Scope 2 Industrial, Commercial & Residential Buildings #
Scope 2 sectors represent census block group estimates of CO₂ emissions from the consumption of electricity. Estimates are generated at the balancing authority level and are allocated to census block groups based on the building type and square footage within census block groups. A balancing authority manages the operation of the electric system within a specific geographic area. There are 66 such areas in the United States. Scope 2 emissions estimates are available for 2019-2023.
Scope 2 Sector Definition #
Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with consumed electricity, steam, heat, or cooling. Scope 2 emissions are accounted for at the location where purchased energy is consumed, rather than at the location where it is generated (e.g., at the location of a power plant). Scope 2 emissions are categorized into source sectors based on building classifications in the National Structure Inventory (NSI), including residential, commercial, and industrial.
Emission data sources #
- “Tracking emissions in the US electricity system”, by Jacques A. de Chalendar, John Taggart and Sally M. Benson. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Dec 2019, 116 (51) 25497-25502; https://gridemissions.jdechalendar.su.domains/#/
- EIA Hourly Electric Grid Monitor
- NSI
- Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) Electric Planning Areas
- HIFLD Control Areas
Methods summary #
Emissions are calculated at the Balancing Authority via the Stanford (Chalendar et al.) project and are retrieved and allocated to buildings based on building types; Commercial buildings, Industrial buildings, Residential buildings, and square footage using the National Structure Inventory (NSI). Grid emissions data is spatially joined to buildings within each balancing authority, and emissions are downscaled based on building characteristics.