Green Blog

As organizations of every shape and size face a twin pronged challenge when it comes to their use of energy, management should explore every opportunity to arm themselves with the best possible information and the highest quality data to enable them to take their best position. The company faces a strong call to become more sustainable and to cut back in every respect in the energy that the organization uses, as a consequence of the carbon emissions that result. The other challenge, of course, is the sheer cost of using the energy in the first place and the associated security concerns for the future.

Decision-makers at the highest level of an organization have had their hands tied to a certain extent as they have not been party to the best quality information, enabling them to make the smartest decisions. Real-time energy metering is a much more palatable solution when compared to a reliance upon historical data sources. Best case scenarios can now be addressed.

Real-time energy metering involves a dedicated network accessibility of data from meters throughout an entire system. Sometimes existing meters can be retrofitted, but at other times especially equipped meters are linked in order to capture data at specified intervals, for example every ten minutes.

An organization’s energy liability and carbon emissions footprint is effectively the sum of its energy use for each individual corporate asset. Each asset of any consequence must be metered in its own right, so that its contribution to the problem is assessed. Unless that asset is optimally efficient, a position of true sustainability may not be achievable.

Data loggers, as part of real-time energy metering solutions, provide data to a central database, where results are integrated, analyzed and presented. Reports are available on a micro analysis level, enabling the operator to make critical decisions and change the operation of the asset or assets in real-time, during the course of the billing cycle.

An energy utility bill represents a very large part of an organization’s monthly profit and loss account. The utility bill has been historically difficult to reconcile, unless the organization uses real-time energy metering solutions and has access to digitized reporting. Sustainability will be really difficult to achieve if an error laden utility bill was being allowed to go unchecked.

When real-time energy metering is used with digitized utility bill checking, organizations have found that they are able to compare actual use versus chargeable liabilities to an accuracy of less than 1/10 of 1%.

One of the beauties of deregulation in the energy industry is that an organization may “shop around” for a best procurement deal. When a company uses real-time energy metering it has access to sophisticated energy profiles and is able to drive for greater cost savings. We will see accurate metering as a critical solution for the business as the issue of corporate carbon footprint reduction becomes more and more important

Daniel Stouffer has much more information about real-time energy metering and how a visit to www.verisae.com will aid you.

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.

Traditionally, we have used IT systems, asset management programs and other techniques to give us information to enable us to operate our businesses. In the new carbon age, carbon emissions management will be a direct requirement and for many this is a completely new “ball game.” It has been rare to accurately measure the performance of corporate assets according to real energy used, as we have traditionally just recorded the cost of the purchased energy itself.

An asset owner must calculate greenhouse gas emissions as part of a carbon emissions management program. When the asset is used, it is liable for emissions and while they may not have a direct and tangible cost as such right now, there is a trend toward changing this in the developed world.

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.

It is now vital for the business executive to educate him or herself as much as possible as we enter the “carbon age.” Understand how a baseline is formed and how carbon emissions management should operate. Pay close attention to the scheme in operation in the United Kingdom right now, where organizations are beginning to trade their rights to emit carbon on a day by day basis. Such programs way well visit these shores in the future.

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.

Traditionally, organizations have produced complex business reports based on standards and traditional metrics, as prepared for them by their economists. It’s fair to say that carbon baseline figures have not been included in many of these reports to date, but this situation is changing as such as this measurement is now required according to the latest technological and scientific findings.

Business executives may no longer refer to energy efficiency in terms of utility costs alone, as society now demands that every company reveals the volume of carbon emissions associated with energy use. Carbon by itself is not yet classified as a tradable commodity, although this could change fairly shortly, could one day soon have an attached value and be of equal importance on a balance sheet as well.

How can an organization be fully aware of its situation if it does not know the volume of its carbon emissions? Without an accurate rendition of a carbon baseline, key business metrics will be simply incomplete. Action will be impossible and a situation will go unchecked. The public at large is not willing to accept this anymore as sustainability must be adopted by the corporation.

The ability to “endure” is the very definition of sustainability and requires that an organization or an individual does not take more from society than it gives back. Every company footprint must be contained accordingly, especially as we now know that greenhouse gas emissions have a very damaging effect on our environment as we use energy.

Measure your carbon baseline according to direct and indirect emissions. To begin, you must understand that emissions fall into three separate “scopes.” The first and second may be relatively easy to measure, but the third scope of emissions falls outside of the direct control of the organization and is historically more difficult. Find these corporate emissions within supply chain elements or after sales.

Organizations must understand that each asset that they are responsible for produces a certain amount of energy and consequently, an amount of emitted carbon. The individual operational characteristics of each asset must be understood by the organization as this is critical to the establishment of an overall carbon baseline for future performance.

Organizations must become sustainable and politicians are actively working out ways to make this happen. Some jurisdictions have already introduced trading schemes which set an artificial barrier to the production of emissions and leaves the organization no choice but to become very well aware of the size of its carbon baseline to survive.

Carbon baseline standards must be adopted and individual asset energy performance understood before any steps can be taken to create a position of sustainability for the company. Many organizations are just becoming aware of this growing threat to their very survival, yet those who have initiated an early action could strive for a position of superiority over their peers.

Daniel Stouffer has a great deal of information about your carbon baseline and why a visit to www.verisae.com can be of use to you.

As amazing as it may seem, many organizations are still not “on board” when it comes to the issue of corporate sustainability. Many see this as just another “buzzword” and have not taken the issue to heart. In truth, an organization that does not realize how important this matter is to its very survival is doomed to failure unless it acts and acts relatively quickly. This is not about the “green” movement any more, but a fact of corporate life.

When the SEC carbon disclosure finding was revealed in early February, it took many public companies by surprise. Certainly, many pressure groups have been petitioning the securities and exchange commission for several years, yet under the previous administration the commission had been somewhat recalcitrant. However, the fact that the SEC has issued this clarification goes a long way to emphasize the need for corporate action.

The SEC carbon disclosure finding means that companies have a clear responsibility to disclose anything related to climate matters as “material.” This is fundamental to the decision-making process of investors. In other words, now that carbon related issues have been classified in this way, companies may no longer be vague and it will not be acceptable for them to say that climate issues are “unknown.”

Many developments have occurred in the last year or so with regard to corporate level sustainability. we could certainly have been disappointed by the outcome of the Copenhagen Summit, but we must have noted that the American Clean Energy and Security Act was passed by the House of Representatives. The EPA made a landmark ruling that greenhouse gases were a hazard to public health and Pres. Obama took a direct Executive Order and mandated that major Government agencies become sustainable quickly.

The ACES Act may well have been passed by the House of Representatives, but it is unclear whether the Senate will act and pass a law of its own in its current form. There is no doubt that some can legislation is in the corporate future though and the SEC carbon disclosure finding should help corporate chiefs to make a clear decision that they must become sustainable and get their houses in order in short order.

SEC carbon disclosure findings require that publicly traded companies include specific climate change related data within any reports that they submit. If a company uses a lot of fossil fuel based energy, any potential legislation could severely impact his position and should be revealed. On the other hand, if a company has a considerable amount of property in areas prone to severe weather events caused by potential climate change, this should be discussed as well.

Some have argued that the SEC carbon disclosure lacks “teeth.” They say that it is just interpretive guidance and that the company is not bound by its findings. However, it is certainly true that if an organization is seen to be ducking the issues, this can only result in a potential question mark within an investor’s mind and this, if nothing else, should help to concentrate the corporate focus.

Every organization must aim to be sustainable and incorporate this element within decision-making processes. Wherever energy is used, greenhouse gases are emitted and the user is responsible. If less action is taken, the risk of regulation increases and the company that does not take steps to reduce the impact of emissions in its direct operations and within the supply chain could also be harmed reputationally.

Daniel Stouffer has a lot of data about SEC carbon disclosure and how a visit to www.verisae.com will benefit you.

SEC corporate filings will be deemed to be incomplete in future if they do not include “material” information relating to climate change issues. This has been revealed as a consequence of “interpretive guidance,” issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission in late January. Many investor organizations and other public figures felt that companies would often overlook or emit information related to the effects of climate change, especially as such information could affect the judgment or decisions of future investors.

Corporations are discovering just how important climate related issues can be to their very existence. In certain jurisdictions stringent legislation is already in place to encourage companies to cut back on energy use, to move toward the goal of sustainability and to cut their carbon emissions significantly. In the United States, the EPA has found that greenhouse gases are a threat to public health and this could lead to additional action to force those responsible for emitting carbon to cut back.

SEC “corporate filings” notifications are rare but very important as they put a lot of emphasis on the accuracy of company reports. If a company does not reveal its true position, investors may not be in possession of the necessary facts to enable them to make decisions and this could lead to action.

It will now be necessary to compose corporate disclosure reports by reference to updated information contained within the regulations. By definition, SEC corporate filings guidance means that closer attention must be paid to climate related issues, so that we can all see the true position.

If climate change causes a weather pattern alteration, this could in turn affect how a specific company operates, if not directly, its supply-chain, distribution or other situation. The company must be aware of such potential and now must detail its findings within reports, so that an investor can make a strategic decision about whether to put funds into the company or not.

Several prominent investor groups came together to send three different petitions to the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking action. Organizations such as Ceres were quick to point out that a good number of S&P 500 companies were not adequately revealing climate related issues. The investors were adamant that change was needed and filed petitions with the SEC during 2007, 2008 and 2009 before action was recently taken.

Senior management of a company always take note of SEC corporate filings guidance. Even though legal interpretation of the law is not altered in this way, it is true that if a company does not pay attention to such a clarification, industry watchdogs will be more than happy to do this for them.

The position of sustainability must be pursued by any company, although risks and opportunities alike await those who are proactive.

Daniel Stouffer has a lot of data about SEC corporate filings and how a visit to www.verisae.com can aid you.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has now clarified what it considers publicly traded companies should disclose to investors relating to climate related effects on their business. The SEC corporate disclosure finding was issued as interpretive guidance, as revealed by the organization from time to time, largely in response to a growing body of opinion that suggested that companies were not fully revealing their positions.

The latest SEC corporate disclosure requirement relates to climate issues that a publicly traded company must reveal to its investors. This is the first time that such a climate risk disclosure requirement has been made anywhere in the world and is sure to bring corporate chiefs to the discussion table as they prepare compliance. In making their ruling, the SEC commissioners maintained that this clarification was only to be expected as climate matters become more and more important to us all.

Reports need to be submitted by publicly traded companies on a quarterly and annual basis. As part of the reporting process, management discussions and analysis of the organization’s position are attached as important documents. Investors pay particular attention to these items as they base their decisions on what they may invest in the future. We will now expect to see targeted information about climate related issues and how they affect the business.

Commissioners issued a statement along with the SEC corporate disclosure clarification, noting that the law as such was not changed by this document. Rather, it drew attention to climate issues and how they should be classified as “material.” The reference to materiality means that climate issues must in turn be part of qualitative and quantitative interpretations.

Within our regulatory process, the Securities and Exchange Commission is pivotal and when it comes to fair operation of the stock markets, it has a vital role to play. This body is needed so that important clarifications may be made from time to time, maintaining the equity and transparency of the system.

A number of high profile investors, public figures and organizations came together to prompt the SEC to make its clarification. The SEC corporate disclosure finding came about as a result of this, as it was pointed out to the SEC that some leading US organizations were rather vague in their interpretation of climate issues, even though these issues could be clearly seen to be impactful.

There are many ways in which a company can view climate related issues. If an insurance company has a significant number of properties in floodplains or other coastal areas that may be vulnerable to weather events, it could have additional exposure. If another company relies on energy produced by fossil fuels, any legislation curbing emissions could likewise affect its position.

It is important for publicly traded organizations to view climate change issues very carefully. These corporations must realize that this is just part of a path toward sustainability for them.

Daniel Stouffer has a great deal of information about SEC corporate disclosure and why a visit to www.verisae.com can aid you.

Global warming, which is the term given to the recent climate changes we are currently seeing, happens because average temperatures around the world have increased. They are doing so because more and more carbon dioxide is being emitted into the atmosphere — and if we don’t do something now, we’ll all be affected, no matter where we live. The climate changes we see now should be a concern to all of us, no matter how old we are. We need to demonstrate that we can be responsible and change this, so that others will follow suit. We need to make changes now, so that these already dire climate changes don’t escalate.

Global warming is happening because, as research has shown, heat is being trapped in the atmosphere. This happens because deforestation, vehicle emissions, and pollution from industrial processes all have produced extra heat on the Earth’s surface. This is increasing average temperatures. It has been projected that the planet itself is overheating and that our environments and we will all be adversely affected in just a few years by negative climate change, unless something is done. It is happening now, but we can begin to control it simply by changing a few behaviors.

Climate changes will change the rate of growth for plants and flowers, affect the population sizes of plants and animals, deteriorate glaciers, raise ocean levels, and continue to change weather patterns. Human activity is causing the increase in temperature, and human activity can slow the rate of climate change.

If this is allowed to continue, animal and plant species will dwindle and eventually may become extinct. And lest you think this will not affect you as a human, think again. Because every living thing depends on everything else, we alter our food chains and destroy species. Animals themselves already don’t have food to eat such that they’re becoming extinct, and our own food source will be in danger as a result.

Future generations are sure to experience intense weather patterns, which will increase death tools. The economy will be negatively impacted in many ways due to climate changes. For example, wheat fields and coffee bean plants will be destroyed by intense storms. That in turn, increases prices at the grocery stores. And never mind the economy, changes in weather patterns will increase death tools during increased hurricanes, tsunamis, and storms.

Where does all of this extra carbon dioxide come from? It comes from industrial pollution and from carbon dioxide emissions from cars. Restrictions are beginning to be put in place such that this type of carbon dioxide emission is minimized. We can decrease these climate changes through carbon dioxide over exposure if cars and industries themselves reduce emissions by 3% year.

Everyone can help contribute to slow down global warming. Some simple household tasks that can help decrease climate change are recycling, planting a tree, weatherizing your home, and replacing old appliances. Some other tasks include eliminating plastic, buying a fuel-efficient car, and car-pooling to work or school. Younger generations need to be educated about how humans negatively impact their environments and need to be directed on what changes to make for future generations.

Everyone can help contribute to slow down global warming. Some simple household tasks that can help decrease climate change are recycling, planting a tree, weatherizing your home, and replacing old appliances. Some other tasks include eliminating plastic, buying a fuel-efficient car, and car-pooling to work or school. Younger generations need to be educated about how humans negatively impact their environments and need to be directed on what changes to make for future generations.

Climate changes will impact our future, but we can all help to slow it down and then maybe focus on reversing it. Time is not on our side when it comes to climate changes in the future.

About the author: Jerry Dyess has been in the Texas Energy business for the past 7 years and has published many articles on Texas Electric news.

The California state legislature, pushed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, passed landmark legislation in 2006, code-named AB-32 — the Global Warming Solutions Act. This legislation aims to bring in stringent regulations to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that companies may be responsible for. The legislation had a long ramp up period before the real effects start to kick in and that preliminary journey is now almost at its end.

California’s AB 32 scoping plan was finalized at the beginning of 2009. We now know that a cap and trade program will definitely be implemented at the beginning of 2012 and all companies affected must understand the implications. Market-based mechanisms, including the much debated cap and trade program, will force them to make energy efficiencies and an overall reduction in their carbon emissions or face punishment.

A major revelation of the new AB 32 scoping plan is that it intends to recognize voluntary efforts within the broader picture. The renewable energy lobbying circle has long campaigned for the recognition of voluntary efforts in this way. As such, this type of renewable energy generation will now be recognized under the new cap and trade program.

While the Global Warming Solutions Act was seen as far ahead of its time in 2006, a lot has changed since then. We are now even more aware of the damage caused to our world by excess energy use and while the Act still has its detractors, acceptance has grown.

Voluntary renewable energy purchases made by individual entities can be certified and applied to their accounts under the cap and trade program. Incentives are also now in place to push for solar power solutions and utility companies are encouraged to purchase renewable energy certificates.

Credit for voluntary action is now a crucial component of the AB-32 scoping plan and it has been lauded as recognizing the value of private investments in renewable energy. As only approximately 5% of our energy use comes from renewable sources, every effort must be made to encourage its adoption and the revised legislation goes a long way to help this.

If businesses can see that, by purchasing renewable energy certificates under the AB-32 scoping plan, they can reduce their environmental footprint then this could further buoy the renewable energy market. Trading within the voluntary Chicago Climate Exchange, still the United States only real climate cap and trade system, often includes such purchases and registration.

From January 1, 2010, organizations that can take early action to reduce their emissions are now instructed to do so. In the beginning of 2012, the full cap and trade system will come into power.

Daniel Stouffer has a lot of data about Ab 32 scoping and how a visit to www.verisae.com can aid you.

If the Global Warming Solutions Act, code-named AB 32, is to be truly effective, it must operate within a number of carefully defined objectives and principles. While the holistic view may be admirable and attention to global warming certainly justified, such a stringent set of regulations as encompassed by AB 32 could represent significant challenges to California’s economy and growth otherwise.

If California’s administration and those charged with implementing the regulations cannot placate the worries of existing organizations within the state, any new initiatives could prove to be moot. It’s very important that the state provide education to ensure that everyone understands what AB 32 legislation is all about and especially to explain its benchmark targets.

It should be possible to bring in something as controversial as the AB 32 legislation while still allowing companies within California to be competitive in their overall markets. The text of the regulation states that emission reductions should be achieved while also being “cost effective” and “technologically feasible.” This is all very well, but it still may be difficult to implement. Overall, jobs must be safeguarded in the interests of all consumers.

Any new legislation can be seen as a threat if you want to look at it that way, but a forward thinking businessmen can definitely see that there are opportunities ahead. AB 32 legislation operates through a series of caps, restrictions and market-based initiatives, but it has a goal of energy efficiency underneath. Any company that goes beyond the minimum requirements of the law should become much more energy-efficient naturally. Thus a reduction in carbon emissions means less overall cost as well as a natural increase in the organization’s competitiveness.

Across the country, cap and trade mechanisms may one day be implemented. Should that happen, how will the Global Warming Solution Act of California fit in? AB 32 legislation was introduced in 2006 and was then considered far ahead of its game. It’s interesting to note that the US Senate is only now considering similar objectives.

The United Kingdom already has a countrywide cap and trade program in place. Many proponents believe that this approach is the only way to realistically force down energy use and carbon emissions. Could it be that a globally linked network of similar schemes will ultimately come into play, to satisfy the worries of the environmentalists?

As written, AB 32 legislation seeks to reduce carbon emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. This represented a 25% reduction when the law was introduced in 2006. Looking further ahead, much more aggressive action is anticipated with a reduction of 80% deemed to be achievable by the year 2050.

Business leaders around the country would do well to follow the progress of AB 32. Even though they may not operate in the state of California, they should pay attention to how state based business leaders address their conformity.

Daniel Stouffer has a lot of information about the AB 32 legislation and how a visit to www.verisae.com will aid you.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a system used to gather data and incorporate it in order to store, scrutinize, distribute, and show geographic information. GIS data displays actual world features such as elevations, terrain, and transportation networks, in a digital format. Images that are displayed come from the area where the information was retrieved. Users can take the information for such purposes as analyzing the digitally displayed data, mapping the data, and editing the data. A GIS will include application software for aerial photography, surveying land, extensive geographical mapping, remote sensing, and much more. It is often used to study global problems in an effort to find solutions much more quickly.

Recently, Geographic Information Systems have been developed to be used by the public. For instance, Bing Maps and Google Maps are GIS applications now used by millions of people around the world. Through interactive web mapping, the public now has access to large volumes of geographical information. Another important use of GIS is its use when studying climate change. It is now used in the tracking and analyzing of data regarding the impact of climate change. For example, GIS is used to study the ice melting in the Arctic.

Earthquake mapping is another way one can use GIS. One can map tectonic shifts in high risk earthquake areas for public safety planning and business development such as determining insurance rates. In regards to business marketing techniques, a business can use GIS to analyze demographic data to find regions where they will likely sell their products or services. Governments can utilize GIS to analyze census information such as health and education statistics. This is helpful for creating or modifying public policies and government spending. It can also provide health research assistance such as analyzing heart disease research data. As well, it can help with the creation of jobs in the appropriate regions which can give a boost to the economy.

Not only is GIS technology used for climate change research, it can be used for security and law enforcement logistics, urban planning and development such as selecting where to develop communities and roads that will have the least environmental impact, business marketing and evaluating a potential business market, cartography, management of natural resources, natural resource mapping, archaeology research analysis, and tracking and analyzing natural disasters with the intent of improving emergency response time. As well, GIS technology can be used as an educational tool for technology schools and universities for such studies as geography, science, and mathematics. Even high school students can make use of GIS in their curriculum.

Mapping where places and objects are located will help people find places that have the attributes they are searching for, and if there are problems, they can then identify what needs to be done and put together an efficient and effective problem solving strategy. As well, they are able to see important patterns emerging. The objective of GIS is to identify new trends from the analyzed research. Studying data using the Geographic Information System will help one learn and understand information much quicker and easier.

It is without a doubt that geographic information systems are becoming widely used in a variety of circumstances. GIS also play a role in health sciences research in analyzing medical conditions.