5.2. ECCSR 11-16-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk River GHG Baseline Inventory 2 Introduction Normalization For Weather The energy consumption associated with our buildings is very closely related to weather. Colder winters demand more energy consumption to heat our buildings while hotter summers require higher use of air conditioning to maintain temperatures. To facilitate annual comparisons, building energy consumption and GHG emissions should be understood not just in actual levels, but also normalized for weather conditions. This enables a review of year over year GHG performance while filtering out factors which are beyond the City’s control. Weather Normalization is achieved by calculating a normalization factor comparing a given year’s total Heating Degree Days (HDD) and Cooling Degree Days (CDD) against a 30 year average. These normalization factors are then applied to the portion of electrical energy typically attributed to cooling and the portion of gas energy typically used for building heat. It is assumed that 25% of all electricity consumption is for air conditioning and for electrical normalization calculations is adjusted by the CDD factor. The remaining 75% of electrical use is unaffected. Similarly, 80% of gas usage in Minnesota is assumed to be for building heating and is adjusted by the HDD factor while the remaining 20% is unaffected in Normalized calculations. Graphic Representations Much of the emissions data reported in this Baseline Inventory report are also graphically represented in terms of volume of atmosphere. These representations are a unique hallmark of the Pale Blue Dot’s work and they are included in order to help facilitate an increased awareness of the order of magnitude our collective emissions represent. Volumetric calculations used in these graphics are based on the average atmospheric volume occupied by carbon dioxide as calculated by the International Carbon Bank and Exchange. I have been struck again and again by how important measurement is to improving the human condition. Bill Gates Why Measure? As the management consultant and author Peter Drucker noted, “What gets measured gets managed”. Measurement provides data both to understand where opportunities for improvement exist as well as to understand and reward success. Measurement of GHG emissions is the essential first step to successfully meet reduction goals. Establishing a baseline emissions understanding and updating the data annually is a critical component of meeting the emission reduction goals established by the City of Elk River’s adoption of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as well as the Statewide reduction targets. By undertaking this initiative to track emissions, the City of Elk River is yet again illustrating its leadership in sustainability. Methodology, Sources, and Terminology This Greenhouse Gas Baseline Inventory is assembled based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol for businesses and communities established by GHG Protocol (www.ghgprotocol.org/) and is consistent with the protocol established by ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability. The community-wide emissions data referred to in this document are all from City of Elk River’s reporting engagement in the Regional Indicator’s Initiative. The City Operations emissions data are based on raw metrics collected by City of Elk River staff with emissions calculations based on emission factors and Global Warming Potential (GWP) factors established by various sources such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency. All calculations in this document transparently show the emission factors being used as well as source references. The terminology used in this report is consistent with international Carbon Footprinting protocols. Unless noted otherwise, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions shown in this report are in CO2e: Carbon Dioxide Equivalent. CO2e is a standard for expressing the impact of all greenhouse gas including those from pollutants such as methane and nitrous oxide in terms of the equivalent amount of CO2 that would have the same impact. GHG emissions are represented in Metric Tonnes (2,204.62 pounds) to be consistent with Every 1 ounce CO2e is equal to over 960 cubic inches of Atmospheric Greenhouse gas.