Working through grantees, it has had significant impact on promoting adoption of state and federal vehicle efficiency standards, more stringent residential and commercial building codes to reduce energy consumption, and development of renewable energy technology.

FORBES: How To Get A Jumpstart On Your Philanthropy

Despite the involvement of nearly a dozen partners, Duke Energy is the principal catalyst behind Envision Charlotte, which aims to reduce energy consumption by 20% in commercial office buildings in uptown Charlotte.

FORBES: America's Future Power Grid, Don't Call It Smart

Since 1980, absolute energy use in commercial buildings alone has increased two-thirds to nearly 20 percent of U.S. energy consumption, with relative energy use per square foot increasing nearly 12 percent over the same period.

FORBES: Log Baby Log: The Race to The Big New Resource Play You Haven't Heard Of

Industrial and commercial concerns have more to gain than homeowners, who have less financial incentive to monitor their daily energy consumption.

FORBES: Smart Grid May be Shortest Route to Obama's Green Energy Goals