Energy Management
Wal-Mart is the largest retailer within the United States and has also enhanced its position within the international market place through the opening and operation of stores across various countries, such as Canada, Brazil and Argentina (Corporate Website of the Wal-Mart Stores, 2012). The success of Wal-Mart is due to their development and implementation of a business model based on the creation of scale economies and the adherent advantages.
The retailer purchases bulk products and resells them. Its primary strategy is that of cutting costs to the minimum possible in order to provide customers with the lowest possible price. This strategy has paid off and has earned Wal-Mart billion dollar profits in a crushing economy.
Wal-Mart operates large size facilities which consume high levels of energy, and as the stores expand and come to serve more and more customer, the energy needs of the facilities increase. In such a setting then, it is currently proposed for the company to develop and implement a lightning retrofit project.
The scope of this lightning retrofit project is that of allowing Wal-Mart to use electricity in a more efficient manner, by gaining more results and decreasing its costs; this strategy is as such integrant to the company’s overall business model. The first step of this project then is represented by the description of the lightning retrofit proposition, followed by the detailing of the project management considerations. In other words, it is not only sufficient to design the lightning retrofit, but is also necessary to manage it throughout the entire duration of the project. At this level, usage would be made of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).
2. The lightning retrofit proposition
At a general level, the retrofitting effort is understood as the activity developed by men with the scope of improving an already existent system. The important characteristic of retrofitting is that the system already exists and little emphasis is placed on the creation of new systems. Nevertheless, to improve it, new components are generally integrated.
In the specific case of lighting retrofitting, the emphasis falls on improving the lightning system with the specific scope of generating cost efficiencies. In other words, lightning retrofitting sets out to help the Wal-Mart to reduce its costs with electricity, while maintaining, or even improving, the quality of electricity provision and lightning.
At this specific level, it is important to note that the lightning retrofitting would initially raise additional costs and investments, and the actual cost savings would be observed within the long-term. Nevertheless, by fully capitalizing on the lightning retrofitting project, Wal-Mart would eventually become able to reduce costs with lightning, or even generate a return on its initial investment.
“A lighting retrofit is the practice of replacing components in the system with counterparts that make it use energy more efficiently. A lighting upgrade is any strategy that reduces the system’s energy use. Energy savings are realized over time that can be significant enough to not only pay for the new equipment, but produce a return on the investment” (Light Research).
Within the specific case of Wal-Mart, the proposition is represented by a retrofitting of their lightning system characterized by the following:
The maintenance of the already existent canals in the walls, floors and other structures. These are already sufficient to serve the lightning needs of the Wal-Mart facilities and there is no need to create new infrastructures.
The elimination of the old wires and their replacement with newer and more resistant wires. This process generates little cost savings for the company in terms of energy consumption, yet its benefit is that the new electrical wire system would have a higher quality, would support higher levels of usage and would be more resistant. Shortcuts and other electricity related problems would as such be better avoided and this trait generates substantial cost savings with reduced needs for repairing, as well as reduced need to close down the store and decrease sales as a result.
The replacement of all the lightning devices, namely bulbs, neons and so on with more energy efficient lightning solutions, such as solar powered LED lights or CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps).
As it has been mentioned above, the upgrading of the lighting system and its transformation into a more energy efficient and greener system is likely to generate a series of direct cost savings, such as lower levels of electricity consumption or reduced costs with repairs. Aside from these however, the lightning retrofitting would also generate some notable indirect savings for the Wal-Mart Stores.
For once, it is noted that the government of the United States provides tax deductions for the economic agents who engage in initiatives of becoming more environmentally responsible and sustainable (Energy Retrofitters). At this level, the retailer could file for tax cuts and would register savings on its tax budgets as well. Then, it is already known that the customers and the public become more and more demanding towards the economic agents and they raise new pressures. By going green, Wal-Mart would come to better serve the changing needs and pretensions of the customers; as these become better satisfied, they grow more content with the retailer and they could also become more loyal and frequent customers, to eventually support the company in increasing its sales and profitability levels.
Overall, the lighting retrofit effort at Wal-Mart would materialize in the creation of five distinctive sets of benefits, as follows:
The creation of energy savings
The improvement in the quality of the lightning in the Wal-Mart facilities
The reduction in the maintenance and labor costs
The reduction of the pollution generated by the institution, and last
The implementation of green power systems (The United States Department of Energy, 2001).
3. The project management plan
The project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) is used as a standard within the electrical industry and it has been approved by the American National Standards Institute. Its scope is that of providing standards in the practice of project management, and, according to the guide, there are five processes, which are characterized by three elements and nine knowledge areas (Anbari, 2005). These will be described below, and applied to the case of Wal-Mart.
The five processes created by PMBOK refer to the initiating of the project, planning it, executing it, monitoring and controlling it and closing it. The elements characterizing the processes are:
The inputs, in the case of Wal-Mart, these being the already existent electronic infrastructure and the financial resources allocated to the retrofitting process
The tools and techniques employed, which, in the case of Wal-Mart’s lightning retrofitting include the new wires and the new light sources
Last, the outputs, or the resulting elements of the process, which, in the case of Wal-Mart, represents the new improved lightning system.
At the level of the knowledge areas, these refer to the domains of knowledge in which the participants in the project have to be experienced. They include the adequate management of the following aspects of the project: (1) integration, (2) scope, (3) time, (4) costs, (5) quality, (6) human resources, (7) communications, (8) risk and last (9) procurement. In the case of Wal-Mart, it would be necessary to ensure adequate communications between the parties involved in the retrofitting project; to integrate the measures within the overall business model; to motivate and gain the support of the staff members and so on.
Returning to the project processes, these are applied to Wal-Mart as follows:
The initiation of the project would revolve around the analysis of the current lighting system and the identification of potential improvements, as well as their feasibility.
The planning of the project would include the identification of the alternatives to lightning retrofitting, their analysis and the selection of the best solution, in accordance with the company and project specifications. At this level, the implementation process would be designed.
The execution of the lightning retrofitting project based on the previous specifications through the actual implementation of the stages previously designed.
The monitoring and controlling of the lightning retrofitting project in a continuous manner, throughout the entire implementation process, as well as at its completion. At this level, emphasis would be placed on the ability of the completed project to attain the initially foreseen goals.
Last, the closing of the project through the assurance that the lightning retrofitting is completed and able to generate the initially stated objectives.
4. Conclusions
Wal-Mart is the epitome of corporate success and it has attained this triumph through the creation of scale economies and the adjacent advantages. Still, to fuel its large size operations and facilities, the company encounters a series of important costs and challenges. One example in this sense is represented by the company’s need to light its entire facilities. At this level, the current project has proposed the retrofitting of Wal-Mart’s lighting system through the replacement of the wires and the light elements with newer, more resistant and greener ones. This measure would materialize in a series of direct and indirect advantages, bet reflected by the following: decreased costs, improved lighting quality, decreased pollution and more efficient and environmentally responsible business model.
The adequate management of the lightning retrofitting project is a complex endeavor, which is also ongoing throughout the entire duration of the project. The management is then best addressed through the lenses on the PMBOK standards. At this level, emphasis is placed on five specific processes, namely project initiation, project planning, project execution, monitoring and controlling, and last, project closing.
References:
Anbari, F.T., 2005, Q and A for the PMBOK guide, 3rd edition, Project Management Institute
2001, Lightning retrofit woorbook, The United States Department of Energy, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/pdfs/NPS_guidebook.pdf last accessed on September 14, 2012
Lighting guide: Lighting retrofit economics, Light Research, http://www.lightsearch.com/resources/lightguides/retrofitecon.html last accessed on September 14, 2012
Energy Retrofitters, http://www.energyretrofitters.com / last accessed on September 14, 2012
Get Professional Assignment Help Cheaply
Are you busy and do not have time to handle your assignment? Are you scared that your paper will not make the grade? Do you have responsibilities that may hinder you from turning in your assignment on time? Are you tired and can barely handle your assignment? Are your grades inconsistent?
Whichever your reason is, it is valid! You can get professional academic help from our service at affordable rates. We have a team of professional academic writers who can handle all your assignments.
Why Choose Our Academic Writing Service?
- Plagiarism free papers
- Timely delivery
- Any deadline
- Skilled, Experienced Native English Writers
- Subject-relevant academic writer
- Adherence to paper instructions
- Ability to tackle bulk assignments
- Reasonable prices
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Get superb grades consistently
Online Academic Help With Different Subjects
Literature
Students barely have time to read. We got you! Have your literature essay or book review written without having the hassle of reading the book. You can get your literature paper custom-written for you by our literature specialists.
Finance
Do you struggle with finance? No need to torture yourself if finance is not your cup of tea. You can order your finance paper from our academic writing service and get 100% original work from competent finance experts.
Computer science
Computer science is a tough subject. Fortunately, our computer science experts are up to the match. No need to stress and have sleepless nights. Our academic writers will tackle all your computer science assignments and deliver them on time. Let us handle all your python, java, ruby, JavaScript, php , C+ assignments!
Psychology
While psychology may be an interesting subject, you may lack sufficient time to handle your assignments. Don’t despair; by using our academic writing service, you can be assured of perfect grades. Moreover, your grades will be consistent.
Engineering
Engineering is quite a demanding subject. Students face a lot of pressure and barely have enough time to do what they love to do. Our academic writing service got you covered! Our engineering specialists follow the paper instructions and ensure timely delivery of the paper.
Nursing
In the nursing course, you may have difficulties with literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, critical essays, and other assignments. Our nursing assignment writers will offer you professional nursing paper help at low prices.
Sociology
Truth be told, sociology papers can be quite exhausting. Our academic writing service relieves you of fatigue, pressure, and stress. You can relax and have peace of mind as our academic writers handle your sociology assignment.
Business
We take pride in having some of the best business writers in the industry. Our business writers have a lot of experience in the field. They are reliable, and you can be assured of a high-grade paper. They are able to handle business papers of any subject, length, deadline, and difficulty!
Statistics
We boast of having some of the most experienced statistics experts in the industry. Our statistics experts have diverse skills, expertise, and knowledge to handle any kind of assignment. They have access to all kinds of software to get your assignment done.
Law
Writing a law essay may prove to be an insurmountable obstacle, especially when you need to know the peculiarities of the legislative framework. Take advantage of our top-notch law specialists and get superb grades and 100% satisfaction.
What discipline/subjects do you deal in?
We have highlighted some of the most popular subjects we handle above. Those are just a tip of the iceberg. We deal in all academic disciplines since our writers are as diverse. They have been drawn from across all disciplines, and orders are assigned to those writers believed to be the best in the field. In a nutshell, there is no task we cannot handle; all you need to do is place your order with us. As long as your instructions are clear, just trust we shall deliver irrespective of the discipline.
Are your writers competent enough to handle my paper?
Our essay writers are graduates with bachelor's, masters, Ph.D., and doctorate degrees in various subjects. The minimum requirement to be an essay writer with our essay writing service is to have a college degree. All our academic writers have a minimum of two years of academic writing. We have a stringent recruitment process to ensure that we get only the most competent essay writers in the industry. We also ensure that the writers are handsomely compensated for their value. The majority of our writers are native English speakers. As such, the fluency of language and grammar is impeccable.
What if I don’t like the paper?
There is a very low likelihood that you won’t like the paper.
Reasons being:
- When assigning your order, we match the paper’s discipline with the writer’s field/specialization. Since all our writers are graduates, we match the paper’s subject with the field the writer studied. For instance, if it’s a nursing paper, only a nursing graduate and writer will handle it. Furthermore, all our writers have academic writing experience and top-notch research skills.
- We have a quality assurance that reviews the paper before it gets to you. As such, we ensure that you get a paper that meets the required standard and will most definitely make the grade.
In the event that you don’t like your paper:
- The writer will revise the paper up to your pleasing. You have unlimited revisions. You simply need to highlight what specifically you don’t like about the paper, and the writer will make the amendments. The paper will be revised until you are satisfied. Revisions are free of charge
- We will have a different writer write the paper from scratch.
- Last resort, if the above does not work, we will refund your money.
Will the professor find out I didn’t write the paper myself?
Not at all. All papers are written from scratch. There is no way your tutor or instructor will realize that you did not write the paper yourself. In fact, we recommend using our assignment help services for consistent results.
What if the paper is plagiarized?
We check all papers for plagiarism before we submit them. We use powerful plagiarism checking software such as SafeAssign, LopesWrite, and Turnitin. We also upload the plagiarism report so that you can review it. We understand that plagiarism is academic suicide. We would not take the risk of submitting plagiarized work and jeopardize your academic journey. Furthermore, we do not sell or use prewritten papers, and each paper is written from scratch.
When will I get my paper?
You determine when you get the paper by setting the deadline when placing the order. All papers are delivered within the deadline. We are well aware that we operate in a time-sensitive industry. As such, we have laid out strategies to ensure that the client receives the paper on time and they never miss the deadline. We understand that papers that are submitted late have some points deducted. We do not want you to miss any points due to late submission. We work on beating deadlines by huge margins in order to ensure that you have ample time to review the paper before you submit it.
Will anyone find out that I used your services?
We have a privacy and confidentiality policy that guides our work. We NEVER share any customer information with third parties. Noone will ever know that you used our assignment help services. It’s only between you and us. We are bound by our policies to protect the customer’s identity and information. All your information, such as your names, phone number, email, order information, and so on, are protected. We have robust security systems that ensure that your data is protected. Hacking our systems is close to impossible, and it has never happened.
How our Assignment Help Service Works
1. Place an order
You fill all the paper instructions in the order form. Make sure you include all the helpful materials so that our academic writers can deliver the perfect paper. It will also help to eliminate unnecessary revisions.
2. Pay for the order
Proceed to pay for the paper so that it can be assigned to one of our expert academic writers. The paper subject is matched with the writer’s area of specialization.
3. Track the progress
You communicate with the writer and know about the progress of the paper. The client can ask the writer for drafts of the paper. The client can upload extra material and include additional instructions from the lecturer. Receive a paper.
4. Download the paper
The paper is sent to your email and uploaded to your personal account. You also get a plagiarism report attached to your paper.
PLACE THIS ORDER OR A SIMILAR ORDER WITH US TODAY AND GET A PERFECT SCORE!!!
