Introduction When setting up a GHG inventory, there are several choices of activity data and emission factors used for calculating emissions from purchases of electricity, steam, heat, and cooling (i.e. scope 2). The primary piece of data needed to quantify scope 2 emissions is the amount of electricity purchased. This information can be found in […]
Tag: Sustainability
Establishing Boundaries for a GHG Inventory
Introduction After you’ve secured organization support, and before you start collecting emissions data, you’ll need to establish clear boundaries for your greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory. The inventory will provide the foundation for your company’s climate change strategy by enabling you to identify reduction opportunities, set reduction targets, and track progress over time. When developing a […]
Scope 1 Summary of the EPA’s Simplified GHG Emissions Calculator
Reporting Programs and Requirements The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) is a federal emissions reporting program which requires high-emitting companies to account for and report emissions at the facility level. Under the GHGRP, facilities emitting over 25,000 MT CO2e per year are required to report their emissions. Approximately 8,000 U.S. […]
Understanding Your Utility Bill: Electricity Delivery, Supply, and Demand
Most electric bills are split into two main types of charges: delivery and supply. Delivery charges cover the cost of transporting electricity from the power plant to your home or business, including maintaining the power lines and infrastructure. Supply charges are for the actual electricity you consume, paying for the production of the electricity itself. […]
Best Practices for Setting Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets
Setting greenhouse gas reduction targets is like setting a destination on your company’s GPS. It ensures that important issues stay top of mind for senior management, guiding them in making decisions about what products to offer, which materials to use, and which technologies to adopt to effectively manage the company’s environmental impact. Imagine you’ve just […]
Scope 1 Guide to EPA’s Simplified GHG Emissions Calculator
Introduction to the Calculator The EPA’s Simplified GHG Emissions Calculator is designed to help businesses of all sizes take control of their environmental impact. This user-friendly tool looks at both Scope 1 direct emissions and Scope 2 indirect emissions, providing a comprehensive view of your carbon footprint. Leveraging the calculator is essential for accurately tracking […]
Escaping Carbon Tunnel Vision: Seeing the Bigger Picture in Sustainability
Over the past 15 years, sustainability has evolved through a series of focal points: deforestation, the ozone layer’s recovery, melting ice caps. Each issue has commanded global attention at one time or another, reflecting the dynamic challenges of environmental stewardship. Today, however, the narrative is dominated by one metric: carbon. Reducing emissions, achieving net-zero, and […]
Scope 2 Guide to EPA’s Simplified GHG Emissions Calculator
Introduction to the Calculator The EPA’s Simplified GHG Emissions Calculator is designed to help businesses of all sizes take control of their environmental impact. This user-friendly tool looks at both Scope 1 direct emissions and Scope 2 indirect emissions, providing a comprehensive view of your carbon footprint. Leveraging the calculator is essential for accurately tracking […]
Making Time for the Planet’s Wellness: A Collective Responsibility
If we don’t make time for the planet’s wellness, we’ll be forced to make time for its illness. You may have heard the phrase, “If we don’t make time for our wellness, we’ll be forced to make time for our illness.” It’s a profound reminder of the importance of prioritizing self-care before the consequences of […]
Market-Based Emission Factors
Market-Based Methodology A market-based approach accounts for emissions based on the electricity companies have actively chosen or, in some cases, not chosen. The electricity purchased from specific providers may include fossil fuels, renewable, or other types of generation facilities. Market-based emissions are calculated using information from contractual agreements, which is any type of contract between […]