How Plan A Calculates Employee Commute Emissions

This calculation method entails using the number of (head count, not full-time equivalent) employees commuting by each mode of transportation (public transport, private cars, and bike/foot). Electric and hybrid vehicles are not yet supported by this method. Additional inputs are the number of employees working from home and the average days working from home/week that are provided when entering Organisational Data. These data points are combined to calculate a coefficient called 'office employees', which reflects the number of people working from the office by accounting for the overall Work-From-Home pattern.

As such, the inputted number of employees commuting per mode of transport is taken as a percentage of total employees, multiplied by the 'full-time office employees' co-efficient, as well as an average commuting distance and an emission factor per mode of transport, both of which are dependent on country and timeframe.

The calculation methodology adheres to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.

This calculation method entails multiplying the distance travelled by an emission factor customised for the specific travel type.

The emission factor used encompasses emissions from when fuel is consumed upon entering the engine to the point where it is converted into energy (tank-to-wheel emissions).

Furthermore, the calculation method automatically employs the location-based approach for emissions from electric vehicles, which involves utilising emission factors that represent the average emissions from energy generation within the specified location and time frame.

For the commute type 'public transportation' the number of passengers is also considered in the calculation.

The calculation methodology adheres to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol by following Distance-based method to account for Employee Commuting-related emissions.

When specific data is unavailable, National Averages are used to calculate emissions estimates. National Averages represent the average values for a given type of activity data within a specific country.

This applies only to Employee Commute calculations and not the Work From Home element of this Emissions Category.

This calculation method entails estimating emissions by using the national average values for distance travelled and the proportion of commuters per mode of transportation. This is then applied to the respective Organisational Data, including the number of employees, the number of employees working from home, and the average number of days worked from home per week.

By combining organisational data, a co-efficient called 'full-office employees' is calculated. The number of full-time employees commuting is then multiplied by the (national) average commuting distance, proportion of commuters and the emission factor per mode of transport. Both of these factors are dependent on the location and timeframe.

Work From Home emissions refer to those associated with both the consumption of heating and electricity whilst working from home.

This calculation method entails estimating emissions using a national average value for heating and electricity consumption per workstation and the average proportion of employees working alone from home. This is then combined with the respective Organisational Data, which includes the number of employees, the number of employees working from home, the average number of days worked from home per week, and working hours per day.

This Organisational Data is multiplied by the national average value for electricity or heating consumption and the corresponding emission factor for the given month, year and location to calculate emissions from heating and electricity usage from employees working from home.

Please note that for heating calculations, average consumption levels depend on the month of the year to reflect seasonal changes in heating consumption.

Bring Your Own Emissions allows you to upload your own pre-calculated emissions to the Plan A platform. For more information, see here.