Online tool offers industry easier way to track carbon footprint

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed an online tool that offers industrial plants an easier way to track and download information about their energy footprint and carbon emissions.

Visualizing Energy Reporting Information and Financial Implications, or VERIFI, is a tool that uses an open-source framework with a utility dashboard. It allows energy coordinators and plant managers to monitor and improve their understanding of energy and water use patterns including the amount of carbon emitted from industrial processes. Users can generate automatic reports, too.

"Industries want to know how to conserve and improve efficiency while reducing costs but often don't know how to begin or lack the time to track it," ORNL's Kristina Armstrong said. "VERIFI provides a user-friendly platform for monitoring energy efficiency benchmarks and baselines and allows for the visualization of energy and utility bills."