Smart Energy Decisions Webinar: Optimizing the Low Carbon Pathway

This article was originally published by our partners Envizi.

On October 21st, 2020, Envizi hosted a panel discussion on ‘Optimizing the Low Carbon Pathway’ to outline recommendations to organizations beginning their journey to lower their carbon emissions and to demystify the nuances and complexities of decarbonization. Smart Energy Decisions, a web-based information resource system, moderated the discussion to provide a neutral platform to help organizations  map out their approach to lowering their carbon emissions by adopting best practices in data management, energy efficiency and renewable energy sourcing. David Solsky, Envizi’s CEO & Co-Founder set the stage, reminding listeners of the importance of making data driven decisions along each stage in the low-carbon journey. Then, Redaptive’s President John Rhow and Edison Energy’s VP of Renewables & Analytics, Christen Blum, shared essential details associated with energy data capture and decarbonization methodologies.

The virtual panel discussion began as the group explored some high-level strategies to embark on the pathway to low carbon, recognizing that organizations simply need to start somewhere. In setting the stage for the discussion, David Solsky reminded webinar participants that corporations of all sizes are making a variety of data-driven commitments in decarbonization, including Net Zero, RE 100, and Carbon Neutrality. Though each commitment may be different, the process to reach those achievements looks similar for most organisations . A key takeaway from the introduction is that on the whole, investors of companies in all sizes and industries are taking a more critical eye to ESG Reporting, which must be treated with the same level of transparency and integrity as financial reporting.

Solsky continues by reminding listeners that most organizations have begun to measure Scope 1 & Scope 2 Emissions, but are beginning to consider the more nuanced measurement of Scope 3. He encourages listeners to start the process of addressing Scope 1 & Scope 2 Emissions by identifying no-cost and low-cost operational efficiencies, capital upgrades, and on-site and off-site renewable energy before diving into Scope 3 the complicated process of life-cycle analysis, environmental product declarations, and the end of life treatment of products and materials.

This process sounds complicated for organizations that are early in their journey of ESG reporting, but John Rhow reminds listeners that technology exists to reduce the complexity of this growing market. Of course, companies can only optimize what they measure and Redaptive’s submetering technologies support the data collection and analysis process. The more precise the measurement, the more transparent the savings and more practical the decarbonization. As a partner of Envizi, Redaptive’s metering is the perfect mechanism to collect the data that Envizi’s software platform can utilize to derive insights to support informed decision making..

Christen Blum then shares the decarbonization solutions for the power that continues to be used after the initial efficiencies are identified and implemented. Blum, of Edison Energy, helps organizations understand which strategy makes the most sense for different scenarios and real estate portfolios, from on-site solar to Virtual PPAs and everything in between. Though this is a complicated decision, Blum shares a high-level explanation of the differences in Community Solar, Green Tariffs, RECs, Virtual PPAs, and On-site solar. Her easy-to-read charts may facilitate easier decision-making.

The webinar concludes with addressing a few real world challenges to identifying and addressing operational efficiencies, but ends with the reminder that when these decisions are built into ‘business as usual’ over time, though contract negotiations, a foundation of transparent data, information from suppliers and team engagement, decarbonization is possible. Watch the complete webinar here.