How Software Can Support Energy-Efficiency

Thanks to a growing number of regulations, businesses are now forced to become aware of their carbon footprint and take steps to mitigate their environmental impact. While the strictest legislation is being imposed in Europe, like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) disclosure requirements, the U.S. isn’t far behind.

Although similar regulations have yet to hit the United States, there are already a host of environmental laws in the U.S. For example, many businesses are required to get permits, use specific storage and disposal protocols, get regular inspections, track emissions, and use specific technology to mitigate how their operations impact the air, bodies of water, and nearby populations. All of this can be challenging to manage, but software makes it easier.

If your business is governed by environmental protection laws, or you just want to be more energy-efficient, the right software can be a game changer.

You can’t track everything manually

Whatever you need to track, don’t do it manually. The right software application will not only provide you with data faster, but those insights will be far more accurate than manual calculations. If you’re bound by environmental regulations, you can’t afford to make mistakes. One wrong calculation could cost you thousands in regulatory fines. No matter how long you’ve been doing things the old way, software will be a major upgrade for your business.

Software helps you save money, too

For instance, fleet managers use this tool to track fuel consumption, which helps them save money by flagging vehicles that are consuming fuel at an unusually high rate. Instead of just continually refueling all vehicles and wondering why you’re spending more money on gas, tracking fuel consumption will tell you immediately when there’s a problem. You may not get dinged by the EPA for using too much fuel, but inefficiencies create more pollution and cost you more money.

Software will help you track additional factors

If you’re concerned about how your business impacts the environment, you need to look at more than just your energy consumption, like electricity and fuel. If you manufacture parts, for example, you’ll need to consider all of the resources required to produce your parts. How much water does it take to make each batch? Is that water cleaned and recycled, or does it get dumped back into a body of water in a polluted state? How much waste do you send to the landfill? If you buy parts from other manufacturers, what is their environmental impact to produce those parts?

Using software is the best way to track how all of your business operations are impacting the environment, including processes you don’t control. For example, you probably purchase parts from other manufacturers, and you’ll need to take their environmental impact into account in order to make your business as eco-friendly as possible.

Beware of hidden issues

On the surface, you might not realize your total environmental impact if you’re sourcing materials or parts from other companies. For example, Tesla vehicles are advertised as being one of the most energy-efficient vehicles you could buy, and that may be true for the final vehicle. However, the process of making Tesla batteries is far from green.

Producing just one electric battery for a Tesla generates an extreme amount of CO2 emissions estimated to be between 5,291 and 35,273 pounds. The exact number can’t be determined because the company won’t release the data, which is a red flag. The company says the CO2 emissions are overcome throughout the life of the vehicle, but that’s up for debate.

If you want to track the total environmental impact of your business operations, then you’ll need to track data from all of your suppliers. The best way to do this is with software, but you’ll need to do the research first to find the data.

Software supports the goal of having a smaller carbon footprint

At the end of the day, software makes it easy to track your energy consumption, which will help you identify opportunities to improve efficiency and cut costs. Whether your goal is to get ahead of your competitors or you’re just starting to become energy-efficient, the right software will be your biggest asset. By tracking all energy-related operational components closely, you’ll save money and stay in alignment with the environmental regulations your business is required to follow.