Just as Time Magazine selects a "Person of the Year" and Sports Illustrated selects a "Sportsman of the Year," the publishers of the New Oxford American Dictionary select a "Word of the Year." Believe it or not, the Word of the Year for 2006 is "carbon neutral."

Disregarding the fact that it is two words, the rise of "carbon neutral" to Word of the Year status shows just how important and universal the recognition of global warming has become. Oxford University Press explains:

"Being carbon neutral involves calculating your total climate-damaging carbon emissions, reducing them where possible, and then balancing your remaining emissions, often by purchasing a carbon offset: paying to plant new trees or investing in 'green' technologies such as solar and wind power."

In the press release announcing the Word of the Year, Oxford University Press cites a CBS News/New York Times poll from May 2006, in which 66 percent of respondents agreed that global warming is a problem that is causing a serious impact now.

Another indication of just how mainstream and important the movement to reduce environmental impact has become is the recent commitment by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. to increase the efficiency of its vehicle fleet by 25 percent over the next three years and to eliminate 30 percent of the energy used in its stores. Wal-Mart's CEO, Lee Scott, stated, "By working together, we can help each other save money, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pass the savings on to our customers. Sustainability is good for the environment, and it's also good for business."

EnerNOC and its customers continue to work hard to reduce energy costs and the environmental impact of our nation's ever growing appetite for energy. As you will read throughout this newsletter, we have recently been recognized for some of these efforts. For example:

• Verso Paper, an EnerNOC customer based in Memphis, Tennessee, was recently awarded the 2005/2006 Energy Users Excellence Award by the Energy Planning Network for the innovative demand response strategies that Verso and EnerNOC have implemented at Verso's Bucksport, Maine mill;
• Adobe Systems Incorporated, an EnerNOC customer based in San Jose, California, is soon to be recognized for its work to make its headquarters the first existing building to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification. Adobe is receiving this honor in part for its active participation with EnerNOC in California's Demand Reserves Partnership Program; and
• Internally, EnerNOC has launched several environmentally focused initiatives, including our Green-Green Program, which provides incentives for employees to implement energy efficiency measures in their homes, and our Hybrid Vehicle Incentive Program. In addition, we also have become carbon neutral as an organization.

EnerNOC continues to prove that demand response serves as an excellent gateway for end users to engage in more complex energy management endeavors. We have seen that the real-time energy data that end users receive as a benefit of participating in demand response gives them a much better understanding of how, when, where, and why their facilities consume energy. In addition, the new revenue streams generated from demand response can be reinvested to implement energy efficiency projects that further reduce energy costs.

EnerNOC believes that, while the U.S. government has been reluctant to pass mandatory standards to curb carbon emissions, a carbon constrained world is coming. Over 150 nations have already entered into a global treaty, called the Kyoto Protocol, to minimize greenhouse gases thought to cause global warming. It is just a matter of time before the U.S. follows suit in one form or another, and some states are already taking the lead.

Not surprisingly, many companies are taking leadership positions in measuring and managing their greenhouse gas emissions, partly because they anticipate stronger restrictions but also because doing so makes good business sense.

These voluntary efforts have resulted in some exciting developments such as the Chicago Climate Exchange and the Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders program. EnerNOC is starting to work with some of these proactive companies through our CarbonTrak® platform to start mapping greenhouse gas emissions and monetize the credits that result from demand response and energy efficiency/conservation measures.

We are excited for continued public and private collaboration to drive innovations that will further reduce climate-damaging emissions. You never know, the New Oxford American Dictionary's Word of the Year for 2007 may just be "demand response."

Read more about EnerNOC's carbon neutral commitment

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