Emission Scopes Used to Monitor Greenhouse Gases
It has been scientifically proven that certain chemicals when discharged into the air can cause severe damage to the environment and lead to global warming. Several treaties, among them the U.S. Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol, have been enacted worldwide to reduce the emission of harmful substances. Furthermore, emission scopes are being used to define and categorize the chemicals and their areas of use so facilities can better understand and take action to monitor the discharge rate of greenhouse gases.
There are three emission scopes that address the release of environmentally harmful chemicals, whether intentionally or unintentionally. They set forth protocols that address accountability, as well as tracking and reporting measures.
The main designation, Scope 1, of the emission scopes includes greenhouse gas emissions occurring directly onsite from the source, such as when refrigeration and air conditioning systems leak refrigerant gas. Fossil fuels are also included in this category. Any company-owned asset that has the potential to discharge greenhouse gases is included in this category.
The second category of emission scopes covers indirect discharges occurring during a production process. owners of facilities can conserve energy and reduce the amount of electricity that needs to be produced.
Sometimes, facility owners have the ability to control emissions of harmful greenhouse gases in the production process manufactured elsewhere. For example, where a manufacturer produces goods, such as paper products or fuels, in a remote location, the recipient facility owner can cut down on his need for these goods, or switch to a more environmentally friendly option. This is covered under scope three of the emission scopes
Emission scopes track the use of such greenhouse gases as hydrofluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide, perfluorocarbons, methane, sulfur hexafluoride and nitrous oxide. In the U.S. alone, fugitive emissions of refrigerant and other greenhouse gases are responsible for an estimated 300K tons of carbon dioxide annually. Similar discharge quantities occur throughout the world.
A wide range of industries use emission scopes, including universities, hospitals and corporations that are equipped with heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or refrigeration and air- conditioning systems. Facility managers must identify how greenhouse gases are used both directly and indirectly, taking steps to minimize usage and track potential discharge.
Because government agencies require tracking and reporting procedures for greenhouse gases, companies that specialize in developing software to track emission scopes make the process much more streamlined and time saving. Any organization that fails to adhere to the strict government policies risks severe penalty.