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LSS goes green

Alex Kayle
By Alex Kayle, Senior portals journalist
Johannesburg, 12 Jun 2009

International governments are using the Kyoto Protocol to enforce stringent energy usage laws on companies and SA is no exception.

IBM has rolled out a green solution that uses Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodologies to monitor and analyse energy consumption. This was announced during the ITWeb Lean Six Sigma conference, held in Sandton, yesterday.

Last week, the South African government released the draft Taxation Amendment Bill 2009, which proposes that businesses will see tax reduction incentives for energy saving in line with carbon emission regulations. Businesses will have to submit substantial proof of energy savings to the National Energy Efficiency Agency.

Currently, SA ranks in 12th position as the one of the top offenders of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. SA contributes 65% of Africa's total emissions.

Energy efficiency

As part of the Smarter Planet initiative spearheaded by IBM, the global IT giant spent two years developing a solution that helps companies monitor and reduce carbon emissions.

Niall Brady, Green Sigma worldwide technical development manager at IBM, said at the conference that the solution has modified LSS principles into a power management analysis solution.

“The green agenda is gaining momentum all over the world. The UK government is rolling out energy efficiency regulations, forcing companies to report on their carbon position and then to prove year-on-year reductions in carbon emissions.”

Cost is key

Brady pointed out that businesses tend to be far removed from energy awareness around IT, until they notice cost savings stemming from the methodology, especially in tough financial times.

“Things have changed, companies are trying to survive and energy saving and cost is key to that. In the context of energy usage, businesses need to identify opportunities through processes where they can make potential savings. The green Six Sigma management system allows a business to feel confident that its energy is under control and can see benefits through LSS principles.

“Companies coming from a position of complete ignorance are moving to a complete understanding using the solution, and it has strong return on IT investments. Typically the roll-out of the programme will take six months to see a return on investment.”

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LSS calls for management commitment

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