Kleinfelder introduces Greenhouse Gas Verification & Validation Program

SAN DIEGO — Kleinfelder, an international science and engineering consulting firm, announced their ability to certify greenhouse gas emissions through the company’s new Greenhouse Gas Verification & Validation (GHG V/V) Program. The program was recently granted full accreditation by the Greenhouse Gas Validation/Verification Accreditation Committee (GVAC) of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Accredited under ISO 14065 — the international standard for greenhouse gas verification bodies — the GHG V/V Program has been developed during the last two years, further strengthening Kleinfelder’s ability to help clients prepare inventories, verify emissions levels, and achieve desired emissions levels in preparation for current and future legal requirements.

“One of Kleinfelder’s core sustainability values is the evaluation and reduction of our own carbon footprint, and we are pleased that we can now offer help to our clients in tracking and reporting their emissions,” said Mark Hooyer, senior scientist and climate solutions leader at Kleinfelder. “With our new verification and validation program, we can now certify carbon inventories put forth by various reporting entities, facilitating the much-needed standardization of carbon reporting procedures that will be required by future greenhouse gas legislation.”

The recent accreditation from ANSI is the culmination of two years of program development; completion of an extensive program manual; two complete internal audits; and a field audit, program audit, and office audit performed by ANSI.

The addition of the GHG V/V Program is yet another milestone achieved by Kleinfelder’s Greenhouse Gas Group. As a founding member of The Climate Registry, Kleinfelder not only helps their clients track and report emissions, but the company also holds themselves to the same standards, tracking and reporting their own GHG emissions for more than 60 offices internationally.

Under the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put forth new carbon reporting rules for industry beginning Jan. 1, 2010, requiring the nation’s largest sources of GHG to track their emissions throughout the year and report the findings by March 31, 2011. The Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule is seen as a first step toward future GHG rule-making, and is a way for the EPA to collect accurate data for future use. Validated and verified carbon inventories may be required in the future under proposed carbon tax or cap-and-trade programs, similar to California’s recently passed AB 32 cap-and-trade program.

“The reporting rule is a sign that large emitters of greenhouse gases should be prepared for future legislation,” Hooyer said. “Kleinfelder can now track and verify emissions for those sources, as well as help them plan strategies to reduce their emissions while conserving their carbon allowances in preparation for future rule or program requirements.”

The GHG V/V Program further demonstrates Kleinfelder’s “one company” philosophy, expanding on their already comprehensive list of environmental services, including planning, permitting, analysis, design, and certification.

For more information, visit www.kleinfelder.com.