Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell), a US-based company, has introduced a new Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory service. The new service measures and offers a comprehensive snapshot of an organization's verifiable GHG emissions. The new service gives the customers the information to make educated, strategic decisions about minimizing their environmental impact and produces a precise baseline for measuring the success of sustainability programs.
Many organizations, incorporating the schools, universities and municipalities, have made a commitment to become carbon neutral or considerably cut GHG emissions. However, few have the proficiency or resources required to catalog present emissions, the cornerstone of effective programs. The GHG Inventory produces a baseline by using standard tools to measure the emissions attributed to all operations of an organization, compiling data from over 200 possible sources. The findings, presented in a GHG Emissions Report, offer a detailed starting point for introducing or validating green initiatives. Having a precise baseline is also essential for organizations that plan to access revenue streams associated with emissions trading.
We already had an aggressive energy conservation program in place, but we needed a verifiable way to measure its impact, stated Leon Bivens, physical plant director for University of Maryland Eastern Shore, an American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signatory. The Honeywell inventory showed that we were on the right track with the steps we’ve taken, which have reduced energy use by 30%.
The new GHG Inventory has also given university valuable data to measure and meet the environmental targets outlined under the ACUPCC. The GHG Emissions Report, for example, revealed that electricity was the prime source of emissions for the university. As a result, the university executed more efficient lighting, and also automatic cutbacks on large heating and cooling equipment, among other efficiency measures.
The findings revealed exactly where and how much we needed to cut back to shrink our emissions footprint, added Bivens.
As part of the inventory, the company determines organizational, operational and temporal boundaries, establishing criteria for all measurable data. The company’s energy experts then compile data from three scopes of emission sources, going beyond traditional energy audit measures.
The first scope measures the emissions from sources directly associated to an organization, like produced electricity or heating plant fuel combustion. The second scope takes into account emissions from the sources brought in to an organization, incorporating purchased electricity and heat. Finally, the third scope evaluates sources associated to organizational activities, incorporating emissions that result from employees commuting by car or plane travel.
After compiling and calculating the full range of data, the company presents the emissions report that summarizes the information by scope and incorporates recommendations for minimizing environmental impact. With this information, organizations are better equipped to inform all stakeholders and the surrounding community about their climate impact.
Many organizations are trying to improve sustainability, but it’s difficult to make changes without fully understanding the areas that need to be addressed, stated Paul Orzeske, president of Honeywell Building Solutions. The GHG Inventory removes ambiguity by collecting and measuring data from a myriad of sources. Plus, the results come from an organization with decades of energy and sustainability experience.
In addition to delivering the inventory service, Honeywell also offers workshops to educate customers on how to perform their own emissions profiling. Organizations learn how to use the tools and methodologies they need to launch and maintain successful sustainability programs.
Since the 1980s, Honeywell has completed over 5,000 energy-efficiency projects in facilities across the globe. It also has helped five million homeowners reduce their energy use through our work with utilities. These projects are anticipated to deliver over $5 billion in energy and operational savings.
Overall, nearly 50% of company’s product portfolio company-wide is associated to energy efficiency. The company anticipates the global economy could operate on 10 to 25% less energy by utilizing existing Honeywell technologies.