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Optional Modules Guidance
In addition to the core requirements, Partners may choose to expand their greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory boundaries to include optional emissions sources over which Partners have some control, such as employee commuting, business travel, product transport, and international operations. Expanding boundaries allows for a wider possible range of emissions from which to achieve GHG reductions. The Optional Modules provide GHG accounting guidance pertaining to optional emissions sources:
- Employee Commuting: This module is used to estimate emissions from employee commuting using the same cross-sector emissions factors and methodology described under the Core Module for Mobile Combustion Sources.
- Business Travel: This module is used to estimate emissions from employee business travel using the same cross-sector emissions factors and methodology described under the Core Module for Mobile Combustion Sources.
- Product Transport: This module is used to estimate emissions from product transport using the same cross-sector emissions factors and methodology described under the Core Module for Mobile Combustion Sources.
- International Operations: This module is used to estimate emissions from international operations using the same Core Module Guidance as used for estimating emissions from U.S. operations
In addition, the following modules provide guidance for Partners to calculate emissions reductions from offset investments and renewable energy purchases for goal-tracking purposes.
- Offsets Fact Sheet (PDF) (4 pp, 77K)
- Offset Investments: This module is used to address eligibility of projects as GHG offsets and to provide measurement and monitoring guidelines for offset projects. Project protocols include landfill gas, manure management, afforestation, transportation, and boiler replacement projects and are based on a "performance standard" methodology.
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You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
Reforestation/Afforestation- Project protocol (PDF) (21 pp, 196K)
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Reforestation/Afforestation Project Carbon Online Estimator Tool (RAPCOE)
The RAPCOE tool currently includes calculations of leakage rates by region. At this time, however, projects would not be subject to a leakage deduction based on these rates.
- Commercial Boiler (PDF) (19 pp, 321K)
- Industrial Boiler (PDF) (28 pp, 505K)
- Landfill Methane (PDF) (16 pp, 248K)
- Manure Management: Anaerobic Digester (PDF) (23 pp, 1.1M)
- Transportation: Bus Fleet Upgrade (PDF) (20 pp, 256K)
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- Green Power Purchases (PDF) (16 pp, 303K): This module is used to identify and estimate reductions from purchases of green power or Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).