What are Scope 1 Emissions?

The modal stationary combustion sources can be classified as a boiler, combustion turbine, process heater, or incinerator – but there could also be a broader range of devices that fall under this emission source that are industry specific. These sources are often part of broader energy related activities within the organization.

Once you have confirmed the usage of stationary combustion sources within your organisation, activity data must be collected. There are two simple ways of recording the total consumption during the reporting period:

1. On-site meter readings: The total mass or flow volume of fuel at the input point to one or more combustion units

2. Purchase records: The total mass or volume of fuel purchased during the reporting period

Stationary combustion equipment may also be classified as capital goods for accounting purposes. The latter method should be recorded or logged an internal system, often controlled by Finance, whereas the former may be controlled by Property Management team or Finance.

Juxtaposed, obtaining data for road legal company vehicles will vary:

1. Purchase records: drivers sharing fuel receipts with Finance, whether purchased with their personal money and expensed, or via company cards.

2. Manual mileage logs: drivers may manually record their mileage at the beginning and end of the reporting period (or for the calendar year) in a company logbook, whether physical or digital.

3. Automatic mileage logs: organisations may opt to utilise third-party hardware and software to automatically track all the mileage completed by company vehicles, as is commonplace for logistics vehicles to adhere to compliance and legal requirements. This data can also help companies better understand their chain emissions across logistics operations, providing insight into indirect emissions generated throughout the supply chain.

4. MOT odometer readings: MOT mileage readings can be used to record mileage for company vehicles, even if unaligned with the reporting period. The caveat being the period recorded by the MOT must remain consistent, this method cannot be used. Similarly, this is often the least accurate method due to no assurances for human error when recording the mileage. Moreover, some vehicles may be ineligible for this, namely HGVs or vehicles less than three-years old.

Fugitive emissions sourced from HVAC units are often due to leakages and faults throughout their lifetime, and at the end of their life too. Unintentional leaks from air conditioning systems and fire suppression systems are also significant sources of fugitive emissions. Refrigeration systems and cooling systems are also significant sources of fugitive emissions, especially in large facilities such as supermarkets, warehouses, and data centres. If your organisation’s HVAC units do leak, the leakage must be reported, no matter how small, as refrigerant leaks are a major source of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, if a HVAC system using the most common refrigerant, R410A, experiences a 1.00 kg leakage, this is the equivalent of combusting over 1,200 litres of propane. It is incredibly important that HVAC systems are well-maintained to avoid major emission hot spots.

Any leakages will be observed and logged by internal or external maintenance staff who should be conducting inspections every 12-months. These logs should be shared with the property management team and Finance as the volume and type of refrigerant recharged should be logged – this volume of recharge is what needs to be shared with your auditors.

Mains gas will, more often than not, be the easiest data to collect across scope 1, largely due to being billed on a regular basis. Regular energy bills provide a straightforward way to track gas consumption, and reducing Scope 1 emissions can help lower overall energy bills. Records of all bills paid should be available with your Finance teams; however, it’s not always straightforward.

In co-working spaces or where utilities are included in your rent, it can be difficult to obtain the necessary information. Here, we suggest reaching out and engaging with your property management team or landlord to see if they can share the total volume of gas or the total energy consumed during a given period. If this information can be shared, we then recommend splitting the total proportionally – meaning if the entire office is 100m2 and you occupy 20m2, then you would report 20% of the total gas consumed during the given period.

It is also important to note that gas consumption should not be extrapolated if only partial data is available as it is unlikely for rates of consumption to be linear throughout the year – namely, if your office has a gas boiler for heating, it is unlikely to be used in the summer compared to late autumn and winter.

Chemical and process emissions are only relevant in specific industries, most commonly construction, manufacturing, and processing. When in scope, it is incredibly important to accurately capture the emissions associated here, especially due to the breadth of greenhouse gases that could be released. Some chemical processes may simply result in CO2 being released, whereas other processes, like aluminium or electronic manufacturing, may release F-gases (fluorinated greenhouse gases) which can have a far greater impact on the environment than the former.

Identifying where emissions occur throughout these industrial processes is industry specific. Industries like toy manufacturing may have greater quantities of greenhouse gases sourced from their machinery compared to a waste handling plant, where biological treatment may be the greatest source. Additionally, waste generated during industrial processes and its end of life treatment, such as landfilling, recycling, or incineration, can contribute to overall emissions and should be accounted for.

Once the sources have been identified, activity data should be collected, including the types of materials processed or produced as well as the quantities of inputs and outputs. This information should be accessible through your Finance and/or Procurement teams.

Calculating your company’s greenhouse gas emissions is a foundational step in understanding your environmental impact and identifying opportunities to reduce emissions. The GHG Protocol serves as the leading global standard for measuring and reporting both direct emissions (Scope 1) and indirect emissions (Scope 2 and Scope 3), ensuring consistency and transparency across industries.

To begin, companies must collect accurate activity data related to their operations. This includes tracking fuel consumption in company owned vehicles, monitoring energy use in buildings and manufacturing sites, and recording emissions from industrial processes. For example, you’ll need to gather data on the amount of natural gas used for heating, the litres of diesel consumed by your fleet, or the raw materials processed in your facilities.

Once you have collected this activity data, the next step is to apply the appropriate emission factors—values that convert your activity data (like litres of fuel or kilowatt-hours of energy) into the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released. The GHG Protocol provides guidance on which emission factors to use for different fuels and processes, helping you estimate your company’s total emissions with accuracy.

It’s important to ensure that all relevant sources are included, from stationary combustion in boilers to emissions from on-site manufacturing and process emissions from industrial activities. By following the GHG Protocol’s methodology, companies can confidently track emissions, identify hotspots, and set meaningful targets to reduce their carbon footprint.

Accurate calculation of emissions not only supports regulatory compliance and public disclosure but also empowers your business to make informed decisions, such as investing in energy efficiency, switching to electric vehicles, or replacing fossil fuels with renewable electricity. Ultimately, using the GHG Protocol to calculate emissions is a critical step in managing your company’s greenhouse gas emissions and driving progress toward a more sustainable future.

Understanding the difference between Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions is crucial for any company looking to accurately measure and reduce its carbon footprint. Both types of emissions play a significant role in a company’s overall environmental impact and are key components in the fight against climate change.

Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions that come from sources a company owns or controls, such as fuel combustion in company vehicles, on-site manufacturing, or emissions from stationary equipment. These are the emissions a company creates through its own operations and activities.

Scope 2 emissions, on the other hand, are indirect emissions that result from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, or cooling that a company consumes. While these emissions occur at the facility where the energy is produced, they are attributed to the company that uses the energy, since its demand drives the production.

Beyond Scope 1 and Scope 2, Scope 3 emissions cover all other indirect emissions that occur throughout a company’s value chain and supply chain. This includes emissions from suppliers, business travel, waste disposal, and the use of sold products by customers, making Scope 3 the most comprehensive and complex category of scope emissions.

The main difference between the two lies in the level of control and the source of the emissions. Scope 1 covers emissions a company can directly manage and reduce, such as switching to electric vehicles or improving energy efficiency in on-site processes. Scope 2 emissions are less directly controlled, as they depend on the energy provider’s fuel mix and the company’s energy purchasing decisions. However, companies can still reduce Scope 2 emissions by choosing renewable electricity or investing in energy-saving technologies.

For example, if a business operates a fleet of delivery vans powered by diesel, the carbon emissions from burning that fuel are Scope 1. If the same business powers its offices with electricity from the grid, the emissions caused by generating that electricity are Scope 2.

Tracking both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions is essential for companies aiming to publicly disclose their environmental impact, comply with regulatory requirements, and develop effective strategies to reduce emissions across their operations. It is also important to consider downstream emissions, such as those from sold products, which are included in Scope 3 emissions and are critical for a complete carbon footprint assessment. By understanding where emissions originate, whether from direct activities, energy use, or across the broader value chain and supply chain, companies can take targeted actions to shrink their carbon footprint and contribute to global efforts to mitigate climate change. Understanding all scope emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3) is vital for comprehensive environmental impact reporting.

The main Scope 1 emissions sources are: Stationary or mobile combustion sources, fugitive emissions, mains gas, and process emissions.

You should first confirm what emission sources are in scope for your specific organisation, followed by liaising with the necessary internal teams for this information. More often than not, this data should be with your Finance, Property Management, or Procurement Teams.