NRG 173: Carbon Footprints for Climate Action in Complex Organizations Spring Term 2011 Class 10 of 20 April 28, 2011 Kelly Hoell Good Company Eugene, OR

overview calculate emissions from tricky sources -air travel -commute -solid waste -biofuels apply life-cycle thinking to GHG inventory calculations

objectives understand common sources of methodological uncertainty understand what is included and excluded in typical GHG emissions calculations as it pertains to the life-cycle of fuels

9/21/20154 introduction to remaining Scope 3 sense of scale explanation of methodology

9/21/20155 Results: state-wide insurance company sense of scale: air travel

9/21/20156 Results: higher education sense of scale: air travel

9/21/20157 Results: mid-size consulting firm sense of scale: business travel

9/21/20158 air travel emissions: overview sense of scale –air emissions especially can be large if you fly regularly –there is scientific uncertainty about methodology methodology –(relatively) easy: calculating CO 2 emissions from passenger miles (bus, train, light rail, air travel) –hard: understanding the impacts of emissions on the upper atmosphere (air travel) air travel emissions

9/21/20159 RFI… the issues Radiative Forcing Index (RFI) –concept: there are additional impacts when GHG emissions are released in the upper atmosphere (as opposed to being released at ground level). Therefore a multiplier is needed. air travel emissions

9/21/ RFI… the issues Radiative Forcing Index (RFI) –concept: there are additional impacts when GHG emissions are released in the upper atmosphere (as opposed to being released at ground level). Therefore a multiplier is needed. –range in use: (it’s a big deal!) air travel emissions

tricky emissions factors: air travel key issue: scientific uncertainty –CO 2 part of CO 2 e is easy (and the bare minimum) –non-CO 2 part is messy and unresolved by science air travel emissions

9/21/ same flight, but…different emissions?!? air travel emissions Source: Carbon Conundrum, Consumer Reports, January 2008

9/21/ RFI… the solution? Radiative Forcing Index (RFI) –understand that there is scientific uncertainty –be on the lookout for new research / studies –pick an arbitrary but defensible RFI o RFI used in G3C calculator: 2.0 –document your choice and associated assumptions –know that “defensible” may in the eye of the beholder air travel emissions

9/21/ employee commute emissions: overview sense of scale: can be large commute emissions

9/21/ Results: City of Portland, Parks & Recreation sense of scale: commute

9/21/ Results: higher education (1) sense of scale: commute

9/21/ Results: higher education (2) sense of scale: commute

9/21/ Results: state-wide insurance company sense of scale: commute

9/21/ employee commute emissions: overview sense of scale: can be large ideal scenarios –monitoring/reporting of commute travel for every trip, with information on mode, occupancy and vehicles –comprehensive and accurate information on fuel consumption by commuters commute emissions

9/21/ employee commute emissions: overview sense of scale: can be large ideal scenarios –monitoring/reporting of commute travel for every trip, with information on mode, occupancy and vehicles –comprehensive and accurate information on fuel consumption by commuters realistic scenarios –some survey data –assumptions about commuter fleet, mode characteristics, number of employee trips commute emissions

9/21/ employee commute emissions: overview sense of scale: can be large ideal scenarios –monitoring/reporting of commute travel for every trip, with information on mode, occupancy and vehicles –comprehensive and accurate information on fuel consumption by commuters realistic scenarios –some survey data –assumptions about commuter fleet, mode characteristics, number of employee trips necessary path –create a method, document assumptions –be satisfied with an estimate (with uncertainty) –focus on better data, climate action commute emissions

9/21/ methodology a small number of basic components roughly, a mode’s GHGs equal the product of: –commute trips –average distance –“emissions factor” per unit of distance note: must do this calculation for each mode to be explicit: commute emissions

9/21/ example calculation commute characteristics for Anywhere, OR (some data, some assumptions) –1000 employees –200 commute days per year –each person lives 10 miles from work –everyone drives alone; all cars 20 mpg –one gallon combusted ~ 20 pounds CO 2 e commute emissions

9/21/ example calculation commute characteristics for Anywhere, OR (some data, some assumptions) –1000 employees –200 commute days per year –each person lives 10 miles from work –everyone drives alone; all cars 20 mpg –one gallon combusted ~ 20 pounds CO 2 e build an equation from these characteristics commute emissions

9/21/ example calculation commute characteristics for Anywhere, OR (some data, some assumptions) –1000 employees –200 commute days per year –each person lives 10 miles from work –everyone drives alone; all cars 20 mpg –one gallon combusted ~ 20 pounds CO 2 e build an equation from these characteristics commute emissions

9/21/ example calculation commute characteristics for Anywhere, OR (some data, some assumptions) –1000 employees –200 commute days per year per employee –each person lives 10 miles from work –everyone drives alone; all cars 20 mpg –one gallon combusted ~ 20 pounds CO 2 e build an equation from these characteristics commute emissions 1,800 MT CO 2 e

9/21/ data sources alternative commute program HR information internal survey external survey public-domain tools individual mode data commute emissions

9/21/ commute surveys Has the organization already done a survey? employee survey (e.g., with SurveyMonkey.com) –commute distance –transportation mode: SOV, carpool, bus, bike/walk –# of commute days –fuel efficiency (of employee-owned vehicles) –# of carpool occupants summarize and calculate commute emissions

9/21/ Results: mid-size consulting firm sense of scale: solid waste

results can guide you to climate action sense of scale: solid waste (Vancouver, WA)

9/21/ Results: higher education sense of scale: solid waste

9/21/ solid waste emissions: overview description –emissions from breakdown of waste in a landfill –recycled / composted materials not included sense of scale –usually small but large % gains possible between years –part of Scope 3 (shared footprint) but emissions are easier to quantify and control than many other Scope 3 sources methodology (look familiar?) solid waste emissions

9/21/ data sources quantity (volume or weight) of waste generated –bills –contact waste hauler to determine number and volume of receptacles and frequency of pick-up for all locations –estimate how full each receptacle is at time of pick-up methane management at destination landfill –contact landfill to determine which of four typical management techniques are used (for the correct year) no methane management (uncapped) waste incineration methane flaring methane used to generate electricity solid waste emissions

solid waste: pop quiz (not really) calculate emissions

tricky emissions factors: biofuels key issue: better than normal – but how much? tailpipe emissions: straightforward accounting –account for percentage of mix (e.g., B20 or E10) –find credible sources for emissions factors biofuel emissions

tricky emissions factors: biofuels guidance –sources must consider the life cycle (e.g., B20 is not simply an 20% reduction in life-cycle CO 2 e) –address the feedstock, not just the fuel (corn ethanol vs. cellulosic ethanol, soy biodiesel vs. palm biodiesel) additional resources for life-cycle analysis –GREET (Argonne National Labs’ fuel cycle analysis) –CARB’s life-cycle analysis of fuel pathways potentially serious problem: carbon goggles -food vs. fuel; agricultural inputs and runoff; etc. biofuel emissions

What is included in fleet GHG calculations? calculate emissions

upstream emissions from fuel cycle calculate emissions

Source: Chester and Horvath, 2009 What else is not included in typical fuel calcs?

Source: Chester and Horvath, 2009 What else is not included in typical fuel calcs?

Should military impacts be included? Other missing indirect emissions?

Should military impacts be included?

homework next week: supply chain emissions! –notice new readings in new syllabus –spend some time looking at EIOLCA please thank you for your extra credit assignments

Feel free to contact me: Kelly Hoell (541) 341-GOOD (4663), ext. 217 Have a good weekend!