What Is The Best Enterprise Carbon Accounting Solution?

Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 by Ross in New Technologies

Enterprise carbon accounting has seen massive growth over the past 12 months, as companies flock to engage with sustainable business practices, comply with new carbon reduction legislation and justify green PR claims.

Numerous companies have set up their stalls in this new emerging marketplace, but which is the best enterprise carbon accounting solution? Here are some of the current contenders, with client bases including most of the world’s most recognisable brands…

Enablon: The world’s largest sustainability software company, Enablon markets a sophisticated carbon accounting solution as part of their QEHS (Quality, Environment and Health and Safety) performance management software.

Enviance: Enviance’s cloud-hosted Environmental ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) platform has a strong focus on carbon accounting, as well as pre-empting the future need for effective water and waste management as well.

Hara: The young trendy upstart in the field, the Hara Environmental and Energy Management system promises ‘audit-grade’ enterprise carbon accounting, and includes modular support for supply chain analysis and product lifecycle emission monitoring.

IHS: The grand-daddy of the enterprise carbon accounting world, 50-year old IHS has included a carbon accounting module into its long-standing enterprise environmental and chemical management software.

Johnson Controls: The Energy and Emissions Management System by Johnson Controls promises web-based tools to help with enterprise carbon accounting obligations, including forecasting, tracking and data management.

PE International: The SoFi software provided by PE International offers carbon accountants the ability to audit carbon footprints, track goals and performance and identify cost-saving opportunities as well.

ProcessMAP: Long-standing contributor ProcessMAP has a software platform which tracks environmental performance parameters such as carbon emissions, as well as integrating reputation management alerts for key public sustainability ranking reports.

SAP: SAP Carbon Impact is a expansive enterprise carbon accounting tool which concentrates on tracking and analysing emissions effectively, with an emphasis on cost identification and source comparison.

There’s plenty of different capabilities on offer across these companies, with different companies likely to have their carbon accounting needs satisfied by different solutions. Bear in mind the goals that your company is trying to achieve both now and in the future from its carbon accounting, and how dedicated the companies above are to the development of their software offerings. Be sure to try the demos available from those who offer them, but don’t take too long to make a choice: substantial cost savings can be realised from carbon emission reductions, and proper carbon accounting is a sure-fire way of escalating an energy-efficiency agenda up the boardroom agenda.

Image by bettybluegreen @ Flickr

Have you used any of these or other carbon accounting packages? Why not share your experience in the comments below!