we are entering what has been termed by some to be the “carbon age.” This is determined by a growing revelation and an awareness of the need to become sustainable in everything that we do, both individually and collectively. For organizations, this means the creation of a whole new line of thought, dedicated to the impact that carbon can and will have on the business operations as carbon emissions management becomes more commonplace.
The traditional measurements deployed and maintained through IT systems and asset management programs will be clearly insufficient in the new carbon age. Carbon emissions management will be required and for many organizations this is a completely new philosophy. The performance of corporate assets have rarely been measured in terms of the real energy that they use, rather in terms of efficiency in relation to the cost of the purchased energy itself.
Carbon emissions management requires that the asset owner calculates greenhouse gas emissions as a fundamental part of the deployment of the tool. When an asset is engaged, it emits carbon and while this may not reflect in a direct, tangible cost right now, who is to say how this will develop in the not-too-distant future?
If a “cap and trade” scheme is ever introduced in this country, greenhouse gas emissions will become pivotal to carbon emissions management. The business structure must be adjusted accordingly, as the organization will be judged by the amount of energy it uses and a calculated volume of associated carbon emissions. Nationwide, a ceiling will be placed on the total amount of emissions possible, making carbon in itself a very valuable tradable commodity.
When carbon has a value on the balance sheet, suddenly the organization must obtain a means for gauging the ultimate efficiency of each of its assets. This is the only way that carbon emissions management can be initiated and can provide the figures necessary to enable an organization to improve. Carbon emissions management will work from a calculated baseline and will help to ensure that the company is now much more highly efficient in the use of energy.
Energy use has for long been one of the largest costs associated with the operation of an organization. As such, the corporate executives should really welcome the introduction of carbon emissions management tools. At the least, inefficiencies will be pinpointed by these new software systems and potential reductions could represent significant financial gain.
Education is paramount for the business executive and never more so than in the “carbon age” upon us. The executive should work out how a baseline situation is going to be achieved before carbon emissions management is initiated. Note well that in the United Kingdom, a trading scheme is now in place that will soon force each organization to trade in order to be able to emit carbon in any situation. It is highly likely that something along these lines will be introduced here soon.
Whether you believe the carbon age is real, implied or imaginary, you cannot discount the need for increased attention when it comes to saving and sustainability. Our traditional forms of energy represent a finite resource and as we are far from a position of being able to turn to alternative energy, prudence is advisable.
Daniel Stouffer has much more information about carbon emissions management and how a visit to www.verisae.com will be of use to you.
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