trends suggest that corporate entities see that their
patrons and customers are more and more focused (and vote
with their dollars) on companies that demonstrate good
environmental stewardship.”

7. State of the Profession
Pessimistic Cautious Neutral Hopeful Optimistic
How do you feel about the future of
the sustainability profession over the
next 1-2 years?
10%
20%
30%
40%
10%
20%
30%
40%
6%
12%
18%
24%
In the U.S.
In Your Role
In Your Organization
“While a change in administration could have an effect on
activities, trends suggest that corporate entities see that their
patrons and customers are more and more focused (and
vote with their dollars) on companies that demonstrate good
environmental stewardship. As such, it seems the movement by
many companies on sustainability will continue...”

8. Sustainability Jobs
“... it seems the movement by many companies on sustainability
will continue. Additionally, it is hopeful that where a Federal
administration backs away from sustainability, the individual
states [will] step up to ensure public safety and a better
environment for future generations.”
12.5%
25%
37.5%
50%
12.5%
25%
37.5%
50%
15%
30%
45%
60%
12.5%
25%
37.5%
50%
Size of Your Team
Focus on Quantitative Metrics
Cross-organizational Support
Collaboration With Other
Sustainability Professionals
How will these aspects of your job
change in 2017?
Decrease
Greatly
Decrease
Slightly
No Change Increase
Slightly
Increase
Greatly

9. What types of
quantitative data do
you expect to be most
important for tracking
your sustainability
progress in 2017?
Energy Use
Water Consumption
Energy Cost
GHG Emissions
Occupant Satisfaction
Employee Productivity
Benchmarking
Other Data
22.5% 45% 67.5% 90%
It’s All About the Data
“There are those who look to undermine the work that sustainability
professionals do. This places added importance on accurate data.”
“Energy efficiency and COST savings will continue to be important,
as well as increasingly GRANULAR data collection.”

10. Panelist Q&A

11. Making the Business Case
Zachary Shelin
Energy Efficiency Manager
Tim Porter
Director, OEM/Channel Sales
Ralf VonSosen
CMO
• How is making the business case for sustainability projects
changing?
• What types of projects do you see getting the most traction
and investment from management?
• How do I convince my management to invest in energy
efficiency?

12. Collecting the Right Data
Zachary Shelin
Energy Efficiency Manager
Tim Porter
Director, OEM/Channel Sales
Ralf VonSosen
CMO
• What data should I collect to help understand sustainability
opportunities?
• Once I have the data, what should I look for in the data?
• What are examples of solutions that tackle sustainability data
collection, measuring, and reporting?

13. Identifying the Right Tools
Zachary Shelin
Energy Efficiency Manager
Tim Porter
Director, OEM/Channel Sales
Ralf VonSosen
CMO
• What tools are out there to help me in my sustainability efforts;
how do I pick the right toolset or solution stack for my
sustainability projects, and what should I look for in selecting
the right one?
• What solutions are available to help me with my data access
challenges?
• How do I translate reports and metrics into action steps to
save energy?

14. Preparing for the Future
Zachary Shelin
Energy Efficiency Manager
Tim Porter
Director, OEM/Channel Sales
Ralf VonSosen
CMO
• Do you foresee the reporting requirements of building energy
usage changing?
• Do you anticipate more local regulatory and reporting
requirements?
• What challenges should I be anticipating or preparing for over
the next few years and how might I stay ahead of the curve?

15. Takeaways
Identifying the Right Tools Preparing for the Future
Making the Business Case Collecting the Right Data

16. Audience Q&A
Tim Porter
Director, OEM/Channel Sales
@urjanet | @timporta_urja
Zachary Shelin
Energy Efficiency Manager
@cadmusgroup
Ralf VonSosen
CMO
@lucidconects | @rvonsosen

17. Presented by:
Thank You!