Decarbonization for businesses: podcast interview with Ben Matek
Ben Matek serves as a Decarbonization Consulting Program Manager at CLEAResult, developing carbon reduction strategies tailored to meet client sustainability goals.
Recently, Ben joined the Information Management Network (IMN) on a podcast during the ESG and Decarbonizing Real Estate Forum in Nashville. Here he shared his enthusiasm for helping others reduce emissions and offered expert advice for businesses looking to embark on their own decarbonization path.
What initial steps can businesses take to begin reducing emissions?
- Begin with an energy audit: Conducting a comprehensive facility evaluation can establish total energy use and waste, and opportunities for improved efficiency and reducing emissions.
- Analyze results: Evaluate findings from the energy audit, estimate costs for each opportunity, and develop a decarbonization strategy tailored to your business. Focus on process and equipment modifications aimed at reducing carbon emissions, conserving energy and, ultimately, leading to cost savings.
- Implement changes: Whether you use internal experts or an expert from CLEAResult, find an implementation partner to execute your decarbonization strategy. Continue to monitor energy savings, emissions reductions and cost savings from your program.
What market trends are on your radar this year?
- Geothermal is having a comeback: More businesses are asking about geothermal and considering it for their properties and industrial processes. Geothermal technologies are a clean source of energy that uses heat from the subsurface to generate electricity or provide direct heating and cooling. While enhanced geothermal, geothermal heating and cooling and heat pump technology has existed for decades, recent advancements and private and federal investment have prompted more companies to consider these applications at their facilities.
- Businesses are better educated and more motivated to make changes: We are seeing the effects of climate change happening here and now. More businesses consider climate change a material risk and are taking action to mitigate both direct financial risks and the transition risks associated with moving toward a net-zero economy. Reducing carbon emissions is a key tool to mitigate these risks and has the potential to build stronger relationships with clients. The incentives are clear and better aligned than ever before.
To listen to the full podcast, visit the IMN episode on Spotify.
For more information about CLEAResult’s decarbonization services, link to our Decarbonization & Engineering Services page.
