GHG Protocol
Scope 1 emissions calculator orientation
Scope 1 covers emissions you own or control: company vehicles, onsite fuel combustion, and fugitive refrigerants. This page connects protocol language to the calculator’s transport and business fields.
Auditors expect clear boundaries: which sites, which vehicles, and which fuels sit inside Scope 1 versus electricity which is usually Scope 2.
Fugitive emissions from HVAC refrigerants can dwarf energy bills in leakage years—track maintenance logs, not just fuel cards.
Biogenic carbon from biomass combustion has special reporting rules; do not assume neutrality without governance guidance.
Startups often forget leased vehicles where the lease contract assigns operational control; contracts matter.
What emissions are included in Scope 1?
Model fleet kilometers with fuel types in the transport card; onsite gas can be approximated via home gas fields if you scale kWh consistently.
This educational deployment does not auto-map refrigerants—extend data models for refrigerant GWP tables when you graduate beyond teaching.
Emissions tracking explanations
Create a master asset list keyed by VIN or asset tag, tie each to fuel receipts or telematics, and reconcile monthly anomalies before annual assurance.
Corporate sustainability examples
A logistics SME might find half of Scope 1 in two diesel vans and half in a warehouse propane heater—prioritize maintenance contracts on those assets first.
Worked examples (modeled CO₂e)
Figures use factors from the calculator configuration unless a scenario specifies a custom grid intensity.
| Scenario | Monthly (kg) | Yearly (kg) | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two diesel vans | 296.2 | 3,556.8 | 400 km/week, diesel car factor 0.171 kg/km. |
Sustainability recommendations
- Digitize fuel receipts early.
- Centralize refrigerant leak checks.
- Pilot EV vans on predictable urban loops.
Energy efficiency tips
- Right-size rental vehicles for airport runs.
- Use tire pressure programs on fleet calendars.
- Install variable-speed drives on large fans before debating offsets.
Ways to reduce emissions
- Model a 10 percent logistics km cut via better routing software.
- Retire oldest diesel first where particulates harm communities.
- Publish monthly Scope 1 dashboards internally.
Quantify fleet and logistics kilometers
Use business mode logistics and commute fields as proxies while you build richer fleet telemetry.
Open the calculatorRelated calculators and guides
- Scope 2 carbon
- Scope 3 ESG
- Business footprint
- Carbon neutrality
- Company sustainability
- ESG reporting
- What is ESG reporting?
- Why ESG matters for companies
- How is CO2 emission calculated?
- Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
- Electricity and carbon footprint
Frequently asked questions
Answers mirror the FAQ structured data on this page for consistency with search guidelines.
Is electricity ever Scope 1?
Rarely—only if you generate electricity onsite and report combustion at the generator under your control per your protocol choice. Grid purchases are Scope 2.
How do joint ventures split Scope 1?
Equity share or operational control rules apply depending on your reporting framework; involve finance counsel early.
Can I use this tool for CDP?
No. CDP expects audited methodologies; this is a learning sandbox.
What about biomethane certificates?
Market-based claims require contractual instruments and registry retirement; math alone is insufficient.
Do employee commutes count?
Usually Scope 3 category 6 or 7 depending on guidance—not Scope 1 unless company-owned shuttles.
How often should we recalculate?
Monthly for volatile fleets, quarterly for stable footprints, annual minimum for many voluntary frameworks.