According to GHG Protocol, Employee Commute includes all emissions relating to your employees journeys to and from work as well as emissions associated with working from home (since associated energy related emissions are not captured in your Scope 2 emissions).
Work From Home Emissions
Work-from-home (WFH) emissions refer to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the activities and energy consumption of individuals working remotely from their homes. These emissions can arise from various sources, including the use of electricity for heating, lighting, and powering electronic devices, as well as any additional energy-related activities undertaken by individuals while working from home.
You may notice that Employee commute templates only requires data on commuting patterns, and not working from home information. This is because Work From Home data is already uploaded as part of your wider Organisational data. Therefore your WFH emissions are calculated and added to your total Employee Commute emissions. You can see breakdowns of your WFH emissions and actual commute emissions on the Employee Commute dashboard.
Employee Commute Emissions
Employee Commute emissions refer to the emissions arising from how your employees travel to and from work, whether they travel using public or private transportation. Whilst travelling on foot or by bike will not produce emissions, the energy used to power private cars or public transport will contribute to your organisation's carbon footprint.
Please note that Employee Commute and Business Travel are different categories and should not be confused. Whereas Employee Commute refers to employees travelling between their homes and your organisation's facility, Business Travel refers to travel anywhere which isn't their usual base (e.g. visiting a client or another facility).
Similarly, if your employees travel to work in company-operated vehicles, this data should be accounted for in either Mobile Combustion or Purchased Electricity, depending on whether the vehicles have combustion, or hybrid/electric engines, respectively.
Mode of transport | Travel between | Category |
Public or Private Transportation (e.g. public transport, privately owned car, bike, walking) | Home and regular place of work (base facility) | Employee Commute |
Public or Private Transportation (e.g. public transport, privately owned car, bike, walking) | Home and a facility that is not their usual base (e.g. visiting Head Office). Home and a third-party location (e.g. client office). | Business Travel |
Company-operated Combustion Engine Vehicle | Anywhere | Mobile Combustion |
Company-operated Electric Vehicle | Anywhere | Purchased Electricity |
Company-operated Hybrid Vehicle | Anywhere | Mobile Combustion + Purchased Electricity |
Employee Commute emissions are Scope 3 emissions.