System and Method for Managing Sustainability for an Organization

• US 20110060614A1
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Computer Associates Think Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koponen, Janne M.P., Clark, Terrence G., Mercer, James B., Gilbert, Peter J.
• Application Number:
  US12/765,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20110060614A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/84 Greenhouse gas [GHG] management systems

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for managing sustainability for an organization is disclosed. The method may include storing in a computer system a plurality of characteristics of an activity. The activity may contribute to the carbon footprint of an organization. The plurality of characteristics may include a unit of measurement, an activity category, a plurality of hierarchical descriptors, and a respective multiplier for each hierarchical descriptor. The method may further include receiving from the computer system data representing a number of the unit of measurement. Additionally, the method may include receiving from the computer system data representing a first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors. The method may further include calculating, using a processor of a computer unit, a carbon emission value based at least in part by multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors. The method may further include storing in the computer system the carbon emission value and receiving from the computer system data representing a second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors. The method may further include, in response to the received data representing the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors, automatically updating the stored carbon emission value with a recalculated carbon emission value at least in part by the processor of the computer unit multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing sustainability for an organization, the method comprising:

storing in a computer system a plurality of characteristics of an activity, the activity contributing to the carbon footprint of an organization, the plurality of characteristics comprising;

a unit of measurement;

an activity category;

a plurality of hierarchical descriptors; and

a respective multiplier for each one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors;

receiving from the computer system data representing a number of the unit of measurement;

receiving from the computer system data representing a first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors;

calculating using a processor of a computer unit a carbon emission value based at least in part by multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors;

storing in the computer system the carbon emission value;

receiving from the computer system data representing a second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors; and

in response to the received data representing the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors, automatically updating the stored carbon emission value with a recalculated carbon emission value at least in part by the processor of the computer unit multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of characteristics are stored as instances of a source object;

wherein each respective multiplier is stored as an instance of an emission factor object; and

wherein the activity indirectly contributes to the carbon footprint of an organization.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing in the computer system a date value, the date value corresponding to a timeframe during which the number of the unit of measurement is received; and

automatically setting a flag after a predetermined duration of time has passed since the date value is stored.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unit of measurement quantifies one or more measurement types selected from the group consisting of:

distance traveled;

electrical energy consumed;

volume of natural gas consumed;

weight of coal consumed;

a quantum of inventory;

a quantum of production;

revenue; and

carbon dioxide emissions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the organization is a business organization.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hierarchical descriptors comprises a plurality of hierarchically organized geographic regions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective multiplier for each one of the plurality of hierarchal descriptors is a function of the activity category type, the activity category being one of a plurality of selectable activity categories.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising software operable, when executed by at least one processor, to:

store in a computer system a plurality of characteristics of an activity, the activity contributing to the carbon footprint of an organization, the plurality of characteristics comprising;

a unit of measurement;

an activity category;

a plurality of hierarchical descriptors; and

a respective multiplier for each one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors;

receive from the computer system data representing a number of the unit of measurement;

receive from the computer system data representing a first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors;

calculate using a processor of a computer unit a carbon emission value based at least in part by multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors;

storing in the computer system the carbon emission value;

receiving from the computer system data representing a second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors; and

in response to the received data representing the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors, automatically update the stored carbon emission value with a recalculated carbon emission value at least in part by the processor of the computer unit multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of characteristics are stored as instances of a source object;

wherein each respective multiplier is stored as an instance of an emission factor object; and

wherein the activity indirectly contributes to the carbon footprint of an organization.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the software is further operable, when executed by the at least one processor, to:

store a date value in the computer system, the date value corresponding to a timeframe during which the number of the unit of measurement is received; and

automatically set a flag after a predetermined duration of time has passed since the date value is stored.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the unit of measurement quantifies one or more measurement types selected from the group consisting of:

distance traveled;

electrical energy consumed;

volume of natural gas consumed;

weight of coal consumed;

a quantum of inventory;

a quantum of production;

revenue; and

carbon dioxide emissions.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the organization is a business organization.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the plurality of hierarchical descriptors comprises a plurality of hierarchically organized geographic regions.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the respective multiplier for each one of the plurality of hierarchal descriptors is a function of the activity category type, the activity category being one of a plurality of selectable activity categories.

15. A data processing system for managing sustainability for an organization, the data processing system comprising:

at least one processor; and

one or more memory modules collectively storing;

a plurality of characteristics of an activity, the activity contributing either directly or indirectly to the carbon footprint of a business organization, the plurality of characteristics comprising;

a unit of measurement;

an activity category;

a plurality of hierarchical descriptors; and

a respective multiplier for each one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors; and

logic operable, when executed by the at least one processor, to;

receive from the computer system data representing a number of the unit of measurement;

receive from the computer system data representing a first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors;

calculate using a processor of a computer unit a carbon emission value based at least in part by multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the first one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors;

storing in the computer system the carbon emission value;

receiving from the computer system data representing a second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors; and

in response to the received data representing the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors, automatically update the stored carbon emission value with a recalculated carbon emission value at least in part by the processor of the computer unit multiplying the number of the unit of measurement by the respective multiplier of the second one of the plurality of hierarchical descriptors.

16. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of characterizations are stored as instances of a source object;

wherein each respective multiplier is stored as an instance of an emission factor object; and

wherein the activity indirectly contributes to the carbon footprint of an organization.

17. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the logic is further operable, when executed by the at least one processor, to:

store a date value in the one or more tangible memory modules, the date value corresponding to a timeframe during which the number of the unit of measurement is received; and

automatically set a flag after a predetermined duration of time has passed since the date value is stored.

18. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the unit of measurement quantifies one or more measurement types selected from the group consisting of:

distance traveled;

electrical energy consumed;

volume of natural gas consumed;

weight of coal consumed;

a quantum of inventory;

a quantum of production;

revenue; and

carbon dioxide emissions.

19. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of hierarchical descriptors comprises a plurality of hierarchically organized geographic regions.

20. The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the respective multiplier for each one of the plurality of hierarchal descriptors is a function of the activity category type, the activity category being one of a plurality of selectable activity categories.