As 2025 draws to a close, we have curated a selection of our most popular blog posts from the year – a collection of insights, guidance, and practical tips to help you navigate the ever-evolving energy, sustainability, and operational landscape.

Whether you’re a CFO or part of a Finance team looking to link energy efficiency or carbon reductions to cost savings, an ESG or Sustainability Manager striving to meet ambitious net‑zero and reporting goals, a Head of Estates or Operations seeking smarter building management strategies, or an Energy or Facilities Manager aiming to optimise performance and reduce emissions, there’s something here for you.

We've broken it down into five sections to make it easier to zoom in on specific topics that are of most interest to you:

A) Sustainability

B) Carbon

C) Energy

D) Frameworks

E) Climate Action

Dive in at your own pace over the coming festive season, and discover insights that could make a real difference to your team, your organisation, your sustainability journey, and the planet we all call home.

A) Sustainability

1. Fix your sustainability data quality first, and decarbonisation follows

Not all sustainability data is created equal. In this post, we show how ‘good’, ‘bad’, or ‘ugly’ data practices can make or break your organisation’s carbon‑reduction journey. 

We explain why collecting lots of metrics isn’t enough: organisations need clean, integrated, auditable data flows (the ‘good’) to set baselines, track progress, make informed investment and procurement decisions, and comply with regulatory and reporting standards.

Then we show common pitfalls – from data gaps, inconsistent collection, siloed systems, and double‑counting (the ‘bad’), to misleading proxies and counter‑intuitive outcomes, such as over-relying on certification ratings or spend‑based estimates that distort real emissions (the ‘ugly’). 

Finally, we offer a roadmap to better‑quality sustainability data: start simple, define your scope and governance clearly, break down silos, prioritise robust metrics, and gradually deepen your data practices – so your numbers actually support action, not just reporting. 

Read the full article here: Is Your Sustainability Data Helping or Hurting You?

2. How measuring your Scope 4 (avoided emissions) can inform strategic decision-making, and attract capital and investment

We lift the lid on why ‘avoided emissions’ – often referred to as Scope 4 – are emerging as a powerful, but under-utilised lever in corporate climate strategies.

We explain how Scope 4 is different from the traditional emissions categories (Scopes 1–3): instead of tracking what your organisation emits directly or indirectly, Scope 4 captures the emissions you prevent when your products or services replace higher-carbon alternatives (e.g. energy-efficient appliances instead of inefficient ones).

We outline the potential value of measuring Scope 4: from helping your organisation articulate your broader climate impact, to guiding innovation, influencing strategic decisions, and attracting investment.

We don't shy away from the challenges: lack of standardisation, complex baseline-setting, data limitations, and the risk of green-washing if you over-claim benefit.

If you’re interested in how your organisation can go beyond doing ‘less harm’ to delivering ‘positive climate value’, this post is for you.

Read the full article here: Scope 4: A critical piece of the net-zero puzzle

3. A step-by-step guide on how to decarbonise your supply chain

A practical, no-nonsense approach to tackling your organisation’s biggest hidden climate impact – value chain (Scope 3) emissions.

We start by explaining why Scope 3 matters now more than ever: from regulatory demands to investor scrutiny, and how outdated spreadsheet-based reporting often fails as supply chains grow more complex.

Then, we walk you through how to engage suppliers effectively, prioritise high-impact emissions sources (think materials, logistics, waste), and build a decarbonisation strategy that marries carbon cuts with real financial and reputational gains.

Finally, we outline best practices for transparent reporting and storytelling so your sustainability journey becomes a differentiator, not just a compliance exercise. 

Read the full article here: Scope 3: The elephant in the boardroom

4. A ready‑made template for seeking ‘in-principle’ budget approval (and securing buy-in from senior decision-makers), even when vendor pricing is unknown

Before you rush headlong into researching solutions, evaluating options, and vetting sustainability software providers, upfront alignment on cost expectations is crucial.

In this post, we explain why asking upfront for ‘in-principle’ budget approval to explore sustainability management tools is always a good idea, especially in markets where many vendors don’t publicly list their prices. (For the record, EnergyElephant believes in transparency. You'll find our Pricing Plans here.)

Securing ‘in-principle’ budget approval ensures feasibility. Without it, you risk finding the ideal vendor only to discover they’re wildly beyond your budget – or worse, there’s no funding available – which is a gargantuan waste of time and resources for everyone involved. 

To address the ‘unknown pricing’ challenge, we’ve crafted a compelling budget proposal template to help you secure preliminary budget allocation with a defined approval threshold, incorporating justification for budget flexibility and final pricing adjustments after vendor evaluation. You can adapt and tailor the content for your own budget proposal.

Read the full article here: How to Secure Funding for Sustainability Software (with Budget Proposal Template)

5. 80 questions to ask (and what to look for in a response) when selecting a software vendor to meet your unique business needs

A must‑have toolkit for any organisation shopping for energy management, sustainability management, carbon accounting, or ESG reporting software, our Request for Proposal (RFP) guide – with customisable template – is designed to take the guesswork out of procurement.

In this introduction to our ready-to-go RFP/tender guide, we explain why early involvement of all key stakeholders – from sustainability to operations and finance – is critical to avoid wasted time, duplicated effort, and mismatched expectations.

We also highlight the importance of moving beyond vague asks to clearly articulating your needs: whether that’s energy/carbon management, compliance reporting, data access/governance, support services, or pricing.

In the guide itself (PDF), we give you a structured path: a list of around 80 potential questions to include in your own RFP/tender document, plus advice on evaluating responses, so you can compare vendors objectively and choose the right tool for your organisation.

Read the article here: Free RFP/Tender Guide with Customisable Template for Seamless Sustainability Software Procurement

B) Carbon

6. Carbon Update: Q3 2025

In this, the most recent edition of our quarterly international Carbon Update (which we started in Q1 2025 and – due to positive feedback – have decided to continue into 2026), we provide a sweeping snapshot of where global climate action stands – a mix of hard-won gains and persistent headwinds.

We explore the shifting dynamics of international decarbonisation: from record-breaking renewable energy investment to faltering ESG sentiment in parts of the Americas; and renewed ambition in Europe and Africa, to emerging carbon-market reforms in Asia.

We look ahead to COP30 (which, by the time you're reading this, is now in the rear-view mirror), analysing what could be a crucial turning point for global climate policy – plus the risks that remain if ambition isn’t matched by delivery.

Read the full article here: Quarterly International Carbon Update: Q3 2025

To keep your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in this new ‘implementation era’ of global decarbonisation efforts, we invite you to subscribe to our Carbon Update newsletter on LinkedIn. The Q4 edition will be going live soon, and it will include a concise debriefing on the outcomes of COP30.

7. Carbon Update: Q2 2025

In this, the second instalment of our spotlight series on global climate action, we deliver a sobering reality‑check. We highlight dire forecasts from the World Meteorological Organisation – including an 80 % chance that a new annual heat record will be set between 2025–2029, and a 70 % chance that the five‑year average temperature will overshoot the 1.5 °C threshold tied to the Paris Agreement.

We also clear up common confusion over ‘net zero’ versus ‘carbon neutral’, showing that net zero demands far deeper, more comprehensive cuts across all greenhouse gases (GHGs) – not just CO2. 

We evaluate current global commitment: while many nations (together accounting for ~ 93 % of global GDP in 2024) had pledged net‑zero pathways, recent political shifts – including the 2025 withdrawal of one major economy from the Paris framework – have dropped that coverage to 84 %, leaving a worrying gap in global emissions accountability. 

Finally, we explore the real‑world consequences for governments that miss their emissions targets: in the EU, such failures could trigger hefty financial penalties under mechanisms like the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR). For non‑EU nations, the risks are often more indirect – from reputational damage to constrained access to climate finance.

Read the full article here: Quarterly International Carbon Update: Q2 2025

8. Carbon Update: Q1 2025

In this, the inaugural edition of our quarterly deep‑dive into global decarbonisation efforts, we showcase the fresh round of Paris Agreement commitments, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), submitted by 19 countries in late 2024 and early 2025.

We examine how each country frames its ambition – and its sense of fairness – in light of national circumstances, historical emissions, and capacity to act, guided by the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR‑RC).

We walk you through country‑specific summaries across the AMER, EMEA, and APAC regions – from larger economies to smaller or highly vulnerable states – offering insight into the diversity of approaches to decarbonisation.

These ‘next‑generation’ NDCs are generally more ambitious than previous ones, and the window to stay on a 1.5 °C pathway still exists. But, achieving our Net Zero goal will only be possible if all countries follow through on their commitments.

Read the full article here: Quarterly International Carbon Update: Q1 2025

C) Energy

9. How smart, green buildings become strategic assets

We dive into how buildings – long viewed as static real-estate assets – can transform into dynamic, energy-efficient ‘smart buildings’ that deliver real value: not only lower energy bills, but enhanced building performance, healthier workspaces, and long-term resilience.

We unpack the difference between a building’s physical ‘fabric’ (walls, insulation, HVAC, etc.) and its ‘digital fabric’ (sensors, IoT, analytics), showing how modern management systems can turn ordinary structures into adaptive, carbon-smart assets.

Then, we explain why investing in purpose-built tools (rather than DIY spreadsheets or half-baked internal systems) vastly improves return-on-investment – both for operations and sustainability reporting.

Finally, we outline how green, smart buildings yield financial, well-being, and reputational benefits for owners, tenants, and the broader community – making them strategic assets.

Read the full article here: How Does Energy Efficiency Impact Your Property Value?

10. What your organisation can do to become more resilient in the face of electricity grid instability

We take a close look at the dramatic April 2025 blackout on the Iberian Peninsula – a cascading grid failure that left millions without power – and show why events like this can no longer be dismissed as ‘someone else’s problem’.

We explain what ‘energy resilience’ really means for modern organisations: the capacity to withstand, respond to, and bounce back from grid instability – especially as electricity demand rises and grids evolve with more renewables.

Then, we provide a practical ‘readiness diagnostic’ for organisations: do you know which systems must stay online if the lights go out? Do you have backup power, storage, or demand‑management? Are you monitoring energy risk across buildings and sites?

Finally, we offer an easy-to-use checklist for how to plan for, respond to, and recover from outages – whether triggered by storms, maintenance, or grid stress.

Read the full article here: Energy Resilience: What every business leader needs to know

D) Frameworks

11. How to facilitate tenant‑friendly data‑sharing processes to streamline your energy and sustainability reporting

Getting tenant‑level utilities data is often the weak link in energy and sustainability reporting – especially in multi‑tenant buildings, where complex leases, tenant privacy concerns, and inconsistent billing formats can leave big gaps in your metrics. 

We walk you through the common roadblocks – from data‑security concerns to administrative friction – and explain why many portfolios struggle with reliable coverage. 

Then, we show how combining sub‑metering hardware, integrated sustainability software, and tenant‑friendly data‑sharing processes, can transform data collection into a smooth, audit‑ready workflow where landlords and tenants both benefit.

Finally, we highlight how good tenant‑data gathering can boost performance in a GRESB assessment – giving real estate investors and managers a credible, evidence‑based ESG story. 

Read the full article here: How to Make Tenant Utilities Data Collection Easier for GRESB Reporting

12. How investing in fit-for-purpose sustainability software can free up your time to focus on action rather than just reporting

We outline what it takes for an organisation to achieve B Corp status – from completing the rigorous B Lab‑run ‘B Impact Assessment’, to embedding stakeholder‑centred governance, and publishing an annual impact report.

We show why purpose‑built sustainability management software isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ – it can be a critical enabler. By centralising energy and carbon data into a single, clean, audit‑ready system, your organisation can avoid data siloes, reduce admin burden, and ensure accurate, comparable metrics across all business units.

With robust data flows in place, the platform can help you not only ‘tick the B Corp boxes’, but build a credible, transparent narrative of purpose: measuring real environmental impact, setting meaningful targets, and tracking ongoing improvement – while freeing up time to focus on action rather than just reporting.

Read the full article here: Leveraging Sustainability Software to Attain (& Maintain) B Corp Status

E) Climate Change

13. How a historic climate ruling raises the bar for non-financial reporting

We break down the game‑changing 2025 decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the first time the world’s top court has issued a full advisory opinion on climate change. 

We outline how the ICJ unanimously ruled that countries have a legal duty – grounded in international human‑rights and environmental law – to protect the climate system, phase out fossil fuels, and ensure a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

We explain what the ruling means in practice: States that fail in their duty may be committing an ‘internationally wrongful act’, potentially opening the door to legal liability, reparations, and stronger accountability – not just for governments, but indirectly for private actors and organisations operating under their jurisdiction.

For those working on non-financial reporting, we show how the ruling raises the bar on due diligence, data collection, climate risk disclosure, and emissions management – especially as regulators and investors increasingly demand transparency. 

Read the full article here: Historic Climate Ruling: Finally, a shift from moral appeals to legal accountability

14. How climate change and biodiversity loss are inextricably entwined, and why it matters

Biodiversity is deeply entangled with the fight against climate change. We explain how ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and peatlands act as crucial carbon stores and natural buffers against extreme weather, and why their degradation undermines both climate and human resilience.

We highlight research showing that protecting, restoring, or sustainably managing nature could slash global GHG emissions by as much as 11.7 gigatonnes a year by 2030 – which is more than 40% of what’s needed to limit global warming! 

We also call out a striking imbalance: while media coverage has focused heavily on climate change, biodiversity has often been side‑lined, despite being equally urgent and foundational to human well-being and ecosystem stability. 

Finally, we point to the global Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted at COP15, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 through ecosystem conservation, restoration, sustainable use, and closing the biodiversity‑finance gap.

Read the full article here: Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss: Two sides of the same coin

At EnergyElephant, we believe that everyone can achieve great sustainability outcomes without needing to be an expert (but we help experts too!).

Our platform supports data across multiple countries and currencies, and allows multiple users with role-based access, making it ideal for large companies and SMEs with geographically distributed operations.

Through a drag-and-drop process, you simply upload thousands of energy/fuel/waste/water bills, invoices, or spreadsheets to your account, and get executive-level insights from your dashboard data within minutes. 

Our system also supports access to real-time IoT sensors and sub-metering systems from multiple country/region data sources to provide live views and analyses, and we can automate the process of importing new bills/data from the web portals of utility suppliers/metering systems for larger users.

We offer a free 14-day trial so you can make sure the system meets your requirements before making any significant financial commitment. Our expert support team also provides free switching/transition support to help move your organisation from any existing legacy systems over to EnergyElephant quickly and seamlessly.

So, what are you waiting for! Create an account, give it a test-drive, and join us in leading the charge towards a net-zero future today.