Carbon Footprint Calculator Scopes 1 and 2: A Practical Guide to Measuring Your Emissions
Measuring scopes 1 and 2 is no longer optional. It’s an urgent necessity.If you don’t know your emissions, you can’t reduce them.
And if you don’t reduce them, you’re losing ground to your competitors.
We’re talking about direct and indirect emissions generated in the daily operations of any business. From the fuel you use to the electricity you consume.
Market demands and regulations are on the rise.
Clients, investors, and employees are already demanding transparency and concrete results.
They want to know what you’re doing and with what real impact.
Measuring your footprint is the first step.It allows you to make informed decisions, optimize resources, and ensure you’re complying with what regulations are already asking for.
In this article, we’ll explain what scopes 1 and 2 are, how they are measured, and what you need to start managing them with a clear approach.
General Structure of a Carbon Footprint Calculator (Scopes 1 and 2)
A well-designed carbon footprint calculator follows a clear and functional structure.It’s built to facilitate the calculation of direct and indirect emissions, without unnecessary complications.
Block 0: General DataHere, you input basic organizational data:
Name and Tax Identification Number (NIF)Activity sectorCalculation year
General Structure of a Carbon Footprint Calculator (Scopes 1 and 2)
A well-designed carbon footprint calculator follows a clear and functional structure.
It’s built to facilitate the calculation of direct and indirect emissions, without unnecessary complications.
Block 0: General Data
Here, you input basic organizational data:
-Name and Tax Identification Number (NIF)
-Activity sector. Calculation year
-Organizational and operational boundaries
Block 1: Direct Emissions (Scope 1)
These are emissions from sources owned or controlled by the company:
- Fossil fuel consumption in vehicles and machinery
- Industrial process emissions
- Refrigerant gas leaks
Block 2: Indirect Emissions (Scope 2)
These are emissions derived from the generation of electricity, heat, or steam that the company consumes but is produced by third parties:
- Electricity consumption
- Purchased heat or steam
Block 3: Results and Analysis
The results of the calculation are presented:
- Total emissions by scope
- Comparison with previous years
- Identification of main emission sources
Block 4: Reduction Plan.
An action plan is proposed to reduce the identified emissions:
- Specific measures
- Implementation deadlines
- Monitoring indicators
What Data You Need to Have Ready Before You Start
Before using a carbon footprint calculator, it’s crucial to collect and organize certain data.
This ensures the calculation is accurate and useful for decision-making.
Energy Consumption Data
- Electricity bills
- Natural gas bills
- Fuel consumption in vehicles and machinery
Activity Data
- Kilometers traveled by the vehicle fleet
- Machinery operating hours
- Annual production of the company
Fugitive Emissions Data
- Amount and type of refrigerant gases used
- Maintenance records for cooling systems
Emission Factors
- Specific factors for each type of fuel
- Emission factors for the national electricity grid
Organizational Information
- Company structure
- Number of employees
- Facility locations
Having this data prepared facilitates the calculation process and allows for more precise and actionable results.
Data Input Tabs
Carbon footprint calculators usually organize information into tabs to make it easier to use.Each tab corresponds to a specific type of data, allowing for a neat and systematic data entry process.
General Organizational Data
This section collects basic company data:
- Name and NIFActivity sector
- Calculation year
- Organizational and operational boundaries
These data are essential for contextualizing the calculation and ensuring its accuracy.
Defining Work Centers and Activity Parameters
It’s important to identify each work center, its location, and the activities carried out there.
This includes:
- Address and coordinates
- Number of employees
- Energy consumption
- Annual production
These parameters enable a detailed analysis of emissions by center.
Registration by Territories (Balearic and National)
In some regions, like the Balearic Islands, there are specific registers for carbon footprints.
Starting in 2025, companies operating in the Balearics must submit a reduction plan along with their carbon footprint registration.
It’s crucial to be aware of regional and national regulations to comply with legal requirements.
Carbon Footprint – Scope 1
This section includes direct emissions from fossil fuel use in fixed installations, such as boilers, furnaces, or generators. You need to register:
- Type of fuel usedAmount consumed
- Consumption period
- These data allow you to calculate emissions associated with these activities.
Which Fuels Are Included and How Consumption Is Registered
Fuels such as:
- Natural gas
- Diesel
- Coal
- Biomass
Consumption is recorded through invoices, internal records, or energy monitoring systems.
Vehicles and Machinery
Two calculation methods: by fuel or by kilometers
Emissions from vehicles and machinery can be calculated in two ways:
- By fuel consumption: Multiply the amount of fuel consumed by its corresponding emission factor.
- By kilometers traveled: Multiply the distance traveled by the vehicle’s average consumption and its emission factor.
The method choice depends on the availability and accuracy of data.
What Type of Vehicles and Machinery Should Be Included
Consider all vehicles and machinery owned or controlled by the company, including:
- Freight and passenger transport vehicles
- Agricultural and industrial machinery
- Mobile equipment used in operations
It’s important to include all equipment that consumes fossil fuels in the company’s operations.
Fugitive Emissions
Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment: how to calculate leaks
Fugitive emissions come from refrigerant gas leaks in air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
To calculate them:
- Identify the type and amount of refrigerant used
- Register reported refills and leaks
- Apply specific emission factors for each type of gas
These data come from maintenance and operation records of the equipment.
Process Emissions
Process emissions are those generated directly by industrial, agricultural, or waste treatment activities.They include:
- Chemical reactions in industrial processes
- Fermentation in agricultural activities
- Waste decomposition in landfills
To calculate them, identify specific emission sources and apply the corresponding emission factors.
Accurate and updated data is essential for estimating these emissions correctly.
Carbon Footprint – Scope 2
Scope 2 includes indirect emissions related to the consumption of electricity, heat, or steam purchased by the company.
Although these emissions don’t occur within your facilities, they are directly linked to your operations and therefore must be recorded.
Electricity and Other Energies – Balearic Registration
In the Balearics, the regional register requires a detailed approach to electricity consumption.
You must declare the annual consumption per facility, differentiating whether the energy is from the grid or self-produced.
What Information You Should Request from Your Energy Provider
To make this calculation correctly, request the following from your energy provider:
- Total annual electricity consumption per supply point
- Certificate of origin for the energy (whether renewable or not)
- The emission factor applied to the energy mix provided
This data allows you to know the real impact of your energy consumption.
How to Include Electricity Consumption from Facilities and Vehicles
You need to consider both:
- Electricity consumption from your facilities (lighting, air conditioning, machinery).
- Consumption from your electric vehicles, if you have them.
In both cases, ensure you have detailed and up-to-date records.
For vehicles, consumption is often recorded at the charging point, so it’s crucial to centralize that information.
Electricity and Other Energies – National Registration
At the national level, Scope 2 calculation is also based on total electricity consumption, but a standard emission factor is applied, published annually by MITECO.
It doesn’t consider whether your provider supplies renewable energy unless it’s verified and certified.
What Changes for Calculations in the Balearics
In the Balearics, you can apply your own emission factor if your provider justifies it with data.
At the national level, the same factor applies to all, regardless of the provider.
Therefore, if you operate in both contexts, you must separate and document each territory separately.
Additional Information: Renewable Energy
Self-production and consumption: how to record it without altering your footprint
If you have solar panels, wind turbines, or another renewable source, you can self-consume some of the energy you use.
This consumption is also recorded, but it doesn’t generate emissions, so it doesn’t add to your footprint.
However, you must document the installation correctly:Estimated annual production
- Self-consumption records
- Equipment connected to that source
- Don’t rely on unsupported estimates. Use automatic records or certified production reports.
This avoids inconsistencies and ensures a reliable calculation.
Results and How to Interpret Them
Once all the data is entered, the calculator generates the total emissions for each scope, broken down by source type, installation, or work center.
The key here is not just the final number, but understanding where your emissions come from and how they evolve over time.
This is what will allow you to make useful decisions.
Balearic Registration Report
For the Balearics, the report must include:
- Absolute emissions (in tons of CO₂ equivalent)
- Relative emissions per unit of activity: could be by employee, per square meter, per unit produced.
This allows the government to assess whether you’re making real improvements or just growing and polluting more.
How to Use These Data for Your Climate Strategy
With the results in hand, you can:
- Prioritize where to act first (e.g., centers with the highest emissions per m²).
- Set concrete reduction goals.
- Justify investments in energy efficiency.
- Create a reduction plan to comply with Balearic regulations.
Additionally, if the data is well-structured, you can use it for your EINF, CSRD, or even for Science-Based Targets.
Report for the National Register
At the national level, the report includes:
- Total emissions by scope.
- Breakdown by type of source.
- Reference period.
- Statement on the use of renewable energy (if applicable).
Here, submitting a reduction plan is not mandatory, but it’s key to show that you know what you’re emitting and that the data aligns with your activity.
What’s Expected to Be Reported at the National Level
The Ministry requires:
- Data consistent with your economic activity.
- The use of official emission factors or well-justified factors if you use others.
- The report must be technically validated (though external verification is not required).
Emission Factors: The Detail That Makes the Difference
The emission factor is what transforms your consumption (electricity, gas, fuel) into CO₂e emissions.
And yes, using the right one changes the result significantly.
For example, the national electricity mix changes each year, depending on the source of the energy. Using outdated data can inflate or distort your footprint.
Which Databases Are Used
The most common sources include:
- Ministry for the Ecological Transition (MITECO)
- IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
- International databases like DEFRA or GHG
ProtocolIn some cases, the providers themselves may justify specific factors.
Why It’s Important to Update and Justify Your Factors
If your factors are outdated or lack backing, your calculation loses credibility.
And if you’re going to register your footprint officially, you need to justify every number.
Additionally, you could be penalized if next year’s requirements change and your calculation doesn’t adapt. That’s why you must review your sources each year, especially if you have facilities in multiple regions.
Where Dcycle Fits Into All This
Dcycle is not a consultancy or an auditor.
We are a solution designed for companies that want to measure accurately without complicating things.
Automating the Entire Process
Manually collecting ESG data is a hassle. With Dcycle, all that is behind you.
We automate everything from data collection to generating reports ready for auditing.
This saves you time, reduces errors, and eliminates headaches. And yes, it also helps you respond quickly to any external requests.
Adapting to Local Regulations and Registries
Whether you need to comply with CSRD, MITERD registration, ISO 14064, or regional requirements, our solution adapts.
We organize your ESG data according to what you need to do, without duplicating efforts. One piece of data, multiple uses.
Simple and Intuitive Interface
You don’t need to know about sustainability or carbon accounting to use Dcycle.
Our working method is designed for anyone on your team to understand and use from day one.
Everything is step-by-step, without unnecessary technical jargon.
Data Validation and Traceability
Every piece of data you enter is recorded with its source, date, and responsible party.
This allows you to audit, compare years, justify changes, and respond quickly if anyone asks for explanations.
Expert Support
You’re not alone. We assist you from the start so you can measure correctly without wasting time.
Our team is here to make sure you understand what you’re doing, and do it right from the very first minute.
With Dcycle, moving from Excel to smart impact management has never been easier.Measuring, managing, and reporting your emissions with purpose doesn’t have to be a complicated process anymore.
Glossary to Understand Your Carbon Footprint Calculator
Scope 1
Direct emissions generated by sources controlled by the company, such as fuel consumption in boilers, vehicles, or owned machinery.
Scope 2
Indirect emissions associated with the consumption of electricity, steam, or heat purchased by the company.
Though not produced within your facilities, they are a direct consequence of your activity.
GHG Emissions (Greenhouse Gas Emissions)
A set of gases like CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O that contribute to global warming. They are the focus of carbon footprint calculations.
Emission Factors
Coefficients used to convert consumption (e.g., liters of diesel) into equivalent CO₂ emissions. These vary by source and region.
ISO 14064
International standard defining how to measure and report greenhouse gas emissions from an organization.
CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)
European regulation requiring many companies to structure and report their ESG data, including carbon footprints.
Balearic Carbon Footprint Register
A regional system where companies with operations in the Balearic Islands must (and in some cases, must) register their emissions and submit a reduction plan.
GHG Protocol
The most widely used global standard for accounting and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. It serves as the basis for many regulations.
Fugitive Emissions
Gases released unintentionally, mainly in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, such as refrigerant gas leaks.
Energy Consumption
All energy used by a company, including electricity, fossil fuels, and renewable energy. It’s the basis for calculating environmental impact.
Relative Emissions
Calculation of emissions based on a variable like the number of employees, area occupied, or units produced. It allows for efficiency comparison between periods or centers.
Self-Consumed Energy
Energy produced and used by the company itself, e.g., with solar panels. It counts as consumption but doesn’t generate emissions if it’s renewable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What’s the difference between Scope 1 and Scope 2?
Scope 1 covers direct emissions generated by your company: fuels, machinery, vehicles, gas leaks.
Scope 2 refers to the impact of purchased electricity or other energies. You don’t produce them, but you use them.
Is it mandatory to calculate the carbon footprint?
Not always, but it’s increasingly becoming so. If you’re within the scope of CSRD, working with public administrations, or part of demanding supply chains, you need to do it.
And even if it’s not mandatory today, get ready because soon it will be.
What are the most common mistakes when using the calculator?
Ignoring small emissions that add up.Using emission factors that don’t match the year or region.Not documenting where the data comes from.Calculating only part of the organization, leaving out smaller centers.
Can I use these data for my ESG or CSRD reports?
Yes. As long as the calculation is well done and traceable, the data can be used for your ESG reports, sustainability plans, CSRD, SBTi, or regulations like ISO 14064.
One database, multiple uses.
What do I do if I don’t have all the consumption data?
Use reasonable estimates, but document them.
The important thing is explaining where the data comes from and improving accuracy each year.
Not having everything is no excuse for not starting.
How long does it take to complete the process with Dcycle?
In just a few days, you can have your footprint calculated, as long as you have the basic information.
We automate data collection, guide you step-by-step, and generate the report you need, ready to use.
It’s quick, clear, and hassle-free.
