Thoughtful management of energy consumption can generate considerable energy savings for consumers. However, several obstacles hinder the establishment of an effective energy management system, especially the unavailability of qualified resources and lack of access to information necessary for its establishment.

The International Organisation for Standardisation has released ISO 50001, a standard for energy management systems.

The 2nd KPMG New Zealand Sustainability Survey was conducted during October 2010. It consisted of an on-line questionnaire covering aspects of sustainability relevant to understanding the approach by New Zealand business and the extent of integration into organisational strategy.

“In 2006, Paul Rak, president of VeriForm Inc, a Canadian steel fabricator, set his company on the kind of do-gooder mission that could have given his corporate accountant fits. Rak had just seen Al Gore’s climate change film, An Inconvenient Truth, his first child had recently been born, and Rak decided he was obliged to find ways to deeply cut his company’s greenhouse gas emissions, even though he knew it was going to cost plenty.

“There are many reasons why firms are turning to carbon and energy software providers. It could be pressure from stakeholders to take a more sustainable approach to business, or an obligation to comply with environmental regulations, or simply a cost cutting exercise implemented from the board. But there is a considerable gap between identifying a need for suitable software solutions and meeting that need.

“We are currently conducting an online survey of purchase intentions of large companies for carbon and energy management software and services. One notable finding that has already surfaced is the lack priority some chief financial officers (CFO) assign to energy management, which mirrors our consulting in the field…..

Using renewable energy gives your business a certain cachet, but don't underestimate the importance of energy efficiency, says Benj Sykes

The Energy Management Association (EMANZ) is challenging businesses that think it’s impossible to make further energy savings to an energy savings “duel”.

In order to know how to write an energy policy you must first identify what it is that your organisation wants to achieve from the policy document.

It's Time to Give Up Spreadsheets for Tracking Carbon Emissions