Environmental data always at hand

Mr A. Hersbach of the Dominial steel-hardening works was offered the Envirometer by the local government's environment departent. He has this to say on it:

When I use the Envirometer, the local environment department gets a comprehensive and clear-cut picture of my data. That makes life easy for me as well as for staff at the environment department.

I got a letter from the environment department asking for an appointment to have a chat about the Envirometer. I'm all for this kind of initiative, because to my mind it's only right that the environment department not only keep tabs on industries but also supports them.

I had not expected any spectacular improvements. Nor is that what interested me in the first place. [...] What it enables me to do, for example, is track down excesses and analyse how they have been allowed to occur. [...] The Envirometer also prompts you to compare and contrast data more than you would otherwise.

Once all the data are stored in the computer, it takes less time to find them. With one click of the mouse I can now get a good picture of all the processes we operate here. For me this is one of the major advantages of the Envirometer.

Communicating with the Envirometer

Envirometer emblem

The Envirometer emblem lets you tell others you're using the Envirometer. The emblem means "we're measuring and improving our environmental performance". More information.

Internal communications: staff motivation

The Envirometer charts allow you to show staff how your company or organisation is doing when it comes to environmental performance . With results made visual in the barometer charts, staff can "see what all their hard work has been for". For example: "Thanks to your efforts, we now have 10% less metal waste and therefore need to buy 10% less raw materials".

The Envirometer results are also useful for getting staff involved in brainstorms about potential improvements and savings. For example: "Last year we used 10% less electricity than this year. How can we get consumption back to the old level?"

External communications: informing environmental departments, project principals, customers, clients or the public

By including an Envirometer chart in your (environmental) annual report or newsletter you provide solid evidence of your environmental achievements  A number of Dutch companies and organisations are already using the Envirometer for this purpose.

• Berkenrode Groep Schiedam (BGS) has been using the Envirometer as a core element of its environmental annual report since 2000.
• Several hospitals include the Envirometer in their environmental annual reports.
• Friends of the Earth-Netherlands has been using the Envirometer in its social annual report since 2004.
• Most departments of Rotterdam Municipal Authority use the Envirometer for drawing up their environmental annual reports (for internal use).