Brit Laughlin, general manager of regional refining, wasn’t sure how he could meet the challenge that had just been placed before him. The company’s new sustainability program had been unveiled – and along with it, the specific goals for his facilities.

The company was under double-barrel pressure. Growing environmental awareness was making it important for every facility to measure and manage a range of new issues, such as carbon footprint. But there was also economic pressure. Rising energy prices were affecting corporate margins and the directive was clear: He and his peers around the world needed to figure out how to do more with less.

Brit knew it was coming, but he had been busy dealing with a series of other issues and just wasn’t prepared to see it in black-and-white: He needed to reduce overall energy consumption by 10% in the next 18 months. He was going to need some advice.

How can Brit meet new corporate sustainability goals to reduce energy consumption?