Greenhouse Challenge Plus Independent Verification

SMEC has been appointed by the Australian Greenhouse Office (Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage) as the Verification Administrator for the Greenhouse Challenge Plus programme for 2006 to 2008.

Greenhouse Challenge Plus is a cooperative partnership between government and industry to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and integrate greenhouse issues into business decision-making. The programme builds on the success of Greenhouse Challenge, which was established in 1995, integrating Generator Efficiency Standards and the Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative into a single industry programme. Members of Greenhouse Challenge Plus report on their greenhouse gas emissions inventories, abatement actions, and greenhouse performance indicators, and are encouraged to demonstrate a strong corporate commitment to reducing greenhouse emissions.

Independent verification is an essential part of the Greenhouse Challenge Plus programme. It strengthens the credibility of Greenhouse Challenge Plus by providing an objective assessment of Member reports. Independent verification also assists Members to continuously improve the information on which they base decisions about the management and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.

SMEC’s role as the Verification Administrator is to be an independent third party, coordinating the independent verification process on behalf of the AGO. SMEC is a key point of contact for Greenhouse Challenge Plus Members regarding the verification process. Duties in this role include:

• matching Verifiers to Members;
• preparing an initial scope of work;
• requesting a detailed scope of work from Verifiers;
• appointing Verifiers to undertake verification engagements;
• coordinating the timing of verifications, in conjunction with the AGO;
• review and approve verification reports;
• work with Members to gain initial feedback on verification;
• ensuring verification reports are completed and returned to the AGO and Members; and
• preparing summary and recommendation reports for the AGO.

SMEC was also involved in appointing members to the panel of Verifiers in 2005, developing the Independent Verification Guidelines, and coordinating a pilot round of verifications using draft Independent Verification Guidelines. SMEC has also been previously involved with the verification programme for Greenhouse Challenge, in 2002.

For more information on the Greenhouse Challenge Plus programme, see the Greenhouse Challenge Plus section of the Australian Greenhouse Office website: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/challenge/index.html

For more information on the Independent Verification programme, see: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/challenge/members/independentverification.html.
Verifiers can access information and documents pertaining to Greenhouse Challenge Plus independent verifications on SharePoint: http://greenhouse.smec.com.au/default.aspx (note that this is a password-protected site).