EMISSIONS INSIGHTS BLOG
The concept of emissions management progressed from the realm of the environmentalist through society to the business board room. The progressive organizations are shifting away from traditional business to adopt sustainability.
Agency Emissions EO13415
Agency Emissions to be Revealed for the First Time
The US government is known to be the largest polluter in the country and individual agency emissions have never come under such detailed scrutiny as they must now face due to this new executive order. It is true to say that agencies do not comprehend the scale of their emission issues, as they have never been forced to account for their own greenhouse gas inventories before.
While the House of Representatives may have passed their own climate related Act during early 2009, it is not clear whether the Senate will act anytime soon regarding their own version. This has caused environmental advocates around the world to sharply criticize the US for recalcitrance. Obama's executive order goes some way to appease the critics, as agency emissions account for a very considerable part of the country's overall footprint.
For the first time, we are likely to see the size of federal agency emissions as each agency is forced to take stock of its overall energy use and conservation. President Obama's executive order, number 13514, places considerable emphasis on the carbon emissions of each department and calls for a plan to reduce the same.
Obama has said that the government must lead by example and he has clearly come out in favor of reducing reliance on traditional forms of energy and helping to initiate climate change. Rather than setting a given standard, he has asked each chief to assume the scale of agency emissions and to determine their own percentage reduction goal. Agencies must now understand their position and report back soon.
Every Organization Should Be Aware of the Corresponding Impact of Its Operations to the Environment
The federal government now faces challenges which are surely to be assumed by other organizations in the years ahead. Each organization must be aware of its entire operation, how each of its assets uses energy and consequently pollutes the environment. Such a comprehensive analysis is a challenge and must be conducted down to a micro-level, if it is to be effective.
Obama has set a 10 year plan and will be looking for agency emissions to be reduced by a considerable margin during that time. In order to stand behind a stated goal, agency management must first undertake a full-scale analysis, backed up by tailor-made solutions. The goal of sustainability may only be achieved through full disclosure.
The Executive Order Calls for Projects to Be Sustainable to Ensure Future Growth
There are hundreds of individual agencies, organizations and departments affected by Obama's executive order. Some agencies focus directly on environmental issues, but the vast majority may be largely unaware of the need for sustainability. It is true to say that each and every one of them will be experts on this subject in short order!
While calling for agency emissions to be reduced and existing systems and assets to be optimized for efficiency, the executive order also calls for a majority of new projects and buildings to be sustainable, to ensure that future growth is contained.
About Verisae
Verisae helps measure, manage and reduce equipment and energy costs including the related business and environmental impacts of carbon emissions. The Sustainability Resource Planning (“SRP”) software platform improves operational efficiency, protects brand integrity and helps ensure regulatory compliance for distributed enterprises across many industries. Verisae delivers a broad range of sustainability solutions to dozens of clients globally with thousands of daily users including an extended network of third-party suppliers. Verisae’s integrated sustainability platform actively tracks millions of assets across thousands of sites worldwide.
RELATED PAGES
Read Recommendations from Sustainability Experts
How to Reduce Costs & Improve Efficiencies
Watch Our 3 Minute Sustainability Overview (video)
Follow the Conversation
© 2010 Verisae. All rights reserved.