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GHG Inventory 101 and the Tribal Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool

Erica BollerudNational Tribal Forum

May 14, 2014

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Inventory 101 Overview

Background on EPA’s State and Local Climate and Energy Program

Topics to Consider when Initiating an Inventory

Putting Your Inventory into Context

Tribal GHG Inventory Tool

Inventory 101

EPA’s State and Local Climate and Energy Program

We use co-benefits strategies to achieve GHG and policy goals• Environmental, energy, economic, health benefits• Example: EE/RE/CHP can lower costs to comply with air standards

We foster inter-agency collaboration• States – air offices, energy offices, PUCs• Locals – planning, environmental services, energy and others• Tribes – provide tools, help connect with federal program resources

We help state, local and tribal governments make the case for action• Best practice-based policy approaches • Analytical tools and information

We support adaptation efforts for holistic climate action

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Helping state, local & tribal governments reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate

Climate Showcase Communities• 50 models of local/tribal climate change action• Case studies, templates, and other resources to support

replication www.epa.gov/climateshowcase

Key Guidance and Tools• Comprehensive Local Climate and Energy Website

www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate

• Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series on EE, RE, transportation, waste management, and community design topics

www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/web-podcasts/local-webcasts.html

• Newsletter updates on funding, tools, and events www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/web-podcasts/local-webcasts.html

• Access to other federal technical support programs Peer Exchanges

• Webcast Series on mitigation and adaptation topics http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/web-podcasts/index.html

Resources for Local and Tribal Governments

Tanana Chiefs Conference, Fort Yukon, AK• Local Food Production/Combined Heat and

Power

Gila River Indian Community, AZ• Solid waste recycling program and GHG

Inventory

Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, CA• Solar installations and job training

Northern Cheyenne Tribe, MT• Energy retrofit of community building

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma• Lighting retrofits in community health facilities

Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians• Solar PV installations on community buildings

and tracking of energy in tribal buildings

Tribal CSC Projects

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Topics to Consider

Purpose of inventory Setting boundaries Direct and Indirect Emissions Quantification approach Setting a baseline Timelines and level of effort Engaging stakeholders

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Why prepare an inventory?

To identify the greatest sources of GHG emissions within your geographic region

To understand emission trends To quantify the benefits of specific

activities that result in GHG emissions To provide a basis for developing an

action plan To track progress at reducing emissions To set goals and targets for future

reductions

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Boundaries: Physical or Organizational?

Physical: emissions within a certain geographic region e.g., the state of California

Organizational: emissions within a certain entity’s control e.g., municipal operations in King County

Project: emissions/reductions associated with a particular project e.g., ghg reductions from installing methane

capture technology at a municipal landfill

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What Quantification Approach to Use?

Top-down Uses Aggregated Data (often compiled by

govt agencies) to provide a big-picture view of total emissions

Bottom-up Uses more detailed data (often representing

end use information) to provide more detailed but often less inclusive picture.

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Tribal Government Building Energy Use

Top-down Acquire total energy consumption data from utility

or calculate based on energy expenditures to generate total emissions from local government fossil fuel use

Bottom-up Track each building’s fossil fuel consumption

individually and calculate resultant emissions

Examples of Quantification Approaches

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Pros and Cons of Quantification Approaches

Top-down Advantages Quick, efficient, and comprehensive estimates Good for tracking large trends over time Keeps data manageable for large sectors Errors tend to average out across sector

Top-down Disadvantages Lose ability to compare different

facilities/buildings/industries Aggregated data isn’t always available or credible—

especially at the sub-state level

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Bottom-up Advantages More detailed analysis is possible May better identify targets for mitigation planning Can be used when high-level data is unavailable

Bottom-up Disadvantages Requires more data—more time consuming to

collect and manage Detailed data isn’t always complete or consistent

Pros and Cons of Quantification Approaches

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How do I Choose a Baseline Year?

Think it through! How will baseline data be used? Are there anomalies present in the

baseline (uncharacteristically high or low emissions)?

How will regulatory or voluntary efforts proposed or in progress affect baseline and/or future emissions?

Will the baseline be compatible with baselines being used elsewhere?

Is the data available?

Choose a baseline that is realistic

and meets your specific needs

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It All Comes Down to Data

Availability 1990 data can be difficult to obtain

Quality Bottom-up v. top-down How is it collected? Is it verified? Is it credible?

Scale Entity-level, community-level, national-level

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How Long Does an Inventory Take?

Timeline dependent on: Data availability and vintage Reporting requirements Reduction commitments

Level of effort dependent on: Resources (human, and economic) Data availability and access Level of detail (number of gases, number of sources,

level of disaggregation) Top-down vs bottom-up

Keep the 80/20 rule in mind

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What is the 80/20 rule?

Focus efforts on the “most important” sources

Sometimes only 20% of the effort is needed to quantify 80% of emissions

Focus on: Energy use:

Stationary and Transportation

92%+ of emissions Delaware Valley Regional Planning

Commission GHG Inventory

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Why Engage Stakeholders?

How can they contribute? Data, resources, outreach, public support

Who to Engage? NGOs Community groups Schools and Universities Other Government Agencies

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Putting Inventory Results in Context

Comparison to other inventories (many are online) State summaries available on EPA website Representative examples of local inventories on

EPA website Climate Analysis Indicator Tool (CAIT)

Make sure to compare equivalent numbers

Order of magnitude checks

Use of Indicators Per capita or per household Per unity of economic activity

Background and Goals

Respond to requests for assistance with measuring GHG emissions

Help tribal governments across the US to evaluate GHGs associated with both government operations and community-wide activity

Support development of baselines for tracking emission trends, developing mitigation strategies and policies, and assessing progress towards meeting goals

Provide a free, easy-to-use tool consistent with accepted protocols and methodologies

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Tribal GHG Inventory Tool Basics

Excel based (Excel 2007 or later)

Divided into 2 modules, can be used independently• Government Operations Module• Community-Wide Module

Designed be flexible to the needs and constraints of different tribes• data can be entered at any scale, ranging from tribe-wide

activity data to data by facility or meter• default emissions factors are provided, but can be over-

written with location-specific factors• customize year of inventory, number of departments, etc

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Government Operations

Based on the Climate Registry’s Local Government Operations Protocol, version 1.1.

Covers ten sectors of municipal emissions:• Stationary Fossil Fuel Combustion• Mobile Fossil Fuel Combustion Scope 1• Solid Waste Management• Wastewater Treatment• Electricity Consumption Scope 2• Employee Commute• Agriculture & Land Management• Urban Forestry Scope 3• Waste Generation (offsite disposal)• Water Use (offsite supply/treatment)• Additional Sources

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What are Direct and Indirect Emissions?

Direct Emissions (aka scope 1) Emissions that are released from activities

within the inventory boundary Fossil fuel combustion Fertilizer application Landfill operation

Indirect Emissions (aka scope 2 and 3) Emissions that occur outside the

boundary because of activity or demand within the boundary Purchased electricity Off-site waste disposal Lifecycle related emissions

What are Scopes?

23Source: WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, Chapter 4 (2004).

Government Operations Structure

Table of Contents page• main navigational portal • track completion of each data source

Inventory Control Sheet• enter name of tribe and year of inventory• set up and define departments• Set up electricity provider information

Entry Sheet/Data Sheet• enter/review descriptions and consumption activity by unit• some sectors allow batch import of data

Summary/Calculation Sheets• show calculations/equations and summary data• No data entry required, informational only

Inventory Summary Page• compiles all entered data• tables and charts of emissions data 24

Government Operations: Navigation Page

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Click anywhere in the Table of Contents to jump to a

section of the tool

Community Module

Based on ICLEI’s Global Protocol for Community-Scale GHG Emissions, version 0.9

Covers nine sectors of community-scale emissions:• Stationary Fossil Fuel Combustion• Mobile Fossil Fuel Combustion Scope 1• Solid Waste Management• Wastewater Treatment• Electricity Consumption Scope 2• Agriculture & Land Management• Forestry Scope 3• Waste Generation (offsite disposal)• Water Use (offsite supply/treatment)• Additional Sources Varies

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Tool Structure

Table of Contents page• main navigational portal • track completion of each data source

Inventory Control Sheet• enter name of city and year of inventory• set up electricity provider information

Entry Sheet/Data Sheet• enter/review descriptions and consumption activity by unit• some sectors allow batch import of data

Summary/Calculation Sheets• show calculations/equations and summary data• No data entry required, informational only

Inventory Summary Page• compiles all entered data• tables and charts of emissions data

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Community Module: Navigation Page

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Click anywhere in the Table of Contents to jump to a

section of the tool

Community Module: Inventory Control Sheet

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Enter City Name and Inventory Year

Select eGRID subregion or enter

utility factors

“Set Up” Inventory

Community Module: Data Entry Page

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Navigation/Tracking Buttons

Enter description and consumption data

Add/Edit/Delete entries

Community Module: Navigation Page Revisited

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Table of Contents boxes change color as you mark

sheets complete

Community Module:Summary Page

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Charts and Tables of:

Total Emissions

Emissions by Source & Sector

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Additional resources

Portfolio Manager http://www.energystar.gov/benchmark

Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) http://www.epa.gov/egrid

Power Profiler http://www.epa.gov/powerprofiler

Climate CHange Emissions Calculator Kit (Climate CHECK) http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/school.html

Waste Management Related Tools http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/tools.html http://www.epa.gov/lmop/res/index.htm#5

Transportation Related Tools http://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/tools.htm http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles

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For more information:

Erica Bollerud

State and Local Climate and Energy Program

U.S. EPA

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue (6202 J)

Washington, DC 20460

Phone (202) 343-9282

bollerud.erica@epa.gov