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Vacation rental homes, in general, have different energy usage characteristics than traditional residential homes mainly because of the occupancy pattern that changes on a weekly basis. These homes, predominantly larger in size, offer a greater scope for energy savings also because of the wasteful habits of their seasonal occupants. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the causes of energy inefficiencies prevalent in these homes so that appropriate retrofit choices can be offered to homeowners.

This research presents a case study of a vacation rental home whose energy consumption was investigated in depth and energy inefficiencies identified through modeling using energy modeling software, eQUEST. Simulations were performed to identify viable retrofit scenarios.

While improvement in the building envelope such as providing shades/overhangs on the windows, reducing infiltration and increasing insulation of the exterior wall did not show promising results for savings on energy cost, other improvements such as use of highly efficient lamps, tank-less water heater system and occupancy sensors showed viable investment options with shorter payback periods. It was also found that energy use intensity of sampled houses was about half of the average of US residential buildings, which could primarily be attributed to the seasonal nature of occupancy of these houses.

There is a dearth of literature pertaining to energy efficiency-related retrofits of coastal vacation homes. This research fills that gap to some extent by addressing this issue with an ultimate aim of assisting homeowners in retrofit decision-making.

Businesses of all sizes are susceptible to unforeseen shocks, which could have severe adverse effects on its brand, its reputation and even its survival. This case draws on three main streams of academic business literature and bodies of knowledge that come into play under such circumstances: reputational risk, crisis management and social media.

The author used primary and secondary sources in the research and development of this case. An interview with one of the cofounders of The Bakery Shop (TBS) provided a primary first-hand account of the events leading to this crisis and the subsequent remedial actions taken. The author supplemented this research with information from TBS’s website, social media accounts and TBS-provided material.

In 2015, TBS, a growing Egyptian business specializing in premium baked goods, launched a new fusion dessert “The Croissant Om Ali.” Triggered by social media, the new product was an instant hit, resulting in orders that exceeded TBS’s initial projection. However, the business suffered a sudden turn of events when some consumers showed symptoms of food poisoning. Once again, social media came into play with an aggressive customer backlash toward TBS. Its cofounders devised an appropriate action plan to address the crisis and salvage TBS’s tarnished reputation.

This case is written primarily for an introductory business course for first-year students of business and other closely related disciplines. This case mainly addresses crisis management as a means of restoring corporate reputation. It also highlights the important role of social media in a crisis.