A growing number of companies have adopted climate-related targets, such as energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. Many of the companies see targets as improving their competitive market position by reducing production costs and enhancing product sales today, and in anticipation of regulatory and market environments of the future.
Companies doing business in Texas can demonstrate their commitment to mitigating global warming by setting targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Three ways Texas businesses can meet greenhouse gas reduction targets are cleaner energy, improved manufacturing processes and conservation and better waste management practices.
Burning fossil fuels to provide energy contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Energy providers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in fuel production and electricity generation. These energy providers can develop technology and renewable energy sources in the interest of a cleaner energy supply. BP committed in 1997 to reduce GHG emissions 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2010. DuPont will reduce GHG emissions 65 percent below 1990 levels by 2010, hold total energy use flat using 1990 as a base year, and meet 10 percent of global energy needs from renewable resources by 2010.
Businesses can reduce their energy demand by improving their manufacturing processes, conserving energy, promoting energy efficiency and purchasing renewable energy for use within their business operations. American Electric Power has upgraded lighting over 6.5 million square feet, avoiding 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. IBM’s energy conservation efforts in 2000 reduced total energy use by almost 4.8 percent, avoiding an estimated 162,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions while saving the company more than $14.7 million.
Businesses in Texas can also reduce GHG emissions by improving their waste management practices. These emission reductions result from decreased landfill gas production and less need to extract and process raw materials.