Climate Change Heroes: “How a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious” with Jerry Johnson of Energy Management Collaborative
Instead of focusing on eliminating fossil fuels, I believe we should continually advance our scientific study to focus on using fewer resources to live happy and productive lives. The five things I recommend parents do for their children are:
Educate them with facts vs. propaganda
Take them on trips to see our wonderful planet so they appreciate it
Engage them in activities that help them realize how we deal with trash affects us all (the Naples, FL zoo has children construct large sculptures using plastic pulled from the ocean)
Teach them how to wisely use energy in the spaces where they live (turn off lights, use technology apps to construct HVAC profiles to minimize wasted heating and cooling when not at home, etc.)
Don’t let them believe energy and use of resources is evil; instead, encourage them to continually improve on what their forefathers and mothers created
As part of my series about companies who are helping to battle climate change, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jerry Johnson. Jerry Johnson is a founder, CEO and Chairman of EMC (Energy Management Collaborative), a Minnesota-based company that helps businesses optimize their energy savings through energy-efficient lighting, controls and IoT (Internet of Things) solutions. Recognized as a 2015 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist, Jerry is also a Bush Leadership Fellowship award winner. He earned his MBA from the Stanford Sloan Program and holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of North Dakota.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
I was always interested and good at math and science in school. When it came time for college, Electrical Engineering became my focus. It was at a time when the digital revolution was unfolding, and I was fascinated with computers and things they could control. However, I learned I was better at organizing and directing engineering work than doing detailed design, so I decided to pursue my MBA to help me gain the management discipline skills that could help me be a candidate for executive leadership. Fortunately, I was able to combine my newly found business skills with my technical background in roles I pursued so when the time came to be an entrepreneur, I was ready in all aspects needed to be successful.
What is the mission of your company? What problems are you aiming to solve?
Simply put, EMC is helping businesses reduce the energy footprint they occupy through advanced LED, Controls and IoT strategies and solutions.
Can you tell our readers about the initiatives that you or your company are taking to address climate change or sustainability? Can you give an example for each?
Everything we do reduces the carbon footprint of our customers. To date, we have completed more than 10,000 projects and taken 7.5B kilowatt hours of energy off the grid. That’s equivalent to switching more than 200M incandescent lamps to LEDs and has saved 11.7B pounds in CO2 emissions.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
This is a big reason WHY we have a business. Our projects typically achieve a one to three-year payback on net investment which drive some of the best Return on Investment (ROI) metrics companies experience. These numbers are usually based on energy savings alone. Many softer, but real, benefits are derived from our installations such as reduced HVAC needs, lower maintenance costs and improved productivity and safety.
The youth led climate strikes of September 2019 showed an impressive degree of activism and initiative by young people on behalf of climate change. This was great, and there is still plenty that needs to be done. In your opinion what are 5 things parents should do to inspire the next generation to become engaged in sustainability and the environmental movement? Please give a story or an example for each.
Instead of focusing on eliminating fossil fuels, I believe we should continually advance our scientific study to focus on using fewer resources to live happy and productive lives. The five things I recommend parents do for their children are:
- Educate them with facts vs. propaganda
- Take them on trips to see our wonderful planet so they appreciate it
- Engage them in activities that help them realize how we deal with trash affects us all (the Naples, FL zoo has children construct large sculptures using plastic pulled from the ocean)
- Teach them how to wisely use energy in the spaces where they live (turn off lights, use technology apps to construct HVAC profiles to minimize wasted heating and cooling when not at home, etc.)
- Don’t let them believe energy and use of resources is evil; instead, encourage them to continually improve on what their forefathers and mothers created
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
1. You can’t please everyone, so focus on following your bliss.
2. Don’t be afraid to fail, just learn rapidly from your mistakes.
3. Apply yourself in everything you choose to do, you never know when you will need that skill.
4. Don’t sit back! Get involved and make a difference in things that are important to you. Forget the rest.
5. Inspire others by what you do versus what you say.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
There are many people who helped me along the way. One I vividly remember was a shop worker who gave me some advice as I was struggling to lead a turnaround at a business. No matter what I did, how good or bad it was, someone complained. He said to me, “Jerry, keep doing what you’re doing. You could stand at the door and hand out $100 bills to everyone as they leave at night and I guarantee someone would complain because it wasn’t two $50 bills.”
You are a person of great influence and doing some great things for the world! If you could inspire a movement that would bring the greatest amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
Don’t confuse news programs with commentary shows. Instead, spend your time helping a neighbor, doing a project or getting some exercise!
Do you have a favorite life lesson quote? Can you tell us how that was relevant to you in your own life?
There are a lot of quotes I like. One of my favorites is from Thomas Edison and is on our office walls. It is:
“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.”
There have been times when I have felt stymied by a situation or series of events. Now, when I come up to a wall in my work or a life event, I think about how I can go over, around or under that wall to accomplish my objectives. It doesn’t always work, but it does more times than not.
What is the best way for people to follow you on social media?
