AFL, a leading name in the telecommunications sector known for its fiber optic solutions, was at a turning point.

Facing increasing pressure from stakeholders to improve sustainability, AFL was bogged down by the tedious task of manually managing nearly 200 utility accounts. This process took up about 36 hours (about one and a half days) of labor each month, hampering their ability to tackle sustainability goals effectively.

Determined to find a solution, AFL set out on a quest to streamline their processes and boost their sustainability efforts. Their search led them to EnergyCAP, a software platform designed to automate and optimize energy and sustainability data management. By December 2023, AFL had fully implemented EnergyCAP, kicking off a transformative phase in their sustainability journey.

Utilizing software helped revolutionize AFL’s energy and sustainability data management by automating the manual data entry process for nearly 98% of their utility accounts. This shift slashed the labor hours spent on data entry and freed up the team to focus on more impactful tasks.

With features like bill auditing and usage change alerts, EnergyCAP enabled AFL to spot anomalies and fix errors that had previously gone unnoticed.

How did AFL find $304,000 in anticipated annual savings?

• Natural Gas Leaks: The software helped identify abnormal gas usage that was quickly identified as a natural gas leak on a rooftop HVAC unit. Catching and fixing the leak early resulted in $3,300 in savings each year.
• Water Leaks: The software also helped to identify water leaks, which resulted in saving $10,700 and 257,000 gallons (over one-third the volume of an Olympic-size swimming pool) of water annually.
• Energy Efficiency Projects: With their data in order, AFL focused their efforts on completing 29 energy and sustainability projects across the organization, saving 1.9  million kWh, 575 metric tonnes of CO2e (the equivalent of 1.5 million miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle) and $170,000 annually.
• Rate Structure Review: A thorough review led to an additional $120,000 in annual savings.

Beyond the financial and environmental gains, software provided AFL with enhanced data transparency, creating opportunities for better communication with stakeholders. EnergyCAP’s customizable dashboards allowed for tracking and proactive management of energy consumption. The dashboards are available to any AFL employee at any time with a simple click of a link. This transparency not only engaged more people in sustainability efforts but also empowered AFL to make data-driven decisions quickly.

With software, AFL has transformed its approach to sustainability. What started as a challenge driven by external pressures became a strategic advantage, with significant cost savings and efficiency improvements.

The journey from manual, labor-intensive processes to automated, data-driven energy practices has strengthened AFL’s sustainability credentials and demonstrated the power of software in driving meaningful change.

AFL is a prime example of how embracing technology can lead to substantial improvements in operational efficiency and sustainability. This not only benefits the bottom line but also paves the way for a greener future.