Measure Your Organisation’s Carbon Footprint or Greenhouse Gas Inventory

For an organisation, the term carbon footprint or greenhouse gas inventory includes the carbon emissions and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated directly from the organisation’s activities or use of fuels, and also indirectly from the use of electricity and from the use and disposal of materials, products and services.

By measuring its carbon footprint or GHG inventory, the organisation can manage and reduce emissions over time, and also use it for disclosure to stakeholders or for marketing and corporate social responsibility (CSR) purposes.

After calculating the carbon footprint, it is then possible for the organisation to take active steps to manage the emissions. The organisation can:

• Set emissions reduction targets
• Identify opportunities for energy efficiency and reduction of emissions
• Take action to implement emissions reduction projects
• Monitor the performance of the projects and improve accordingly

The approach to an organisation’s carbon footprint usually involves five steps:

1. Define a consistent methodology
2. Specify the boundary and scope involved
3. Obtain the emissions data and calculate the carbon footprint
4. Verify the results with a third party
5. Disclose the carbon footprint in a report and to stakeholders

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GHG Protocol

If your organisation wishes to calculate your carbon footprint or GHG inventory, you can follow the GHG Protocol produced by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD):

The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard provides standards and guidance for companies and other organizations preparing a GHG emissions inventory. It covers the accounting and reporting of the six greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol — carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

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ISO 14064

You can also follow the ISO 14064 from the International Organization for Standardization, which comprises three standards on specifications and guidance for the organisational and project levels, and for validation and verification. Read more about the standard here.

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Carbon Footprint Calculators

Or you can use these online carbon footprint calculators to estimate your carbon emissions:

• Carbon Trust
• Carbon Footprint
• The CarbonNeutral Company
• ClimateCare

Some of the above websites provide carbon offsets to help your organisation become carbon neutral.

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Carbon Disclosure Project

If you wish to study how companies disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, visit the Carbon Disclosure Project website:

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) is an independent not-for-profit organisation which holds the largest database of corporate climate change information in the world. The data is obtained from responses to CDP’s annual Information Requests, issued on behalf of institutional investors, purchasing organisations and government bodies. Since its formation in 2000, CDP has become the gold standard for carbon disclosure methodology and process, providing primary climate change data to the global market place.

Image credit: CMSeter; Plusverde.

CDL Unveils First CarbonNeutral Development in Singapore and Asia Pacific – 11 Tampines Concourse

This is a news release from City Developments Limited (CDL).

In support of the Government’s strategy for sustainable development in Singapore, City Developments Limited (CDL) as a green developer, is taking an affirmative step, setting yet another milestone for Singapore in environmental sustainability.

Today, at a ceremony officiated by Guest-of-Honour, Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development, CDL’s newly-completed 11 Tampines Concourse was unveiled as the first CarbonNeutral® development in Singapore and Asia Pacific.

The establishment of Tampines Concourse as a CarbonNeutral® development represents a natural progression of CDL’s commitment towards building greener properties. It is a forward-looking approach towards long-term sustainability. Read more

Alila Hotels and Resorts Head Office is Carbon Neutral

This is a press release from The GreenAsia Group.

(Singapore, April 2009) Since announcing its commitment to become carbon neutral last October, Alila Hotels and Resorts has achieved carbon neutrality for its head office in Singapore for the year 2008, after calculating its carbon footprint and offsetting its emissions with a cogeneration project in India.

In October 2008, Alila Hotels and Resorts commissioned The GreenAsia Group, a specialist in carbon management in Asia, to conduct a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment of its management operations based in Singapore. This was compiled by an international third party expert in GHG calculations. Read more

Alila Hotels and Resorts to Become Carbon Neutral

This article is a news release from The GreenAsia Group.

(Singapore, 20 October 2008) Alila Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce its commitment to go carbon neutral, first through its head office and then throughout all of its properties in Asia. Working with The GreenAsia Group, a specialist in carbon management in Asia, Alila will first achieve carbon neutrality for its head office in Singapore by December 2008.

The entire process involves the measurement, reduction and offsetting of greenhouse gases emissions resulting from not only the business activities of Alila’s head office, but also from both the professional and personal engagements of its management team. A carbon footprint assessment is presently being conducted. With guidance from The GreenAsia Group, Alila is methodically measuring its total greenhouse gases emissions in Singapore and will implement energy efficiency practices accordingly to reduce and avoid carbon emissions to the greatest extent possible. The remaining unavoidable emissions will be offset by purchasing carbon credit certificates from green projects based in Asia. Read more

Dell Meets Carbon Neutral Goal

Dell announced yesterday that it has met its carbon neutral goal 5 months ahead of schedule. It has achieved its planned target of being carbon neutral by end of 2008 by implementing a global energy efficiency campaign and increasing purchases of green power, verified emission reductions and renewable energy certificates. Dell Chairman and CEO, Michael Dell, said:

We’re driving ‘green’ into every aspect of our global business. This includes setting new standards for energy efficiency and green power, delivering environmental and cost savings for customers and aligning key growth priorities with our focus on preserving our shared Earth.

Dell’s global headquarters is powered by 100% green energy. In addition, Dell is partnering with Conservation International on a habitat and forest preservation initiative, and joined the Carbon Disclosure Project’s Supply Chain Leadership Coalition to help suppliers with emissions reporting. For more information on Dell’s green initiatives, visit www.dell.com/earth and www.regeneration.org.

Source: Dell.