Microsoft unveiled the Environmental Sustainability Dashboard (ESD) for its Microsoft Dynamics AX ERP package,responding to demand for greater visibility into their energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Others in the enterprise computing space are also adding such capabilities (including Cisco and Ilog).
Microsoft’s add-on available at no cost to companies running Dynamics AX 2009. The ESD enables organizations to collect auditable data on four of the core environmental performance indicators identified by the Global Reporting Initiative for energy consumption and GHG emissions, including direct on-premises fuel consumption and the carbon footprint of their power usage. Drawing on this data, organizations can attack sustainability goals such as monitoring their carbon footprint or tracking and reducing energy waste.
Tracking green indicators are becoming part of everyday business. The talk of adding a carbon cap and trade system in the United States is raising business awareness of the need to track and report these important metrics. Businesses are smart to get ahead on this trend to begin taking stock of their environmental impacts.
