San Francisco Pilots Cisco’s Carbon-Tracking Tool

April 13, 2009

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Cisco is adding tools to track carbon emissions by collecting and processing field data, giving companies and cities a chance to understand their impacts on the environment.

Cisco is using wireless devices to monitor emissions from areas such as the Brazilian rainforest, all the way to developing a carbon mapping profile of San Francisco, according to Matter Network.

The EcoMap Web platform will be offered to industry, government and consumers for free. EcoMap will attempt, through online social networking, to gather user-generated best practices on reducing the carbon footprint in and around San Francisco.

For businesses, EcoMap will help track social behavior that, according to the site, can be used to improve environmental indicators:

Transportation – the map’s data may help cut the total miles driven, via methods such as driving less, cycling, taking public transit, or tele-commuting, as well as increasing the fuel-efficiency of vehicles.
Energy – the map can target energy inefficiencies and spur an increase in renewable energy installations.
Recycling – the map will track the volume of waste collected, with the goal of boosting recycling and composting rates.

In addition to EcoMap, Cisco is using mapping technology on the Planetary Skin project, which will help track carbon emissions related to development and business functions in areas such as the Brazilian rainforest.

Other computer and software companies are building up their carbon tracking offerings.

In February, Microsoft launched Environmental Sustainability Dashboard, an add-on to its Dynamics AX business applications that allows midsize companies to collect auditable data for energy consumption and GHG emissions.

And IBM has its Strategic Carbon Management program to help clients make their carbon footprints “smarter” and “smaller.” The service, also launched in February, is billed as a tool that will help clients analyze their CO2 emissions and energy use at scales ranging from a single department to a worldwide operation. It considers a wide range of business operations including travel, transportation systems, datacenters and IT systems, manufacturing and distribution centers, office facilities, retail space, and R&D sites.

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