Which managers – top managers, middle managers or first-line managers – would make companywide decisions about energy use? How mightthe new workplace enable all managers to capitalize on the Great Shale Gas Rush

The question is incomplete, it is missing the article about clean energy cars.

The article is about cars that run on compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of regular gasoline or even electric or hybrid models. The advantage of using CNG is that it is clean, its emissions rate is practically zero and most importantly, natural gas is extremely abundant in the US (shale gas).

Now, back to the questions:

Which managers – top managers, middle managers or first-line managers – would make companywide decisions about energy use?

Top managers are responsible for making companywide decisions about energy use. E.g. top management of several technological firms have decided to make their buildings and installations greener or more energy efficient. Generally when a new energy source is being used for the first time, a company must make large investments. This is why top management must decide about changes in energy use.

How might the new workplace enable all managers to capitalize on the Great Shale Gas Rush?

The use of CNG is not only good for businesses, but it is also good for the citizens and the US as a whole. Currently the US has almost balanced it exports and imports of petroleum, but it would benefit everyone if the balance would be positive. This means that the less oil imported, the better.  

If we look at specific businesses, changing from gasoline (or even diesel) to CNG is not only greener, but it is also cheaper. The problem with electric and hybrid cars is that they are extremely expensive, and it is really hard to offset their cost against regular gasoline cars. On the other hand, cars that run on CNG cost almost the same and are extremely cheap to use. CNG is much cheaper than gasoline plus you have the advantage of not needing to import oil or gasoline.

Currently, I'm not sure if there is any CNG car available for households since the Honda Civic that runs on it was discontinued, but businesses can still purchase fleet trucks and vans that run on CNG. If you analyze CNG vs gasoline or electric vehicles, CNG cars are much cheaper, efficient and greener (the Civic was greener than electric cars). It is a win-win situation, the company wins, the environment wins, the economy wins and the country wins, only foreign oil exporting countries lose.

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