In a nutshell, carbon emissions, also known as greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), are gases released by the burning of fossil fuels that trap heat in the atmosphere. For more detailed information on how Measurabl calculates carbon emissions, see the overview below and the attached methodology (link to download is at the bottom of the screen).
Since there are many different kinds of carbon emissions, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being the most common, total emission volume is typically measured in units of CO2-equivalent (such as metric tons). Measurabl uses this unit when displaying emissions totals.
Measurabl calculates carbon emissions based on the data you provide us regarding site utility consumption, transportation, and tenant utility consumption. They are displayed in reports as outlined in this article.
Carbon emissions are typically divided into three categories called scopes:
- Scope 1 emissions are emissions from fuels that are burned onsite, such as natural gas or fuel oil. Measurabl calculates scope 1 emissions based on energy usage data entered under the “Fuel” category, which includes Natural Gas, Diesel, Fuel Oils #2, #5, and #6, Propane, Compressed Natural Gas, Biodiesel (B100 and B20), and Renewable Diesel.
- Scope 2 emissions are emissions from fuels that are burned offsite to deliver energy to your building, mainly emissions from electricity use. Measurabl calculates scope 2 emissions as a sum of emissions from energy usage entered under the “Electric” and “District” categories.
- Scope 3 emissions are other emissions your organization generates indirectly, such as emissions from tenants, transportation, waste generation and disposal, supply chain, and purchased products. Measurabl calculates scope 3 tenant emissions according to the Operational Control scheme, under which any emissions generated by tenant usage are considered Scope 3. (For CDP, we use the Financial Control scheme. Learn more in this article.)
