Calculate

Members calculate their GHG emissions on an annual basis according to the California Registry’s protocols. They are required to report both direct and indirect emissions, as defined in the California Registry’s General Reporting Protocol. Emission sources required to be reported include:

Indirect emissions from:

• Purchased electricity
• Purchased co-generation, imported steam
• District heating/cooling

Direct emissions from:

• Stationary combustion
• Mobile combustion
• Industry-specific processes
• Industry-specific fugitive releases

Common sources of GHG emissions include electricity use (indirect emissions from purchased electricity), natural gas combustion for heating (direct emissions from stationary combustion), and fuel use in company fleet vehicles (direct emissions from mobile combustion).

California Registry members are only required to report CO₂ for the first three years of reporting, but must report all 6 Kyoto gases starting in their 4th year (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, HFCs, PFCs, SF₆).

California Registry members are also only required to report emissions from operations located within California, although many organizations choose to report all of their U.S. emissions, or even all of their emissions worldwide.

Once all of their emission sources have been identified and back-up documentation on annual consumption collected, members use the calculation methodologies found in the California Registry protocols to calculate their GHG emissions.