John Laumer speaks with the Carbon Catablog on what pitfalls companies can avoid while becoming carbon neutral.

— Produce emissions estimates for entire facilities over which your organization has majority control, including joint ventures.

— It’s more important to estimate what emission reductions can be achieved year-by-year or decade-by-decade, than it is to estimate the baseline emissions of a company or business.

— Start off with inside experts because they would know how much efficiency can be achieved in the business model.

— It’s important to engage first tier suppliers for flagship products and services. If they are unwilling to release third party certified emissions estimates then you have a big problem, both with your customers and government stakeholders, and with your business model.

— Establishing good supply chain relationships and relationships with fuel and energy suppliers is more important than having a great software package.

— Firms that are getting carbon management right have been investing in R&D for a new low carbon future and shedding carbon intensive operations.

Laumer’s strategic and practical questions checklist for companies initiating a carbon offset plan can be found on Carbon Catablog.

Greentech investment experts at GoingGreen recently discussed how much it will cost the U.S. economy to go carbon neutral.