35Carbon Footprint

Carbonfootprint-AnIntrod[e-mail]❖Introduction-terms❖Whatisacarbonfootprint?❖Whycalculateacarbonfootprint?❖Calculatingacarbonfootprint❖ExamplesTerms✴Carbonfootprint✴Ecologicalfootprint✴LifeCycleAssessment(LCA)Whatisacarbonfootprint?Acarbonfootprintisthetotalsetofgreenhousegas(GHG)emissionscausedbyanorganization,eventorproduct.Forsimplicityofreporting,itisoftenexpressedintermsoftheamountofcarbondioxide,oritsequivalentofotherGHGs,emitted.Theconceptandnameofthecarbonfootprintoriginatesfromtheecologicalfootprintdiscussion.ThecarbonfootprintisasubsetoftheecologicalfootprintandofthemorecomprehensiveLifeCycleAssessment(LCA).LCAisaninternationallystandardizedmethod(ISO14040,ISO14044)fortheevaluationoftheenvironmentalburdensandresourcesconsumedalongthelifecycleofproducts;fromtheextractionofrawmaterials,themanufactureofgoods,theirusebyfinalconsumersorfortheprovisionofaservice,recycling,energyrecoveryandultimatedisposal.TheecologicalfootprintisameasureofhumandemandontheEarth'secosystems.ItcompareshumandemandwithplanetEarth'secologicalcapacitytoregenerate.Itrepresentstheamountofbiologicallyproductivelandandseaareaneededtoregeneratetheresourcesahumanpopulationconsumesandtoabsorbandrenderharmlessthecorrespondingwaste.CarbonfootprintCarbonfootprintisthemeasureofcarbonemissionstotheatmosphereIncreasedconcentrationofCO2andotherGHGsintheatmosphereiscausingclimatechangeClimatechangereferstoastatisticallysignificantvariationineitherthemeanstateoftheclimateorinitsvariability,persistingforanextendedperiodWorldPrimaryEnergyDemandGlobalEnergy-RelatedCO2EmissionsOECD-OrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopmentDirectoronsiteemissions(Primaryfootprint)Indirectorlife-cycleemissions(Secondaryfootprint)CarbonFootprintTomanagethefootprintandreduceemissionsovertimeToreportthefootprintaccuratelytoathirdparty.Whycalculateacarbonfootprint(Source:)TotalCO2emissionsinMilliontonne/yearin2004andinbracketarepercapitaemissionsintonne/yearin2004China–5,010(3.84)India–1,343(1.20)USA–6,049(20.4)Japan–1,258(9.84)Kenya–10.59(0.31)Ghana–7.19(0.33)CarbonFootprint-ComparisonsDefinethemethodologySpecifytheboundaryandscopeofcoverageCollectemissionsdataandcalculatethefootprintVerifyresults(optional)Disclosethefootprint(optional)CalculatingacarbonfootprintPrioritizeScopeDefineboundaryDecidewhichgreenhousegases(GHGs)toincludeDataCalculationScope1:DirectemissionsfromsourcesunderthecontroloftheagencyorinstitutionScope2:Indirectemissionsresultingfrompurchaseofelectricity,heatorsteamScope3:Allotherindirectemissionsresultingfromemployeecommuting,businesstravel,etc.CO2,CH4(21timesCO2)andN2O(310timesCO2)Activitylevel:Productionintonne,distancetravelledEnergyconsumption:hoursofusage,kgorlitreconsumed,tonnesused,etc.MultiplyActivitylevel,energyconsumptionwithemissionfactorMeasuringCarbonFootprintFromDr.P.Balachandra’sslideExamplesThefollowingslidesareborrowedfromDr.P.BalachandraDepartmentofManagementStudiesIndianInstituteofScienceBangalore–560012,[e-mail]MeasureCarbonFootprintEnergyusedforcooling,heating,lightingandofficeequipmentEnergyusedforbusinesstravelReduceenergyconsumptionEnergyefficiencyBuygreenelectricityWind,solar,hydroOffsetremainingCO2emissionsBuyingCertifiedemissionreductionunits(CER),voluntaryemissionreductionunits(VER),etc.ReducingCarbonFootprint–HSBCStrategyCarbonFootprint-ScopeEstimatingCarbonfootprintsofaservicesector(office-based)organizationlikeBankScope1emissions:DirectEmissions(Emissionsourcesownedorcontrolledbythebank)GHGemissionsfromfueluseinfacilitiesGHGemissionsfromtransportormobilesources(ownedvehicles)Scope2emissions:IndirectEmissions(Emissionsfromuseofpurchasedelectricity,heatorsteam)IndirectGHGemissionsfrompurchasedelectricityAllocationofEmissionsfromaCombinedHeatandPowerPlantScope3emissions:OtherIndirectEmissions(Allotheremissions)GHGEmissionsfromemployeecommutingGHGemissionsfrombusinesstravelGHGemissionsfromtransportormobilesourcesMeasuringCarbonFootprintsScopeofMeasurementAcompletesite/organisationAparticularproductoractivityCleardefinitionofboundariesofsystemunderinvestigationisneededABankTransportElectricityforheating/cooling/lighting,PCsEnergyRequirements(captive,heating)ComputersMachinerytomakecomputersPersonalBusinessCorporateCustomersCarbonFootprint–MethodofcalculationCarbonFootprint(CF)=CO2orCO2eintonneActivitylevel(AL)=Productionintonne,distancetravelled(PKM,TKM),Hoursofusage,etc.Energyconsumptionnorm(EN)=kg,litre,kWh,tonne,GJpertonne,hour,PKM,etc.EmissionfactorsforCO2,CH4,N2O(EF)=kgCO2,CH4,N2Opertonne,kg,litre,etc.EnergyConsumption(EC)=Totalenergyconsumption(ofdifferenttypes)intonne,KL,TJ,CarbonFootprint–MethodofcalculationThus,CF=AL*EN*EForCF=EC*EFTotalcarbonfootprintofanorganisationwouldbeSUMofCFsfromdifferentactivitiesandenergycarriert