School GHG Inventory

Protocols and Calculators

Based on the limited number of existing inventories conducted by K-12 schools^[1] and existing protocols, the best protocols for school districts in California are most likely the Local Government Operations Protocol or the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard. These two sector protocols are very similar and result in similar outcomes, as they both stem from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol that was developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

These protocols have various pros and cons, outlined in Table 1 below. The Local Government Operations Protocol is intended for local governments, and as such, California local government staff are likely to be more familiar with the protocol, thus able to lend assistance. The Corporate Standard is smaller in scope and potentially a better fit for K-12 schools because of the reduced complexity of a school district over that of a municipal government.

 

Table 1 - GHG Inventory Protocols Comparison

LG Operations Protocol		Corporate Standard
Pros	Cons	Pros	Cons
Significant CA statewide experience and support available[2] Technical Assistance available from NGOs and state agencies Aligns with CA cities[3]	May be more complex than needed (e.g. includes wastewater treatment and landfills)	More recent Scope 2 guidance May better match the scope of a school district Aligns with colleges/universities[4]	Less CA local government familiarity Technical Assistance provided for a fee

 

Three primary calculators are available for schools to use in calculating the GHG inventory based on one of the above protocols: SIMAP, ClearPath, and Excel-based (see also Table 2).^[5] SIMAP is run by the University of New Hampshire, is Corporate Standard compliant, and offers a low-cost software solution focused on universities and colleges. ClearPath is run by ICLEI, is based on the LG Operations Protocol, is available to local governments at no cost, and local government staff may be familiar with this tool, despite offering more complexity than a school district may need. Excel-based calculators can be simple or complex, depending on the proficiency and needs of the organization. Protocols include the formulas to construct an inventory which allow a basic calculator to be created with limited expertise (e.g., in Microsoft Excel), however updating the inventory would then require updating the custom calculator to reflect any protocol updates and may depend on sustained staff capacity.

 

Table 2 - GHG Inventory Calculator Software Comparison

Calculator:	SIMAP	ClearPath	Excel-based
Cost:	$350/year	$1,125+ (ICLEI membership)	Free/TBD[6]
Protocol:	Corporate Standard	LG Operations Protocol	Either
Support:	Included in price	Free for members: SEEC, ICLEI, Others	Free/TBD[7]
Ease of Use:	Very simple	Training needed	Easy for experienced user
Scope:	Calculates inventory	Calculates inventory and potential policies	Can be built to the needs of the user

 

The San Francisco Department of Environment uses the Excel approach, because they already have Microsoft Office licenses and in-house expertise – they therefore were able to create the tools they needed with little additional training necessary. However, the simplicity of tools such as SIMAP may be all that is necessary for a school district if they do not wish to create a custom solution or cannot shoulder the cost of training and/or additional software licenses.^[8]

Case Studies

San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is working to become carbon neutral by 2040. SFUSD uses the GHG inventory of their facilities (Scope 1 and 2) based on their own calculations and inclusion in the City of San Francisco’s municipal inventory (Local Government Operations Protocol + Excel calculator). The SFUSD Carbon Reduction Plan covers the major GHG sources, strategies, targets, and basic costs.

Fairfax County Schools (in Virginia), produced a report outlining their Scope 1 and 2 emissions from 2008-2017. The inventories for 2009-2017 were produced using the Local Government Operations Protocol version 1.1, while the 2008 inventory used the Climate Registry’s General Reporting Protocol version 1.1. Fairfax County Schools additionally participate in ENERGY STAR certification and maintain a website that includes additional data, ways to incorporate actions into the classroom, and resources.

The University of California system has a goal of carbon neutrality for buildings and fleets by 2025. They are American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment^[9] (ACUPCC) signatories, and are using Scope 1 and 2 emissions plus specific Scope 3 emissions as outlined by the ACUPCC. The UC Office of the President maintains a Carbon Neutrality Initiative page, as well as hosting a Sustainable Practices Policy outlining measures and activities and an Annual Report on Sustainable Practices with updates on specific sectors and targets. Individual campuses report through the Second Nature reporting platform (formerly ACUPCC).

Resources

• Excel Calculators and Tools
  
  • New Jersey Schools Carbon Footprint Calculator
  • EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership Simplified GHG Emissions Calculator
  • GHG Protocol Calculation Tools
• LEED
  
  • LEED Campus
  • LEED Zero
• National Best Practices Manual for Building High Performance Schools
• Eco-Schools USA Handbook
• NWF Eco-Schools Resources
• The Whole-School Sustainability Framework
• Sample Climate Action Plan:  The New School Climate Action Plan
• Sample Sustainability Plan: San Diego Unified School District Sustainability Plan
• ENERGY STAR K-12
• Second Nature (Formerly ACUPCC)
• Collaborative for High Performance Schools
• Center for Green Schools
• The Climate Action Registry: