Case Study About Energy (Case Study Sample)

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Case study about energy
Up-to-date, organizations use fossil fuels particularly coal as a source of energy. The increased use of coal has in turn increased the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that has led to a lot of debate on climate change. Currently, coal is believed to be diminishing and, therefore, alternative sources of energy are being considered. According to the article about the future of energy, published on The Economist on 19th June 2008, there are several fundamental problems faced by all organizations. Due to competition for coal energy and the climate change problem, organizations are faced with energy insufficiency, the need to use less energy. This does not in any way solve the problem at all unless economic growth is completely halted. Also, the price of oil and petroleum has increased; a shortcoming for organizations. Moreover, organizations are running with the fear that oil, the current energy source may deplete with time. Also, the alternative sources of energy being proposed are not yet effective, and their cost may be higher than the coal energy.
In order to deal with the present energy crisis and to seek energy opportunities for the future, companies can start trying on alternative sources of energy. An organization such as Wal-Mart can seek energy opportunities by making use of solar power. Wal-Mart stores Inc., is a wholesale and retail store that has branches in almost every part of the world. It operates in three segments; Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart US and Wal-Mart International. Its competitors are BJ’s Wholesale Club and Costco Wholesale. As a large company that has many operating stores in all the US 50 states, and approximately in twenty-six nations around the world, Wal-Mart uses huge of amount of energy to run its businesses. This means that the decrease in coal energy would affect its businesses. Therefore, to avoid future energy crisis, Wal-Mart should consider an alternative to coal energy.
Solar energy should be the focus on Wal-Mart stores. Solar power is harnessed freely through solar panels. Besides, it is a renewable energy. It is also of low-cost compared to coal energy. Its use will also decrease carbon dioxide release and hence not contribute to climate change. Wal-Mart can achieve this by acquiring numerous rooftop solar panels that can harness enough power and hence use it as a source of energy in running its businesses. This will cut out energy bills and in the process create a more sustainable energy future. For a company to gain more profit, one of its strategies should be to operate at a low-cost. Solar energy, compared to other sources, costs low (Robert, Majid and Alma 19).Though the company has already considered the importance of renewable energy, it should focus more initiating more renewable energy projects in order to survive the current world’s energy crisis. The reason Wal-Mart should concentrate on solar energy as an alternative is because apart from its cheap price, its preserves the environment by fighting global warming and dangerous climatic change. Most importantly, solar power would protect the company from the current fuel price volatility. It is also abundant, and it cannot diminish at all cost. Therefore, it is efficient and sustainable (Robert, Majid and Alma 23).
Wal-Mart should first analyze it energy use and management. The company should establish the amount of energy used each month by averaging the meter data. After, it should establish methods of on how its energy consumption can be controlled or managed to reduce high consumption levels. Also, the company should calculate the amount of money that is used in settling energy bills each month or year and whether the consumption rate concurs with the production profits realized. The price of energy today is high, and this has been a backdrop for many organizations. Wal-Mart Inc. can benefit from the energy future by focusing on sustainable energy, low-cost energy and one which would protect humanity. This energy should be better than the current one. The energy should be renewable. The company should install more solar energy sourcing projects in order to solve the energy problem completely. Though ...