An Internet-accessible Databank of Environmental Measures as a Controlling, Evaluation and Communication Tool for Environmental Programs

摘要

Environmental programs are innovative tools employed by governmental agencies to encourage companies to implement environmental measures going beyond fulfilling legal requirements in the areas of climate protection, energy saving, waste avoidance and resource conservation. The "OekoBusinessPlan Wien" (EcoBusinessPlan Vienna) sponsored by the municipality of Vienna, is a highly successful example of this kind. In its first three years of existence about 300 companies have made use of the various offers that comprise the EcoBusinessPlan Vienna and implemented more than 2400 environment measures in operational environment protection. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, the program management has developed in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Economics (IUW) at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration an Internet accessible databank to collect systematically and efficiently information on the economic and environmental impact of the environmental measures that the participating companies have implemented. Consulting the databank has quickly become one of the most important analysis tools for the program management team during decision-making processes.