GHG Protocol
Scope 2 carbon estimator primer
Scope 2 tracks indirect emissions from purchased electricity, steam, heating, or cooling. Grid factors turn kilowatt-hours into CO2e before you layer market instruments.
Location-based methods use regional grid averages; market-based methods adjust for contractual instruments like RECs or PPAs.
Double counting is a governance risk when both landlord and tenant claim the same onsite solar without clear contracts.
Time-of-use patterns can shift marginal intensity; data centers increasingly model hourly carbon matching.
Steam from district systems needs supplier-specific factors not bundled here.
What is Scope 2 in carbon accounting?
Multiply office electricity kWh by the configured factor after deciding boundary—whole building or tenant share.
Increase renewable percentage to simulate higher clean procurement shares in a simplified residual story.
Reporting guidance snapshot
Disclose which method you used, which factor vintage, and whether offsets are excluded from intensity metrics.
Renewable energy recommendations
Onsite solar plus efficiency reduces both numerator and denominator; PPAs support additionality conversations with investors.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HQ office load | 946.0 | 11,352.0 | 2200 kWh/month at 0.430 kg CO2e/kWh. |
| Efficient retrofit | 709.5 | 8,514.0 | 1650 kWh/month at 0.430 kg CO2e/kWh. |
Sustainability recommendations
- Publish a factor table appendix.
- Align fiscal year with utility data availability.
- Train finance on REC retirement timing.
Energy efficiency tips
- Submeter high-load labs separately from general office lighting.
- Retrofit VAV boxes before buying offsets.
- Use ENERGY STAR appliances in break rooms—small but symbolic.
Ways to reduce emissions
- Model 15 percent kWh reduction from HVAC optimization.
- Test 24/7 vs business-hours-only operations scenarios.
- Add green tariffs where additionality is credible.
Enter office electricity in business mode
Scale monthly kWh to match landlord bills or submeter exports.
Open the calculatorRelated calculators and guides
- Scope 1 emissions
- Florida renewables
- ESG reporting
- Business footprint
- Carbon neutrality
- Company sustainability
- 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.
Market vs location: which should I publish?
Many reporters show both: location for physical reality, market for procurement outcomes. Explain differences to readers.
How do green tariffs interact?
Tariffs vary; some are purely marketing while others retire attributes. Read the tariff rider, not the brochure.
Is cloud computing Scope 2?
For customers it is often Scope 3 category 1 purchased goods and services; providers report their own Scope 2.
Can I use global factors?
Only if your governance allows; investors often expect country or regional specificity.
What about steam?
Request supplier kg per MWh steam tables; do not reuse electricity factors.
How do EV chargers on site affect Scope 2?
Metered charger kWh add to site load; allocate to Scope 3 employee commuting if employees pay, else consider organizational boundaries carefully.