Sustainability Requires Enterprise Carbon and Energy Management Systems

You could argue that corporate decision-makers certainly earn their remuneration these days, as a business can face so many different challenges from so many different directions. Not only are competitive pressures unrelenting due to the downward economy, but costs are also rising, especially when it comes to the traditional sources of energy. The decision-makers could be forgiven for failing to hear the growing calls from environmentalists as sustainability becomes an issue of equal importance. Fully 80% of companies do not understand this or are not willing to take action, but this must change.

There may certainly be restrictions on carbon emissions in the new world ahead. Organizations must recognize that they are responsible for their energy use and consequent emissions and should adopt enterprise carbon and energy management systems to help them deal with the situation. Initially, they will be required to measure the size of a footprint and carbon inventories and must then plan for reductions.

Every organization needs energy to function. When energy is used it emits carbon and such greenhouse gases have been proven to cause long-term environmental damage. As we move forward, every organization must therefore take responsibility for the energy it uses and the carbon emissions it produces. There will undoubtedly be financial repercussions, as well as societal backlash.

It is difficult if not impossible for a typical organization to take steps to reduce its carbon footprint if it is not in possession of all the facts and figures. Each individual asset must be analyzed and its carbon footprint recorded. In a typical distributed and complex organization this can be a challenging prospect. Enterprise carbon and energy management systems have now been designed specifically for this purpose.

Senior management is hearing about the need for corporate sustainability reports, yet shortsightedly may be delegating this task to a public relations division. Such sustainability reports must be comprehensive and based on solid facts, as there are many watchdogs and consumer groups ready to call out an organization that does not approach this requirement correctly.

In the United Kingdom, Parliament has enacted benchmark legislation that will force the largest emitters of carbon to purchase allowances from the government. A “cap and trade” trading platform will be established, the net result of which is that an organization that is not in control of its processes will flounder.

Pres. Obama is more willing than his predecessor to back and support sweeping legislation to control climate issues. He has shown his willingness by enforcing federal agencies to become sustainable for the first time. The agencies will undoubtedly turn to enterprise carbon and energy management systems to understand their position and conform with the executive order.

Companies are used to providing financial documents and executive summaries, which are widely distributed and reviewed. A corporate sustainability report will likely become a required document in its own right and will show how willing the company is to take responsibility for its carbon emissions.

Daniel Stouffer has a lot of information about enterprise carbon and energy management systems and how a visit to www.verisae.com will aid you.

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