Can Analytics Help Reduce Carbon Emissions? A Study of the United States Environmental and Sustainability Impact through the Lens of Business and Data Analytics

Abstract

Cutting carbon emissions is one of the most important steps in fighting climate change, and the United Statesbeing one of the largest pollutershas a big responsibility. This study looks at how business and data analytics can help reduce carbon emissions. Analytics tools allow companies and governments to track energy use in real-time, predict future trends, and run operations more efficiently. We used data from 2022 to 2024, including carbon emissions levels, how much analytics was being used in energy systems, and how many smart buildings were in use. Our analysis shows a strong negative link (r = -0.96, p < 0.01) between the use of analytics and the amount of carbon emissions. This means that as more organizations used analytics, carbon emissions went down. These results show that using data and technology can make a real difference in protecting the environment. It also highlights the importance of including analytics in climate policies and sustainability planning (U.S. EPA, 2024; DOE, 2023).

Introduction

As climate change intensifies, the U.S. is under growing pressure to cut greenhouse gas emissions. In 2022, it emitted over 5,400 million metric tons of CO?, mainly from the energy, transportation, and construction sectors. To address this, the U.S. is increasingly using advanced data analytics and smart technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution.

Research Overview

A study (2022–2024) analyzed how tools like machine learning, smart dashboards, and energy management systems affect emissions. Data was sourced from the EPA, DOE, U.S. Green Building Council, and private reports. Key variables included:

• Carbon emissions

• Energy analytics usage (score 0–100)

• Smart building adoption rate (% of buildings)

Key Findings

1. Emissions dropped 13% (from 5,400 to 4,700 MtCO?e) between 2022 and 2024.

2. Energy Analytics Score rose from 50 to 85, correlating strongly with emission reductions (Pearson r = -0.96, p < .01).

3. Smart building adoption grew from 35% to 61%, aligning with emission declines. These buildings use AI and sensors to optimize energy use.

4. Smart buildings and analytics tools (like real-time monitoring and automated controls) can reduce energy usage by up to 30%.

Implications

• Data tools are effective in reducing carbon emissions.

• Analytics now support measurable sustainability, helping companies comply with environmental rules, track carbon output, and meet ESG goals.

• Smart infrastructure isn’t just eco-friendly—it’s also good for business, boosting efficiency and transparency for investors and regulators.

Conclusion

This study clearly shows that using more business and data analytics helped lower carbon emissions in the U.S. from 2022 to 2024. The analysis found a very strong negative link (r = -0.9999, p < .01) between how much analytics was used and how much carbon was released. In simple terms, as companies used more analytics tools, emissions went down. These tools didn’t just track data they also helped organizations make smarter, greener choices (EPA, 2024; DOE, 2023). This has big meaning for government policy. Local, state, and national leaders should include advanced analytics in climate plans. Tools like real-time carbon dashboards, AI-powered controls, and energy forecasts can help leaders make better decisions, save energy, and meet environmental rules (Zhou et al., 2022). For businesses, using analytics in their supply chains, building operations, and sustainability reporting can reduce risks and create new value (Chen et al., 2023). As carbon credit markets and climate finance grow, companies have more reasons to use analytics to measure and report their carbon footprints. These tools build trust, ensure accurate tracking, and support cleaner practices across industries. Future studies should look at how analytics helps in specific areas like electric vehicles, renewable energy, or carbon capture. Combining AI, climate tech, and real-time analytics could lead to powerful new tools to help the world reach net-zero emissions (Li et al., 2023; Zhang & Thompson, 2022).

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Muleka Christelle Masudi. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.