SIMON MUNDY
COMPANIES in SA are now able to procure a report of their carbon emissions for a fraction of the cost of existing methods, thanks to a new service from local technology firm sustainableIT.
TheCarbonReport.com, which came into operation at the beginning of this month, requires companies to submit data on their operating activities, which is processed by analysts to produce a comprehensive picture of the business’s carbon footprint.
Although 68 of the JSE Top 100 companies published carbon reports last year, the service would target medium-sized businesses deterred by the cost of compiling a report, said sustainableIT director Tim James.
“So far we’ve seen enterprise carbon management software, which gives a holistic view of the entire business; and carbon consultants, who expend a good deal of time and labour conducting an audit of the business for perhaps hundreds of thousands of rands.
“Our product will cost a typical business just R10000, and the carbon report we offer fulfills all the official requirements.”
Companies could expect to regain the cost of the service quickly through energy efficiency savings, the effect of which would be magnified by Eskom’s expected steep tariff hikes.
“Businesses will also be able to get an understanding of their carbon risk, giving them time to adapt in advance of the introduction of a carbon tax, which we expect to see in 2012.”
An expected global carbon trading system would also increase pressure on companies to reduce their energy usage, given the country’s reliance on coal-fired power stations.
James hopes to sign up 500 businesses in the next year. “Depending on market take-up, we plan to take this system online within the next six months.”
SustainableIT would look to expand into overseas markets within three months of introducing a web-based service.
“We’ll probably target the UK first: its government has introduced the c arbon r eduction c ommitment, which will put real pressure on British businesses to reduce their carbon footprints.”
Further expansion in Europe and the US was expected to follow.
“There are a lot of carbon calculators on the web, but we take that data and produce a full report. I haven’t seen a similar offering globally that does that.”
mundys@bdfm.co.za