Welcome back everyone. Today we will be making the case for
addressing the carbon footprint of your organization. The video below covers an
introductory look at the carbon cycle and our effect on it. As we progress into
more in-depth series, we will cover the process of carbon footprinting in more
detail, but it is important to set the stage with the introductory concepts.
Essentially, in many of our operations, we burn a fuel
source to create energy to power a process. These fuel sources are carbon based
(oil, coal, biomass, natural gas, etc.) and give off carbon dioxide, other
gases, and solid waste byproducts. This system has released a significant
amount of carbon into the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution, which is
a contributing factor in climate change.
Climate change is imposing various risks on corporations and
our society. Extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels, droughts, and floods
are all becoming more prevalent worldwide. These natural occurrences impact raw
material production, manufacturing operations, transportation, inventory, and
even sales. The operational and financial losses from natural disasters can
shock local and national economies, as well as the corporations that are active
in those areas.
It is important for organizations to calculate their carbon
footprint and to reduce carbon emissions to help mitigate these risks.
Calculating and reducing your carbon footprint can be used to identify ways to
reduce utility expenses and drive continued performance improvement. Stay tuned
for further discussion on carbon footprinting, as well as additional topics relevant
to Corporate Responsibility.
– Tad Radzinski, PE, LEED AP, SFP
Links:
Check out the Natural Catastrophe World Map for 2012 which demonstrates the global impacts
of climate change and illustrates the economic implications of such events.
If you would like to learn more about carbon footprinting, you
will find some helpful information on my company’s website, or email me at tad@tadradzinski.com and I will be happy
to provide additional resources.
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