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Emission factors

A carbon account is built from activity data multiplied by emission factors. The activity can be kilowatt-hours, litres of fuel or kilograms of steel. The emission factor says how much CO₂e each unit gives, and it varies a lot between countries and energy sources.

E=A⋅EFE = A\cdot EFemission = activity times emission factor

Symbols

EEemissionkg CO_2e
AAactivitykWh, l, kg …
EFEFemission factorkg CO_2e

Example

1000 kWh of electricity at 0.02 kg CO₂e/kWh:

E=1000⋅0.02=20E = 1000\cdot 0.02 = 20 kg CO₂e.

The same electricity use can give ten times higher emissions in a country with coal power.
Practise life cycle and carbon accounting for free →

← CO₂ equivalents

Part of Technology, Ethics and Sustainability: Life cycle and carbon accounting.