Veritatis Advisors | don macdonald

2 May 2018

Veritatis Insights – Utility Networks get ISO 50001, perhaps just in time

US Department of Energy (DOE) hits its stride by launching the several year old private sector energy management platform for continual improvement into the gasping utility sector, perhaps just in time to save it. Release: US DOE March saw the launch of the 50001 Ready Utility Network Series, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) first facilitated forum for utilities, public benefit administrators (PBA), third party implementers, consultants, and regulators who share an interest in energy

10 Apr 2018

Energy Efficiency, Technology, and Startup Incubation in the Heartland

By Don Macdonald

Energy Efficiency, Technology, and Startup Incubation in the Heartland Executive Summary Northwestern University, McCormack School of Engineering graduates Nikita Jain, Rushi Shah, and Ben Wagner recently concluded a three month co- sponsored (by, Veritatis Advisors Chief Don Macdonald and Vissant Capital Director Doug McConnell) market cluster analysis to pinpoint midwestern energy efficiency (EE) free market, policy, and startup incubation hurdles and opportunities. This ground breaking piece, the team considers Midwestern economic engine capabilities, workforce capabilities,

16 Jan 2017

Veritatis Insights – Efficiency begets Consumption, the Jevons Paradox of Sustainability

By Don Macdonald

Veritatis Insights considers the economic rebound principal known as 'Jevons Paradox' as it applies to a widely known product, Scottish Whiskey. Scotlands fine whiskey industry is an example of the consumption and manufacturing cycle described herein. We can consider the implications to energy and resource efficiency, waste production and by-products as a CEO or Board of Directors. Legend credits Irish monks with whiskey’s invention. Traveling in the Middle East during the Crusades, they realized the copper

14 Jul 2016

Schneider Electric reports stunning success in deployment of its energy management strategy

By Don Macdonald

Veritatis Advisors global client Schneider Electric reports stunning success in deployment of its energy management strategy devised by VA's Don Macdonald. It is always welcomed to see other reporting on your good work, at scale, of energy efficiency and uses of Standards to peel back layers of operational performance and change culture while meeting financial objectives and Wall Street expectations. Schneider North American CEO at the time, Jeff Drees and his team envisioned vertical integration of

14 Apr 2016

Veritatis Advisors Sponsors Water Quality Improvement at Chicago River

By Don Macdonald

Veritatis Advisors Sponsors Chicago River Water Quality Chicago River Day 2016 Water Quality is an ever increasing issue globally and in the Chicago region. Growing urban lifestyles river-walk, water taxi and transit, kayaking, and Canoe, Kayak and Swim events planned, the Chicago River is coming back to life. With recent infrastructure and MWRD improvements, City and private investment has made these opportunities a reality. Chicago River Day, the flagship river clean-up event

16 Apr 2016

49 percent of North American supply-chain executives don’t view sustainability as a strategic priority

By Don Macdonald

In an exert taken from Supply Chain Brain, Veritatis Advisors Partner West Monroe Partners, David South Head of Sustainability, highlights some of the out-takes from COP21 and study implications coming into focus. West Monroe Partners found that 49 percent of North American supply chain executives don't view sustainability as a strategic priority. And 64 percent have no plans to adopt sustainability initiatives in the coming years. Like it or not, though, they're going to have to take steps

31 Dec 2015

Climate Change: A Faceless Villain

By Don Macdonald

Climate Change: A Faceless Villain In this Article reprinted from Mindful, Author Sharon Begley nails it when talking about why humans avoid making Climate change a priority. Climate Change: A Faceless Villain. Climate Change Why do so many of us persist in doing nothing about global warming? Blame it on psychology. If only global warming were caused by ISIS declaring a “weather war” on the west, perhaps by gleefully releasing 18 tons of greenhouse gases

22 Mar 2016

Achieve ISO 50001 Results without Certification

By Don Macdonald

Achieve ISO 50001 Results without Certification Veritatis Advisors partners with award winning EU energy management software developer ENERIT to provide cloud based, human-centered ISO 50001 Platform Energy efficiency programs continue to set increasingly ambitious savings targets. But the tools industry and commercial buildings use lag in technology adoption. Standard tactics of employing bulky and slow ISO programs, more often than not, are falling short both in veracity and value. Likewise large IT solutions advertised from utilities

12 Nov 2015

Perspectives on Small Business Energy Efficiency – Accessibility to Technology

By Don Macdonald

Small businesses make up the bulk of companies in the US by number and number of employees. But, many small business owners do not have access to energy efficiency products and services. Competence, time and resources to know what’s available or how it can help them remain challenging. Utilities are often seen as a solution to this economic segment, but with this avenue of support comes challenges of non-neutral services and supply pressures. On the