Scope 1 vs Scope 3 Fuels

Geoffrey Brock

Director of Sustainability

IPS-Integrated Project Services

LEEDuser Premium Member

1 thumbs up

November 18, 2022

Hi folks, I was asking around during Greenbuild and getting a variety of answers on this, and since our Contractor Commitments make a distinction between "GC's" mobile equipment as scope 1 and "Sub's" mobile equipment as scope 3. I know that many of us acting as "CM" claim full "operational control" of a jobsite and consider all fuel using on that jobsite (most of which is technically through a subcontractor) as effectively scope 1. I also know that CM firms that act more as GC and actually own their own equipment and fleets make the distinction between what's "theirs" as scope 1 but their subcontractors as scope 3 (the way it's indiciated on the Good/Better/Best graphic.). As a CM, where we dont have equipment and vehicles on our paper, I can't see the benefit in considering everything "subcontracted" and report as scope 3 (saying we have effectively zero scope 1). I'd love for us to share how we are capturing this, and if there is indeed variation, be conginzant of that as we compare our respective targets. At the end of the day, emission are emission and the impact the same, but it would be nice to be aligned, or at least be able to aritculte why it's not.

Post a reply

Conor McGuire

Director of Sustainability

Columbia

LEEDuser Basic Member

0 thumbs up

Mon, 11/21/2022 - 16:21

We at Columbia found it too confusing to effectively communicate the original language to non-sustainability construction peers so our best faith effort was simplied into the language below. We're looking at the items as linear (start at the begining and work down the list). Once we commit/reduce/eliminate we'll be in a better position to support subs through it. Also, all the carbon footprint for materials is in the our materials section, not the carbon emissions section. Carbon Emissions Goal: ZERO emissions by 2050 Good:

Publicly support legislation for carbon reduction policies on local, state & national levels.
Free EV charging access for all office and field employees if any parking is made available.
Use only LED temporary lighting on all projects. Minimum 300 lux and 5000K.
Scope 1 Emissions (Company-Purchased Fossil Fuels): Report carbon emissions for company owned, leased, or rented vehicles & equipment, corporate offices, and company gas cards.
Sign on as supporter of MEP 2040 and discuss with projects’ MEP firms in preconstruction.
Implement a “No Idling” policy and display “No Idling” signage on jobsites.
Publicly commit to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.

Better:Request subcontractors’ plan to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 50% by 2030 & 100% by 2050 Best: Only zero emission electric equipment on all jobsites.

Geoffrey Brock

Director of Sustainability

IPS-Integrated Project Services

LEEDuser Premium Member

1 thumbs up

Wed, 12/14/2022 - 20:08

Thanks Conor, but this opens more questions than answers for me. Do you have a customized approach, or is this what the greater contractor commitments reporting protocol is evolving towards? In my attempt to find consistency in how we are reporting, it seems like it's still a moving target. Any others have insight on this?

Scott Beckman

Director of Sustainability

PCL Construction

LEEDuser Basic Member

1 thumbs up

Thu, 12/15/2022 - 15:40

The GHG protocol and scope definitions seem to leave some grey areas for construction companies. I have been referencing some guidance from a european group which attempts to clarify the application of the Scopes to construction. It's called the ENCORD Construction CO2e Measurement protocol. It puts the subcontractor emissions in Scope 3 (see page 20, Figure 4). This document is from 2012 and could probably use some updating and additional clarifications. Seems like a good opportunity for this group to take that framework and update/expand it. Could be something to discuss in January at the Summit.