Carbon Footprint
CAMRIS is zealously committed to increasing energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint to combat climate change. Our 2023 target is to reduce our emissions to net zero by 2030. CAMRIS follows the US Environmental Protection Agency’s guidance on managing greenhouse gas emissions for organizations of its size and type and complies with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol’s “A Corporate Accountability and Reporting Standard” guidelines. We strive to understand and recognize our carbon footprint, ensuring our reporting is relevant, complete, accurate, and transparent. CAMRIS aims to reduce our overall impact across our operations and encourages and empowers individuals and communities worldwide to implement strategies to help ensure environmental sustainability for future generations. We summarize our greenhouse gas emissions and the steps we have taken to reduce our emissions below, according to the GHG Protocol’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 categories. You can download and reference our CY 2022 Greenhouse Emissions report by clicking the link below.
Scope 1: Direct Emissions
Direct emissions are emissions from the sources an organization owns or controls. CAMRIS has zero direct emissions, as CAMRIS does not own the buildings where our employees work. CAMRIS employees work at locations owned by the US Government or a property management company. These entities provide CAMRIS team members with the energy that they consume.
Scope 2: Indirect Emissions
Indirect emissions are from purchased energy consumed by an organization via sources it owns, its controlled equipment, or its operations. Our largest indirect emissions in 2022 in Scope 2 were from purchased electricity. The management entities at the sites where CAMRIS employees work control the heating and cooling at those locations. Our hours of operation, technology, and other choices, however, impact the energy CAMRIS HQ consumes. Accordingly, our standard operating procedures are specifically designed to diminish energy inputs.
CAMRIS acts daily to reduce our energy consumption and increase our energy efficiency. We power down computers and other electronics during off-hours, unplug appliances, when possible, at the end of each workday, and use timers and occupancy sensors to ensure unused lights and equipment are powered off when not in use. We train our employees on steps they can take to reduce their energy consumption. CAMRIS’ document storage policy encourages documents to be saved electronically. When printing is required, CAMRIS copiers default to two-sided printing. We recycle office waste, including ink cartridges, batteries, cans, paper, cardboard, and plastics. CAMRIS uses a certified local vendor to dispose of or recycle computers and other electronics safely and securely.
Scope 3: Other Indirect Emissions
Other indirect emissions are from sources that an organization uses but does not directly own or control. CAMRIS’ largest form of CO2 emissions in 2022 in Scope 3 were for business travel in the performance of project work overseas. We work to minimize this usage by promoting teleconference and telework where and when possible. Another contributor to Scope 3 CO2 emissions is employee commuting. CAMRIS’ information systems allowed for a smooth transition to a majority telework schedule during the onset and height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and CAMRIS now operates under a hybrid work environment. CAMRIS utilizes work-from-home arrangements with employees wherever possible and optimizes commuting and scheduling for each position’s technical requirements, minimizing employee commute times where possible. When commuting is necessary, CAMRIS encourages employees to commute to work via fuel-efficient vehicles, trains, buses, or by cycling or walking. CAMRIS offers its employees in the DC metropolitan area pre-paid WMATA transit benefits to encourage the use of public transportation.
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