Why is data collection so important?
As a result of mounting evidence of climate change and increasing public concern, existing regulatory mechanisms to reduce GHG emissions are being extended from energy-intensive industries to cover large non-energy intensive organisations. The UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment, for example, includes large service based corporations, local authorities and government. In addition, large corporations are now increasingly expected to report their environmental performance, including GHG emissions, as a result of customer, stakeholder and investor demands.
The first step in reporting and reducing GHG emissions requires the effective and accurate measurement of those emissions. This in itself requires the collection of data on the energy, resource and service consumption across the broad spectrum of an organisation’s business activities from which GHG emissions can be calculated. Without a thorough data collection process, the accuracy and completeness of any statement on an organisation’s carbon footprint can be called into question.
What are the data requirements for effective reporting?
The emissions resulting from any organisation’s business activities can be broken down into the following broad categories, also defined as “Scopes” by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol:
- Scope 1 – direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by the organisation in question, for example combustion processes e.g. boilers and motor vehicles.
- Scope 2 – indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam or heating/cooling.
- Scope 3 – other indirect emissions resulting from the business activities of an organisation over which it has no operational control e.g. business travel, waste disposal as well as products and services used by the organisation.
To calculate a carbon footprint, it is advisable to collect the source data relating to all business services and activities, rather than extrapolate using assumptions or aggregated information. Using a software reporting tool, such as Greenstone’s Acco2unt solution, it is possible to process large volumes of this source information quickly and easily to calculate an accurate carbon footprint.
How can high quality data be effectively collected and managed?
Collecting data of sufficient quality and breadth for the calculation of GHG emissions can be relatively simple for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, referencing energy billing and metering information. Collecting data to a similarly high standard for Scope 3 activities can be more challenging, requiring information from a diverse range of sources, including:
- Travel – the detail of all journeys made is useful, including the distance travelled and mode of transport. This can often be extracted from employee expense claims, travel booking agents, hire car companies and company car fuel cards;
- Deliveries – spreadsheet records or data outputs from courier companies on packages shipped;
- Refrigerants and other fugitive emissions – supply or servicing companies can provide the refrigerant leakage rate of the infrastructure installed within an organisation;
- Waste – cleaning or waste collection companies can often provide actual or contracted volumes of waste removed from an organisation, as well information on how the waste is processed.
Gathering data at the outset of any reporting initiative can present a challenge, often requiring process and cultural change to secure the ongoing availability of that information. However, ensuring breadth and quality of source data will enhance the carbon footprint that is calculated and, once processes are in place, subsequent rounds of data gathering become much more straightforward. This in turn prepares an organisation for an expanding regulatory environment in which accurate GHG emission calculations become a legal requirement.
Greenstone Carbon Management provides consultancy services to help organisations through the data gathering process and, through its Acco2unt software solution, provide the tools for ongoing measurement and management of carbon emissions. For more information please contact us at info@greenstonecarbon.com.
