Calculator Methodology

Overview

‍Where applicable, Carbonzero uses Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) from the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCCC to generate CO2-equivalent emissions calculations.

Natural gas emission factors are sourced from Canada’s National Inventory Report submission to the UNFCCC. Provincial factors are used in specific cases, whereas the average of all provinces is used in more generic calculators.

Other Stationary Fuel Combustion

Other stationary fuel emission factors, such as for Fuel Oil, are sourced from Canada’s National Inventory Report submission to the UNFCCC.

Vehicle Fuel Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions from fuel use specific to vehicle types are calculated using Canada’s National Inventory Report submission to the UNFCCC.
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Greenhouse gas emissions measured from kilometres traveled by general vehicle class are calculated using United States Environmental Protection Agency “Emission Factors for Greenhouse Gas Inventories”, EPA Centre for Corporate Climate Leadership.

Specific vehicle emission factors are sourced from the Canadian Federal Government’s Fuel Consumption Ratings database.

Electricity Emissions

Electricity emission factors are sourced from Canada’s National Inventory Report submission to the UNFCCC. United States emission factors are sourced from E-Grid.

Business Travel Emissions (Ground Travel)

Business travel emission factors for ground travel are sourced from the United States Environmental Protection Agency “Emission Factors for Greenhouse Gas Inventories”, EPA Centre for Corporate Climate Leadership.

Business Travel Emissions (Flights)

Business travel emission factors for flights are sourced from the United Kingdom’s Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Carbon Conversion Factors.

Emission factors include radiative forcing as well as an uplift factor to account for sub-optimal routing.

Product Freight Emissions

Product freight emission factors are sourced from the United Kingdom’s Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Carbon Conversion Factors.

Paper Life Cycle Emissions

Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Paper Network Paper Calculator Version 4.0. For more information visit www.papercalculator.org.