Green in six steps
14 July 2022
Six key steps that an organisation could address as they prepare for Net Zero were outlined in a social media presentation today by Christian Spence, head of clean energy at Sunbelt Rentals in the UK.
First, he said, it was vital to identify the targets to be achieved and the time frame for reaching them so that success could be monitored. This could be, say, a goal to become carbon neutral within a business by a certain date.
Also important is to identify the areas of the organisation that are the top emissions producers, as these are where the greatest improvement can be made. Christian said that power generation equipment had been found to be responsible for the largest proportion of Sunbelt’s fleet emissions, so focus was being made in this area, amongst others.
Undertaking an energy audit was key in setting benchmarks for ongoing measurement of improvements.
Fourthly, an organisation should prioritise the areas to target. Christian suggested that a 'traffic light' red, amber or green rating could provide a good indication. This could also identify the factors driving the need for change, such as upgrading old technology or meeting new regulations.
Consultation amongst all stakeholders was necessary, including personnel, customers and suppliers, to understand the main factors at work throughout the supply chain, such as ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) responsibilities.
The final step was to deploy the new equipment and measures, and to monitor their impact by capturing data in the field and comparing it against the pre-determined benchmarks.
Christian emphasised the importance of recognising that significant improvements could be achieved now thanks to the new technology available, rather than delaying until a later date.
Net Zero can’t be achieved overnight but by implementing appropriate measures in planned stages, big advances can result.
● As already mentioned on the blog, Sunbelt has added ultra-low emissions electric vans to its delivery fleet, pictured above.
