Industries, businesses, schools, municipalities and homes are “going green” with new energy technologies. It's likely the trend toward more efficient and environmentally friendly equipment will continue and accelerate in the years ahead as businesses and other organizations upgrade and purchase new equipment.

Fast-changing technology is also bringing new exposures, and in many cases that will mean replacing equipment and paying for related expenses that are more costly and complex than in the past. To be competitive in this growing market, equipment breakdown insurers will have to outpace technological advances to develop new products and offer forward-looking coverages and services to their policyholders and the independent agents who represent them.

Some equipment breakdown insurers, for example, offer customers the opportunity to make energy-saving upgrades to their equipment and property after a covered loss. They also cover business interruption and extra expense incurred as a result of longer lead times for materials and labor. Recycling of damaged property or equipment also is a very valuable component of today's equipment breakdown policies.