Essential data for reliable emissions tracking
To track emissions effectively you need consistent activity data that captures energy use, fuels, travel, waste, and purchased goods. The accuracy of emission estimates depends on the granularity and quality of those inputs.
Common data categories:
- Energy: electricity consumption (kWh), gas usage (m3), heating oil (litres) from utility bills.
- Transport: vehicle fuel use or distance travelled, flight routes, and public transport usage.
- Waste: volumes or weights of waste sent to landfill, recycled, or composted.
- Purchased goods and services: spend data, quantities, or supplier-provided emission factors for major items.
Data collection tips:
- Use annual totals to smooth seasonal variations and ensure consistent reporting periods.
- Automate where possible: integrate utility APIs, fuel card data, or fleet telematics to reduce manual entry.
- Record assumptions and emission factors used for transparency and repeatability.
Quality and granularity:
- Higher-quality data improves confidence: meter-level energy data and per-trip travel logs beat high-level estimates.
- For Scope 3, supplier emissions data or spend-based proxies are often needed; prioritize biggest suppliers.
Use of the data:
- Establish baselines, set reduction targets, and monitor progress.
- Update data annually and refine metrics as better information becomes available.
Consistent, well-documented data collection enables credible tracking, reporting, and continuous improvement in emissions reduction efforts.