Commercial Sector
Black & Decker
In 2009, D&R worked with Black & Decker to introduce the company's Power Monitor to utilities around the country. The Power Monitor provides consumers real-time information on their electric consumption and the price they are paying for it. D&R provided the utilities the information they needed to include these products in their efficiency/demand-side management rebate programs. As a result of D&R's efforts, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority also added the Power Monitor to its efficiency program.
Blake Realty
From March through August 2008, D&R performed an investment-grade energy audit on a 256,000-square-foot office building with first-floor retailers and below-grade parking in Washington, DC. D&R found potential annual energy and water savings of $92,000 — one-sixth of the building's annual utility bills — with a payback of less than five years. D&R also benchmarked the performance of 10 commercial office buildings in Washington, DC, ranging in size from 70,000 to 730,000 square feet, using EPA's Portfolio Manager tool. Based on the benchmarking results, D&R applied for and earned the ENERGY STAR label for four of these buildings.
REHAU
In 2008, D&R provided strategic planning services to the North American division of REHAU, an international manufacturer of polymer-based building materials. To diversify its distribution channel structure, the company turned to D&R to assist in evaluating the efficacy of a direct builder marketing program that would promote the green building aspects of its products. After evaluating a planned REHAU campaign and conducting a series of interviews with targeted builders in the Washington, DC area, D&R provided REHAU with a report highlighting key barriers and opportunities, as well as recommendations to guide its investment of resources in direct marketing.