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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