The traditional definition of business efficiency has been calculated by accountants and economists through the ages. Normally they look at straightforward productivity, according to the defined purpose of the business. They often include the performance characteristics of certain types of raw material and other products used in creation, but the definition of efficiency tends not to cover absolute energy efficiency and this must now change.
Information technology has a proud background of producing ways for an organization to determine, track and measure its performance through different metrics. Typically, these systems are not meant to interact with each other necessarily, but this is now changing and performance must be thoroughly defined as we go forward. Enterprise carbon and energy management systems represent this emergence.
An historical approach to the use of productivity metrics as an acceptable standard for efficiency is being overtaken as society in general insists on environmental sustainability. This dictates that energy-efficiency must now be a critical part of the company’s very existence.
In a truly critical analysis, an organization may not be judged to be efficient, unless each of its assets is observed and recorded. Traditionally, the business has not taken steps to ensure that it is aware of the energy efficiency of each of its assets, but that situation must now change as comprehensive reporting will be part of the true commercial environment of tomorrow.
Legislatures around the world are poised to write laws bringing energy use and carbon emissions great publicity. Regardless of the size of the company it must realize that it will be called upon for action. Enterprise carbon and energy management systems have been designed to help this organization integrate data, reporting its findings and taking action to improve as appropriate.
Once configured, an enterprise carbon and energy management system will be able to project total energy efficiency for the company and help it to move towards its goal. Many do not realize that carbon is likely to become a tradable commodity with a price on its head. As such, it will need to be added to the raw cost of buying the energy to start off with and it goes without saying that the organization that achieves energy efficiency will reap additional benefits.
For the company to realistically and with credibility call itself sustainable, it must redefine its very composition. In addition to determining its organizational boundaries, it must identify all sources and scopes of emissions, including those associated with supply chains. This is a quite complex undertaking.
The start of the new decade is likely to be a watershed for many organizations as they find that they must redefine themselves, both as they emerge from the brutal recession and as they prepare themselves for the carbon economy of tomorrow.
Daniel Stouffer has a lot of information about enterprise carbon and energy management systems and how a visit to www.verisae.com can benefit you.