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Conscious of the fact that they were moving relatively quickly and breaking new ground, the British government went out of its way to solicit feedback prior to the commencement of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. The program, which will be based on a “cap and trade” auction scheme when it really gets underway, affects some 5000 large organizations within the country. Each company spends about $500,000 per year on energy costs and are significant contributors, therefore, to the problem of greenhouse gas emissions.

Why is it that the definition of efficiency is not always encompassing, but rather more selective? Senior management and accountants tend to measure efficiency according to the organization’s mission statement, the reason why it exists. Efficiency may be measured according to use of raw materials, but traditionally that has excluded energy. In a critical world, it’s important to be aware of all performance parameters.

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” — this is the way that the United Nations defines sustainability. They also go on to say that the whole process requires environmental, economic and social elements to be reconciled and therefore sustainable corporations must adopt this “triple bottom line” idea. Sustainability is an essential part of doing business these days, from any point of view.

Critics of government action which would force corporate attention to focus on environmental change, point to the fact that the federal government does not lead by example. The burgeoning organization is often touted as the country’s largest polluter and seems slow to accept its responsibilities and publish the size of its energy footprint.

While we tend to think of large industrial complexes, the fact is that the federal government is in fact the largest carbon emitter and user of energy. There are so many individual departments, hundreds of thousands of employees, vehicles and buildings it is surprising the issue of agency sustainability has not achieved more focus in the popular press.

You could argue that corporate decision-makers certainly earn their remuneration these days, as a business can face so many different challenges from so many different directions. Not only are competitive pressures unrelenting due to the downward economy, but costs are also rising, especially when it comes to the traditional sources of energy. The decision-makers could be forgiven for failing to hear the growing calls from environmentalists as sustainability becomes an issue of equal importance. Fully 80% of companies do not understand this or are not willing to take action, but this must change.

Following the issuance of an executive order, energy use is now the subject of considerable attention throughout federal agencies around the country. President back Obama issued his new EO with relatively little media fanfare, but we can be sure that its repercussions will be felt far and wide around the United States.

Great harm is done to the planet by manmade chemicals such as refrigerant gases. They are a major cause of global climate change. We do need these chemicals on a day by day basis, as they help us to operate essential refrigeration equipment and make our lives easier, but they represent a significant threat to human welfare. Major governments have introduced regulations limiting the use of these substances, as they present a threat to the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.