The way Plan A calculates Purchased Heat emissions depends on the calculation method you select when uploading your data.
Heat consumption
Heat consumption
The calculation method entails multiplying the purchased heat consumption values by an emission factor relevant to the specific timeframe and location (the country where the heat is used).
In accordance with the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol's recommendations and requirements, Plan A employs a dual approach to calculation, incorporating both location-based and market-based emission factors as outlined in the Scope 2 Quality Criteria:
Location-Based Approach: This approach is applied automatically for all heating consumption data, except in cases where on-site renewable heat is utilised. It uses emission factors that represent the average emissions from heating generation within the specified location and time period. For on-site renewables, the location-based method applies a renewable-specific emission factor.
Market-Based Approach: This approach is implemented when renewable energy certificates (RECs), on-site renewable energy are purchased and provided as input, or when supplier-specific emission factors are available. If none of these conditions are met, the location-based approach is used as a fallback to ensure completeness in emissions accounting.
Plan A also emphasises that this calculation method addresses only indirect emissions from heat generation. Other upstream emissions are excluded from this calculation.
The calculation methodology adheres to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol.
Bring Your Own Emissions
Bring Your Own Emissions
The Bring Your Own Emissions functionality enables the upload of pre-calculated emissions value from energy generation based on location- and market-based approaches to the Plan A Sustainability Platform. For more information, see here.
National averages
National averages
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.
The calculation method entails estimating emissions using the national average of purchased heat consumption per full-time office employee for the business activity reported for the years 2015 to 2022. For business activity reported from 2023 onwards, the national average of purchased heat consumption per square metre reported at the facilities is used.
The total number of full-time office employees and the facility size are derived from organisational data input. Finally, the national average consumption value is multiplied by an emission factor that applies to the given timeframe and location.
The calculation method within this scope accounts for indirect emissions from heating generation only.
Also the calculation method automatically employs the location-based method for both location- and market-based calculations. This involves utilising emission factors that represent the average emissions from heat generation within the specified location and time frame.
Please note: The calculation methods within Scope 2 account for indirect emissions from heating generation only; other upstream emissions are tracked in Scope 3, Category 3. At this moment, emissions from purchased heat are not captured automatically in Scope 3, Category 3. However, this can be uploaded using the 'Bring Your Own Emissions' option.