Over recent years, concern over climate change and rising energy prices has led to a widespread drive across industry to reduce energy consumption.
As consumers and investors become more aware of climate change they are demanding that companies take practical steps to reduce their carbon footprint. In order to do this, they need access to high quality, real time data about their energy and resource usage. In energy intensive industries such as manufacturing and food processing, this is particularly acute.
Since 2019, large companies in the UK have also been required to report publicly on their UK energy use and carbon emissions within their Directors’ Report.
Carbon reporting software can help companies monitor and reduce their energy and carbon use while meeting their Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) requirement if required.
Even if your company does not meet the criteria for SECR, by accessing a range of data sources companies are able to make decisions about energy use and equipment management. They’re also able to underpin their decision making with powerful data, which in larger organisations can be used to build the case for more systematic changes, or equipment replacement.
What is Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting?
Before looking at what carbon tracking and reporting software can do for energy intensive companies, it’s important to take a look at the regulatory framework established by SECR.
Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) is a reporting framework requiring larger companies to report on their energy use and carbon emissions. It was introduced in April 2019 as the successor to the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme. It has been designed to simplify carbon and energy reporting while increasing transparency and accountability. Because of the complexities involved in efficient and accurate energy and carbon reporting, companies will frequently use carbon reporting software.
Carbon tracking and reporting requirements have been designed to provide customers, investors and stakeholders with easy to understand information about the company’s energy and carbon performance. It enables stakeholders to monitor the progress that is being made and should provide a framework through which companies can make transparent steps towards achieving realistic carbon reduction targets.
Reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in energy-intensive industries
Carbon reporting software can help companies in energy intensive industries monitor the performance of systems and equipment, identifying areas where energy consumption can be reduced, and track progress toward energy reduction goals.
Some of the ways in which it does this include:
Equipment specific monitoring
In a manufacturing setting, heavy machinery such as conveyors, compressors, and pumps, often run continuously and consume large amounts of electricity. In food processing operations, refrigeration systems consume a large amount of energy to maintain a consistent and safe temperature for perishable foods. Similarly, ovens, mixers, and other cooking equipment require high levels of energy to operate and can be a significant source of energy consumption, especially if they are old.
Automated Data Collection
Carbon reporting software can integrate with a company’s existing energy management systems and automatically collect energy consumption data, reducing the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of errors. It reduces the amount of time, labour and resources required to gather data from across the organisation. It then presents that data in an easy to understand and accessible format.
Data analysis and reporting
Carbon reporting software can analyse a company’s energy consumption and emissions data, providing insights into its energy performance and identifying areas for improvement. This information can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of current sustainability initiatives and shape future projects. It can present data in visual and written formats that are easy to understand and align with regulatory metrics. It also enables data sharing, providing secure and controlled access to a company’s energy consumption and emissions data.
Benchmarking
Carbon reporting software makes it simple to benchmark a company’s energy consumption and emissions against industry peers and its own historical data. This can provide valuable insights into areas for improvement.
Carbon reporting software can also allow companies to identify trends and patterns in their energy consumption and emissions and track their progress towards reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
Goal setting and tracking
Carbon reporting software can help companies set and track emissions reduction goals by providing a centralised, integrated platform that can monitor and evaluate their energy consumption and emissions data.
Carbon reporting software can assist companies in establishing quantifiable and attainable emissions reduction targets based on their energy consumption and emissions data. This can provide a clear roadmap for a company’s sustainability efforts and help prioritise its initiatives.
The software can continuously monitor a company’s energy consumption and emissions data and provide a clear view of its progress towards its emissions reduction targets.
Industry-leading carbon reporting software from Verco
Carbon Desktop can help your company track and reduce its energy and resource use while meeting any regulatory requirements. It helps you track your energy use across utilities, find efficiency savings, develop and implement new strategies to reduce energy usage and track their progress.
It also enables you to see in real-time, the cost-savings you are making across your business. It allows you to monitor the performance of energy intensive equipment that may be at the heart of your industry, helping you to make timely decisions regarding maintenance or replacement.
We will work closely with you, tailoring our service to your precise requirements. You can rely on the support of our multi-disciplined teams to help you achieve your goals. Our aim is to build a strong, long-term working relationship with you to ensure that any improvements that are made, are sustainable and have a positive impact on your bottom line.
Through our high quality energy, water and waste reduction audits, we will ensure that you have all the reporting facilities you need to make significant cost savings.
We would love to share with you some of the benefits of Carbon Desktop. Why not sign up for your free, no-obligation demonstration today?
