Login

Measure, Understand, and Reduce your GHG Emissions

This toolkit helps Canadian organizations understand greenhouse gases (GHGs), collect and interpret GHG data, calculate a robust GHG baseline, and design practical GHG emission reduction strategies. It connects core concepts like the greenhouse effect, climate change, global warming potential (GWP), carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), and GHG accounting to real-world actions that support net-zero goals.

Getting Started
Scope 1 Emissions

What are Scope 1 emissions?

Scope 1 emissions include emissions from sources directly owned or controlled by the reporting company. These include:

  • Emissions from on-site fossil fuel combustion for heating, cooling, water heating, cooking, manufacturing, or energy production. 
  • Emissions from fossil fuel-powered vehicles owned or controlled by the reporting company.
  • Fugitive emissions (leaks) of refrigerant gases from on-site refrigeration and air conditioning units.
  • Emissions released during any on-site manufacturing chemical processes.
  • Emissions from agricultural activities owned or controlled by the reporting company.

 

Examples of Scope 1 emission sources

Heating
  • Natural gas-fired boilers and furnaces
  • Propane or oil-fired heaters
  • Diesel or gasoline-powered space heaters
  • Combined heat and power (CHP) systems
  • Wood or biomass-fired heating systems
  • Hydrogen boilers (if using grey or blue hydrogen)
Cooling
  • Natural gas or propane-fired absorption chillers
  • Diesel or gasoline-powered air conditioners
  • Fossil fuel-powered cogeneration (combined heat and power) cooling systems
  • Absorption cooling using steam from fossil fuel boilers
Water heating
  • Natural gas-fired water heaters (tank or tankless)
  • Propane-fired water heaters
  • Oil-fired water heaters
  • Gas or diesel-fired boilers
  • Biomass or wood-fired water heaters
  • Hydrogen water heaters (if using grey or blue hydrogen)
Cooking 
  • Natural gas or propane stoves and ranges
  • Gas grills and charbroilers
  • Gas-powered ovens (convection, pizza, and deck ovens)
  • Gas-powered deep fryers
  • Gas-powered steamers and kettles
  • Gas-powered roasters and smokers (coffee, nuts, meat, etc.)
  • Wood-fired ovens and stoves
  • Charcoal or wood-fired grills and smokers
  • Mobile food trucks with diesel or propane burners 
  • Biomass boilers for food processing
Direct fossil fuel combustion for manufacturing 
  • Kilns in cement and brick manufacturing
  • Dryers and ovens
  • Asphalt production
  • Aluminum smelting
On-site energy production
  • Diesel or gasoline electricity generators
  • Natural gas turbines or engines
  • Coal-fired power plants
  • Oil-fired power generation
  • Biogas or biomass power plants
  • Combined heat and power (cogeneration) systems
  • On-site hydrogen power generation (if from fossil fuels)
Outdoor equipment
  • Gasoline or diesel-powered lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, pressure washers, water pumps, snow blowers, and cement mixers
  • Gas-powered leaf blowers, string trimmers, and chainsaws
  • Diesel-powered generators
  • Diesel-powered light towers
  • Outdoor fire pits
  • Propane or gas-powered patio heaters
Transportation
  • Gasoline- or diesel-powered company cars, trucks, and vans used for business operations
  • Natural gas- or diesel-powered heavy-duty trucks and buses
  • Gasoline- or diesel-powered construction and agricultural vehicles (e.g., bulldozers, tractors, and harvesters)
  • Forklifts and loaders (using diesel, gasoline, or propane)
  • Fossil-fuel-powered mining equipment (e.g., excavators, haul trucks, and drills)
  • Diesel-powered rail locomotives 
  • Ships, boats, and barges (using diesel or heavy fuel oil)
  • Offshore oil and gas service vessels
  • Airplanes and helicopters (using jet fuel or aviation gasoline)
  • Drones with internal combustion engines
  • On-site fuel use for pipeline operations (natural gas compressors and pumps)
  • Gas-powered ATVs, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes used for business operations
Fugitive emissions
  • Refrigerant leakage from industrial cooling systems, heat pumps, or HVAC systems
  • Methane emissions from petroleum and chemical processing
  • Sulfur hexafluoride from semiconductor manufacturing and high-voltage switchgear
  • Leakage of unburned methane from gas cooking equipment
  • Methane leakage from gas-powered outdoor equipment
Manufacturing chemical reactions
  • Cement production (clinker formation)
  • Steel and iron manufacturing
  • Lime production
  • Ammonia and fertilizer production
  • Glass and ceramics manufacturing
Agricultural activities
  • Enteric fermentation in ruminant animals (e.g., cows, sheep, and goats) releases methane during digestion.
  • Storing and handling manure, especially in anaerobic conditions (e.g., lagoons), produces methane and nitrous oxide.
  • Applying synthetic and organic fertilizers releases nitrous oxide.
  • Burning crop residues or clearing land releases CO and other GHGs.

 

Where can I find more information about Scope 1 emissions?

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, Revised Edition (2004) https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/standards/ghg-protocol-revised.pdf

Calculation Tool for Direct Emissions from Stationary Combustion, Version 3 (July 2005) https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/Stationary_Combustion_Guidance_final_1_0.pdf 

https://ghgprotocol.org/calculation-tools-and-guidance#cross_sector_tools_id

Simplified GHG Emissions Calculator (US EPA) https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/simplified-ghg-emissions-calculator 

Scope 1 and Scope 2 Inventory Guidance (US EPA) https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/scope-1-and-scope-2-inventory-guidance 

GHG Protocol: Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting Standard (2011) https://ghgprotocol.org/sites/default/files/standards/Corporate-Value-Chain-Accounting-Reporing-Standard_041613_2.pdf

Funded in part by
funded_by

Reconnaissance des terres

Dans un esprit de respect, de réciprocité et de vérité, nous honorons et reconnaissons Moh’kinsstis, le territoire traditionnel du Traité 7 et les pratiques orales de la confédération des Pieds-Noirs : Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, ainsi que les nations Îyâxe Nakoda et Tsuut’ina. Nous reconnaissons que ce territoire abrite la Nation métisse de l’Alberta, la région 3 au sein de la patrie historique des Métis du Nord-Ouest. Enfin, nous reconnaissons toutes les nations qui vivent, travaillent et se divertissent sur ce territoire, et qui l’honorent et le célèbrent.

Land Acknowledgment

In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, we acknowledge that we live, work, and gather on the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, including the Blackfoot Confederacy—comprising the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations—as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nations.

This land, known as Moh’kinsstis in the Blackfoot language and encompassing what is now Districts 5 and 6, is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland.

We recognize and honour the deep connection these Nations have to the land, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share in its stewardship.

As we continue our work, we commit to learning from Indigenous knowledge systems, uplifting Indigenous voices, and fostering relationships rooted in equity, understanding, and reconciliation.

ECO Canada Logo

Site en cours de développement

Nous travaillons actuellement sur la version française du site que nous espérons lancer très bientôt!

Merci pour votre patience et compréhension pendant que nous finalisons la version améliorée du site.

Website in Development

We are working to launch the French site very soon!

 
Thank you for your patience while we finalize the new and improved version of our website.