ICAT
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Welcome to the iCAT help page by CarbonLow Emissions. The online guide is designed to enhance your understanding of the iCAT system and to resolve any issues you are having with our system. Our clear help guide covers all the features of the iCAT system, from basics such as logging-in through to explaining each report, to allow you to get the most out of your iCAT account.
The help guide is divided into small, easy-to-digest sections or sub-pages and is easily navigated. To find the information select the area (either from the menu at the top of this page or by scrolling down the page) you are interested in and click on the link. The link will direct you to a specific page on the area you need help with and hopefully you will be able to find an answer to your issue.
[edit] Overview
The United Kingdom has committed to a CO2 reduction target of 80%, measured against 1990 levels [1]. It has also committed to a 20% reduction by 2020 as a result of a European Union commitment. [2]
These targets have been introduced in an attempt to head off catastrophic climate change as a result of a predicted atmospheric temperature rise of more than two degrees centigrade [3] and are now legally enforceable under the Climate Change Act 2008.
The Stern Report [4] indicates that a failure to act will be deeply damaging for the world's economy. It is therefore clear that the time to take action to reduce emissions is now.
"Business in the UK is responsible for approximately 40 per cent of carbon emissions" (Carbon Trust, 2007) [5] - demonstrating that business-led reductions in carbon emissions will be vital if the proposed targets are to be met and the UK is to remain at the forefront of tackling climate change.
[edit] Aim
The iCAT system has been developed to enable businesses and individuals to track their carbon footprint. iCAT also allows users to set carbon reduction targets and, with the aid of reminders, monitor progress.
iCAT's aim is to make the process of accounting for carbon emissions as simple and accessible as possible. The double aim of this is that it allows its users to reduce both their CO2 emissions and their overall business running costs.
[edit] Technology
The technology behind the iCAT products is the CarbonLow Ongoing Emissions Evaluation engine (CLOEE). CLOEE is developed using sophisticated technology that enables its users to update their carbon emission figures in several ways. This is primarily achieved through an Internet Browser making it usable by anyone who has a basic knowledge of the Internet. CLOEE is also capable of reminding its users when an update is required to their figures (such as to input their latest electricity meter reading) via electronic mail (e-mail) or mobile phone text-messages.
iCAT holds users' initial carbon footprints as a baseline reading to allow them to monitor their own progress over time. Users of iCAT have access to a variety of reports to monitor their carbon emissions, the reductions which have been made and to view environmental and cost reduction analysis. This gathered data may then be used to help customers of iCAT users to understand their own carbon footprint supply chain.
[edit]
The help guide is split into the following sections, to access a section simply click on the heading link. The guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to use aspects of the system and these are paired with annotated screenshots of the iCAT system to give you, the user, a visual understanding of the iCAT system. The screenshots are labelled with numbers which link back to the text instructions in the help guide. Further, the help guide explains, with an example, all the reports the iCAT system. These can be found either under the Reports section or in the individual aspect of the help guide, for example, travel reports are found under the travel help section.
[edit] Setup
[edit] Travel
[edit] Property
[edit] Waste
[edit] Supply Chain
[edit] Business Data
[edit] Reports
[edit] Validation
Pending release
[edit] Carbon Trading
Pending release
[edit] Appendixes
[edit] Help
Help on any aspect of the system is available on-line at CarbonLow Emissions, by e-mail to iCAT Help or by telephone - 01629 581777.
[edit] Contact
Please see the Carbonlow Emissions website for details of how to contact us.
[edit] References
- ↑ BBC NEWS, 2007. Corporate social responsibility [online]. BBC News. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7080580.stm [Accessed 19 September 2008].
- ↑ TRAYNOR, I. and GOW, D., 2007. EU promises 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 [online]. The Guardian. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/feb/21/climatechange.climatechangeenvironment [Accessed 19 September 2008].
- ↑ GIRLING, R., 2007. What will climate change do to our planet? [online]. Times Online. Available at: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article1480669.ece [Accessed 19 September 2008].
- ↑ STERN, N., 2007. The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- ↑ CARBON TRUST, 2007. Carbon Trust map reveals business carbon footprints across the UK [online]. The Carbon Trust. Available at: http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/News/presscentre/2007/010607_Carbon_map.htm [Accessed 19 September 2008].
