Environmental Impact
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      Environmental Impact: Definitions and Calculations

      Terms defined & calculations used in the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) metrics within the Environmental Impact Dashboard

      What is covered in this article:


      Want to know more? Check out this great article: Learn more about the environmental impact dashboard. 

      Definition of Terms

      Below you'll find a list of definitions related to the Environmental Impact Dashboard and GHG Emissions tracking in general. MTCO2E - Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

      METRIC DEFINITION
      MTCO2e Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent
      Total GHG The summation of Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions
      Scope 1 Emissions Direct emissions from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization (i.e.: Fuel combustion in boilers, furnaces, heaters and generators located on-site"
      Scope 2 Emissions Indirect emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat or cooling.  Although scope 2 emissions physically occur at the facility where they are generated, they are accounted for in an organization's GHG inventory because they are a result of the organization's energy use.
      Scope 3 Emissions Emissions that are the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organization, but that the organization indirectly affects in its value chain. An organization's value chain consists of both it's upstream and downstream activities.
      Emissions Intensity The ratio of Total Emissions to gross floor area in square feet
      Total Energy The total energy consumed across all utility types
      Energy Consumption Intensity The ration of Total Energy to gross floor area in square feet
      Total Water The total water consumed
      Water intensity The ratio of Total Water to gross floor area in square feet

      Greenhouse Gas Calculations

      The calculation process detailed below is used for each metric reflected in the Environmental Impact Dashboard. 

      Learn more about the Environmental Impact dashboard. 

      METRIC UNIT CALCULATION PROCESS
      Total GHG MTCO2e

      Sum of emissions across all scopes at the site.

      A the portfolio level, Total Emissions are summed across all currently selected sites.

      Scope 1 Emissions

      Scope 2 Emissions

      		 MTCO2e

      Available, calendarized meter-level consumption data are aggregated by utility type for the selected data period at the site.  Those sums are then multiplied by the corresponding GHG Emissions factors by utility type, site location (electricity only) and year.  The emissions totals are then aggregated into Scope 1 & 2 by utility type. 

      At the portfolio level, emissions totals are for each scope are summed across all currently selected sites.
      Scope 3 Emissions MTCO2e User-input, Backpack does not calculate Scope 3 Emissions
      Emissions Intensity MTCO2e/GFA

      Total Emissions value divided by the gross floor area (GFA) of the site in square feet.

      At the portfolio level, emission intensity totals are for each scope are summed across all currently selected sites.
      Total Energy kWh Available, calendarized meter-level consumption data are aggregated by utility type for the selected data period at the site.  Those sums are converted to like-units (kWh) and summed across utility types.
      Energy Consumption Intensity kWh/GFA

      Total Energy value divided by the GFA of the site in square feet.

      At the portfolio level, both Total Energy and GFA are summed across all currently selected sites.
      Total Water US Gallons Available, calendarized meter-level consumption data are aggregated by utility type for the selected data period at the site.  Those sums are converted to like-units (gallons) and summed.
      Water Intensity US Gallons/ GFA

      Total water value divided by the GFA of the site in square feet.

      At the portfolio level, both Total Water and GFA are summed across all currently selected sites.
      💡 Learn more about calendarized utilities in this article

      Emission Factors & Sources

      Emission factors & source data utilized in the Environmental Dashboard is as follows including the source of the data. 

      Energy Star Emission Factor Data

      UTILITY TYPE SCOPE EMISSIONS FACTOR(kg CO2e/MBtu)
      District Cooling 2 52.7004
      District Hot Water 2 66.3985
      District Steam 2 66.3985
      Natural Gas 1 53.1148

      *Source: https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/tools-and-resources/historical-greenhouse-gas-factors-2000-present

      EPA eGrid Source Data

      For specific source information by State/Region please visit the EPA eGrid website at: https://www.epa.gov/egrid/summary-data


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