Microsoft targets cities, government agencies with carbon emissions accounting tool

Late last week, I posted a blog with a list of vendors that are producing carbon emissions and carbon portfolio management tools. Well, you can add another company to that list: Microsoft.

Actually, Microsoft's latest play in the carbon emissions software space comes in partnership with an Australian company, Village Green Global (an environmental solutions company). The two are teaming up on something called SMARTWeb, which is a hosted tool for gathering and verifying carbon emissions data. The initial target for the application in the United States is cities and other local governments, which in turn can help businesses in their region take action on carbon reporting and management. SMARTWeb can track electricity use, water consumption, transportation, natural gas use and so on. The proposition is that SMARTWeb will help government agencies and businesses identify behavior that can be adjusted, resulting in an almost immediate reduction of resource consumption.

Here's a promotional video from Village Green that runs you through their business model.