{
  "slug": "scope1-2-emissions",
  "title": "Scope 1 & 2 Emissions Calculator",
  "heading": "Scope 1 & 2 Emissions Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/scope1-2-emissions",
  "summary": "Estimate direct and purchased-energy emissions from utility bills.",
  "description": "Scope 1 covers fuel you burn on-site or in owned vehicles — natural gas, diesel, propane. Scope 2 covers purchased electricity, using the grid's emission factor for your region. This calculator takes your annual gas therms, fuel gallons, and electricity kWh, applies EPA-standard emission factors, and rolls them into a total metric-ton CO2e figure you can report or benchmark. It is the same math behind most corporate GHG inventories built to the GHG Protocol, minus the audit trail. Grid factors vary a lot by region — a kWh in the Pacific Northwest can be 5-10x cleaner than one in a coal-heavy grid, so the eGRID subregion factor input matters more than people expect. Use this for a first-pass inventory, board reporting, or CDP prep, then refine with your actual utility invoice emission factors when you need audit-grade numbers.",
  "formula": "Scope 1 = (therms × 0.0053) + (gallons diesel × 0.01021) + (gallons propane × 0.00577) tCO2e. Scope 2 = kWh × grid factor (tCO2e/kWh). Total = Scope 1 + Scope 2.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=scope1-2-emissions",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "therms",
      "label": "Natural gas used",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 40000,
      "unit": "therms/yr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "dieselGal",
      "label": "Diesel/fuel oil used",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2000,
      "unit": "gal/yr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "propaneGal",
      "label": "Propane used",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 500,
      "unit": "gal/yr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "kwh",
      "label": "Purchased electricity",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 500000,
      "unit": "kWh/yr",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gridFactor",
      "label": "Grid emission factor",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.386,
      "unit": "kg CO2e/kWh",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Total Scope 1+2 emissions",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "scope1",
      "label": "Scope 1 (direct)",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "scope2",
      "label": "Scope 2 (electricity)",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "perMonth",
      "label": "Average per month",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "pctScope2",
      "label": "Share from electricity",
      "format": "percent",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Natural gas used: 40000 therms/yr",
      "Diesel/fuel oil used: 2000 gal/yr",
      "Propane used: 500 gal/yr",
      "Purchased electricity: 500000 kWh/yr",
      "Grid emission factor: 0.386 kg CO2e/kWh"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Total Scope 1+2 emissions: 428.3",
      "Scope 1 (direct): 235.3",
      "Scope 2 (electricity): 193",
      "Average per month: 35.69",
      "Share from electricity: 45%"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter natural gas used (therms/yr).",
      "Enter diesel/fuel oil used (gal/yr).",
      "Enter propane used (gal/yr).",
      "Enter purchased electricity (kWh/yr).",
      "Enter grid emission factor (kg CO2e/kWh).",
      "Read your total scope 1+2 emissions on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "therms": 24000,
        "dieselGal": 1200,
        "propaneGal": 300,
        "kwh": 300000,
        "gridFactor": 0.2316
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "therms": 40000,
        "dieselGal": 2000,
        "propaneGal": 500,
        "kwh": 500000,
        "gridFactor": 0.386
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "therms": 64000,
        "dieselGal": 3200,
        "propaneGal": 800,
        "kwh": 800000,
        "gridFactor": 0.6176
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Where do I get my grid emission factor?",
      "a": "EPA's eGRID database publishes subregion factors updated roughly every two years; utilities sometimes print a factor on the bill too. The US average is around 0.386 kg CO2e/kWh but ranges from under 0.1 in hydro-heavy regions like the Pacific Northwest to over 0.7 in coal-dependent grids, so pull the number for your specific service territory."
    },
    {
      "q": "Do I need Scope 3 too?",
      "a": "For CDP, SBTi, or most investor-grade disclosures, yes — Scope 3 (supply chain, business travel, commuting, purchased goods) is usually the largest bucket. This calculator only covers Scope 1 and 2, which is the right starting point for a first inventory or SEC climate disclosure baseline."
    },
    {
      "q": "How accurate are the default emission factors?",
      "a": "The natural gas factor (0.0053 tCO2e/therm) and diesel/propane factors come from EPA's Emission Factors Hub and are accurate to within a few percent for combustion-only accounting. They exclude upstream methane leakage, which matters for lifecycle-scope claims but not for a standard operational inventory."
    },
    {
      "q": "Should I use market-based or location-based Scope 2?",
      "a": "This tool computes location-based Scope 2 using the grid average. If you have signed a renewable energy contract or REC purchase, market-based accounting can show a lower number — GHG Protocol requires you to report both when you have contractual instruments."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/carbon-offset-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/rec-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/supply-chain-emissions-intensity"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Scope 1 & 2 Emissions Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/scope1-2-emissions)"
}