Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have requested that, as from July 2011, Local Authorities report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in such a way as to align with the GHG Protocol - the internationally recognised standard for corporate accounting and reporting of GHG emissions.
Since last year the Council has reported carbon emissions from its own estate and operations in order to both monitor and publicise progress in meeting its target of a 30% reduction by April 2014, compared to the baseline year of 2008-9. The headway towards this goal, along with information about activities and difficulties have been captured in some detail in the Council Energy Performance web page.
GHG emissions data
The new form of reporting takes into account the whole range of GHG arising from our estate and operations, not only carbon dioxide emissions. A range of different conversion factors have had to be used; the resultant figures will be expressed as tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).
The use of up-to-date conversion factors, combined with other factors which account for the decreasing carbon intensity of grid electricity, means that there are some small differences when comparing the previous style report to this new GHG report.
The following tables and supporting explanations will follow a standard format prescribed by DEFRA/DECC in its formal technical guidance: Guidance on how to measure and report your greenhouse gas emissions. September 2009 (DEFRA website).
| GHG emissions data for period 1 April to 31 March 2011 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Global tonnes of CO2e | |||
| 2010 | 2009 | Base year 2008 | |
| Scope 1 | 1600 | 1625 | 1769 |
| Scope 2 | 1134 | 1261 | 1360 |
| Scope 3 | 2200 | 2297 | 2250 |
| Total gross emissions | 4934 | 5183 | 5379 |
| Carbon offsets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Green tariff | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total annual net emissions | 4934 | 5183 | 5379 |
Supporting explanations
The above GHG report covers emissions from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council's estate and operations, including those from buildings owned by the Council but managed by others (e.g. Community Centres), and those generated from outsourced activities (e.g. Reigate and Banstead's leisure centres are outsourced to Greenwich Leisure Ltd).
Reporting period - 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011
Change in emissions - GHG emissions have reduced 4.8% this year compared to last, and 8.3% from the baseline year (2008-9). The reductions are due to the active implementation of the Council's Carbon Management Plan.
Approach - the Council has followed the Government's Guidance on how to measure GHG emissions
Organisational boundary - the Council has used the financial control approach to GHG reporting
Operational scopes - the Council has measured its scope 1,2 and significant scope 3 emissions (excluding employee commuting), see table below.
Base year - 2008-9 was chosen as the baseline year, in line with reporting requirements for National Indicator 185: "Carbon emissions from Local Authority Estate and Operations
Targets - the Council's Carbon Management Plan sets a 30% reduction target for CO2 emissions. This will remain and the progress towards this goal will be converted into GHG emissions for reporting on this page.
Green tariffs - all electricity purchased by the Council is supplied through the LASER consortium. All of LASER's electricity is supplied from high quality CHP generation, consequently it has not been necessary to seek to purchase alternative green tariff energy.
| GHG emissions 2010-11 (tonnes CO2e) | Inclusions/Exclusions | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | ||
| Gas consumption | 424 | |
| Owned transport | 1176 | |
| Total scope 1 | 1600 | |
| Scope 2 | ||
| Purchased electricity | 1134 | |
| Total scope 2 | 1134 | |
| Significant scope 3 | ||
| Leisure Centres | 2154 | Emissions from outsourced provision of leisure centres |
| Business travel | 46 | Public transport + grey fleet |
| Employee commuting | Not calculated | |
| Total significant scope 3 | 2200 |
Contact
Email: sustainability@reigate-banstead.gov.uk
Environmental TeamReigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall, Castlefield Road, REIGATE, Surrey RH2 0SH
Telephone: 01737 276211
Last updated : 16/08/2011
