A Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory and Assessment enable management to identify and reduce waste and cost by forming a baseline for tracking performance and setting emissions reduction targets. Social responsibility and enhanced competitiveness are achieved when understanding your organization’s emissions and setting a reduction policy.
A GHG Assessment is a quantification and evaluation of the sources and amounts of GHG emissions and/or offsets produced by an organization. Attention to quality control issues and activity data are required for adequate reduction. The six GHGs called in the Kyoto Protocol are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride.
GHG inventories are necessary for participating in climate commitments, sustainability indices, GHG emission markets and reporting programs, as well as assessing liabilities associated with future legislation. Federal and state policies are moving forward with goals to reduce GHG emissions while increasing energy efficiency. Other incentives for reducing GHGs include competitive funding opportunities such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which requires the quantification of GHG emission reductions for proposed projects. The State of North Carolina recognizes the importance of reducing energy consumption for reducing GHG emissions and costs by passing Senate Bill 668 and Senate Bill 1946. Additionally, NCDENR will require Title V Air Quality permit holders to report their GHG emissions from their permitted sources.
