How do you get to Net Zero?
Climate change has been a global concern for over a decade, and the problem isn’t disappearing anytime soon. Luckily, businesses can greatly reduce their carbon footprints and work toward sustainability through practices like carbon offsetting to help them get to net zero.
In a company’s daily practices (particularly companies with fleets), carbon is produced. To make up for the carbon being put into the environment, companies can purchase carbon offsets, which support environmental projects such as planting trees or restoring land.
Carbon offsetting can be incredibly effective at helping fleet businesses reduce their carbon footprint and, with time, reach net zero emissions. Matt Reese and Jeff Hershey, fleet and renewables representatives for Guttman Energy, respectively, recently discussed how carbon offsets can help fleets move toward net zero.
Q: Are fleet managers/owners currently interested in carbon offsets, emissions, and other climate issues?
A from Matt: Fleet managers seem to be largely aware of the climate issues facing the industry, but typically, they aren’t interested in sustainability efforts until it is required, not optional.
Q: What are the biggest obstacles fleets may face when trying to reach net zero?
A from Matt: As carbon offsets and other eco-friendly practices become standard in the trucking industry, the biggest obstacle will be changing companies’ buying behaviors and raising awareness about how simple and effective purchasing carbon offsets can be.
Q: What are the first steps a fleet manager should take in working toward going net zero?
A from Jeff: First, fleet managers must assess their operations to understand their current energy use and establish a baseline. From there, they can think about and set realistic targets for the company based on where they are now and where they’d like to be by a specific date.
As part of an overall emissions reduction plan, identifying opportunities to reduce emissions by improving operational efficiency is a good place to start. This can include a range of activities; from investments in more efficient and/or renewable-powered vehicles, to lower-cost, yet impactful activities such as route optimization and driver training on techniques that reduce fuel usage.
In summary – get the lay of the land, make a plan, and utilize multiple tools, including carbon offsets, as part of a comprehensive net zero pathway.
Q: What are the benefits of working toward net zero?
A from Jeff: Companies working toward lower emissions can realize a range of benefits, including establishing a sustainable reputation and commitment to the environment. Taking steps toward cowering CO2 can also be part of a broader risk mitigation strategy and position a company ahead of the game should regulations change in the near future.
Lastly, efforts to optimize operations are key to reducing emissions, but they can also help improve profitability by reducing energy costs and eliminating waste.
Q: If a fleet manager were interested in purchasing carbon offsets, who should they contact?
A from Jeff: If you’re interested in lowering emissions, carbon offsets, and other related topics, please reach out today to connect with one of our experts who can help you get started.
There you have it! Guttman Energy and Guttman Renewables are proud to lead the charge in helping fleets throughout the Northeast work toward sustainability and net zero carbon emissions. Contact the Guttman Energy team today for more information on how we can help your company reach its environmental goals.
