An online tool to help organisations measure their carbon emissions was launched this morning by the Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
The carbon management tool (CMT) is available on change.ieand provides the facility to calculate emissions from energy, transport, water and waste using data relevant for Ireland, including data from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and the Commission for Energy Regulation.
It provides guidance on actions that organisations can take to better carbon manage their operations in line with advice from Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and the Environmental Protection Agency.
All information gathered on the CMT is confidential and users can access their data at any time with their own personal login details.
Launching the online tool, Mr Gormley said it could save organisations considerable amounts of money.
“Effective carbon management will not only reduce the amount of carbon emissions produced but it will also cut costs,” he said.
“Every organisation can save money through knowing its carbon emissions and taking steps to reduce them through more effective energy supply and usage, improved travel policies and effective water and waste management.”
“I encourage every business no matter how large or small, as well as voluntary organisations and Public Sector bodies, to go to www.change.ie, download the carbon management tool and find out what their carbon number is and then follow the steps to reduce it and commit to reviewing it every 6-12 months,” he said.
The Change campaign consulted with many organisations across the public and private sectors to develop the tool to ensure that it is applicable to Irish businesses and public sector organisations.
It was tested by 45 organisations across the public and private sectors and their feedback has guided both the format and content of the tool to ensure that it is both user-friendly and relevant to their needs.
The carbon calculator has been developed in line with the internationally recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol methodology, which is at the forefront of greenhouse gas reporting and accounting.