The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) recently commissioned two new research projects: Corporate Sustainability: Why You Need it and How to Get There; and Selling Energy Management Solutions. Earlier this month, NAED selected and funded these research studies to provide members with tangible, actionable information, as well as strategies and tools to take advantage of emerging markets. Major findings of these studies will be available in May 2009.

The studies will be conducted by Jerry Yudelson of Yudelson Associates, a green-building consulting firm headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. Following are further details on both studies:

Corporate Sustainability: Internal and external stakeholders are pressing many companies to develop corporate sustainability plans. Yet, most companies in the electrical distribution industry have not attempted such initiatives due to lack of information about how to proceed and the resulting business benefits of doing so. The purpose of this study is to address the unique challenges and opportunities associated with corporate sustainability and outline the business case for sustainability planning.

Selling Energy Management Solutions: The interest level for more energy efficient buildings and alternative sources of energy is growing. This study seeks to define key segments within energy management solutions where the largest opportunities exist for the electrical distribution channel to serve their customers and grow revenues. The overall goal is to provide a “toolbox” to use and take advantage of identified opportunities.

The task force for both projects convenes by teleconference on a monthly basis throughout the duration of the project to provide guidance, discuss project resources, and review project outputs and overall findings. The task force consists of the following members:

Steven Anixter, Advance Electrical Supply Co., Inc.

Steve Bellwoar, Colonial Electric Supply Co., Inc.

Glenn Goedecke, Mayer Electric Supply Co., Inc.

Ray Greenhalgh, United Electric Supply Co., Inc.

Melanie Hardy, Hagemeyer North America

Joseph Howley, GE Consumer & Industrial

Joe Huffman, Consolidated Electrical Distributors

Michael Jouaneh, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.

Ronald Lim, Griffith Electric Supply Co., Inc.

Ryan Marlborough, United Electric Supply Co., Inc.

Robert Murphy, Hubbell Incorporated

Mark Rizzetto, Crescent Electric Supply

Richard Schmid, Crescent Electric Supply

NAED is looking for distributors and manufacturers to participate in telephone interviews (about an hour in duration), online surveys, focus groups at the NAED Western and South Central Region Conferences, and case studies to talk about their company’s level of commitment/investment in corporate sustainability planning and/or selling energy management solutions.

If your company is interested in or already employs business practices aligned with the principles of sustainability and/or in positioning itself to customers with varying levels of green commitment, send an e-mail to Alexis Mead [email protected]. Distributors and manufacturers interested in participating in online interviews are invited to click here to participate in the Selling Energy Management Solutions survey and here to participate in the Corporate Sustainability survey.

Funding for this project is provided by the NAED Education & Research Foundation through the Channel Advantage Partnership endowment. More than 46 electrical distributors and manufacturers have pledged more than $7.9 million since the endowment’s creation in 2003. The NAED Foundation supports projects and programs that strengthen the electrical distribution channel.

NAED is the trade association for the $70+ billion electrical distribution industry. Through networking, education, research, and benchmarking, NAED helps electrical distributors increase profitability and improve the channel. NAED’s membership operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.