Decarbonization Planning Guide

Conduct a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Audit

A GHG emissions reduction audit creates an inventory of GHG emissions sources in a building and outlines a concrete plan to reduce emissions through specific upgrades.  

A GHG emissions reduction audit is like an energy audit, with a few additional key elements to support decarbonization. The audit will determine achievable levels of emissions reductions at a building through energy efficiency, electrification, refrigerant leakage reduction, and the addition of onsite renewable energy. 

The GHG Emissions Reduction Audit webpage offers further resources to help plan and conduct an audit, including a link to an audit checklist with step-by-step information. 

While these audits have a goal to reduce overall emissions in the most cost-effective manner, typical financial metrics like simple payback and the types of measures may differ from conventional energy efficiency approaches. 

In general, a GHG audit occurs over several months and involves four major tasks: 

1. Data Collection and Target Setting: The audit team collects emissions data and high-level information about building systems and emissions sources, then uses this information to set emissions reduction goals. Note that energy benchmarking results can be used to help calculate emissions from energy use, and energy benchmarking can be written into the scope of an audit. 
2. Onsite Inspections: The audit team conducts a site visit to assess the condition of building systems and evaluate the potential for infrastructure upgrades, such as electrical service, EV charging stations, or onsite renewable energy. After the inspection, the auditing contractor completes an initial assessment report which includes a summary of building conditions and GHG benchmarking results and an initial outline for meeting reduction goals, including proposed emissions reduction measures. 
3. Analysis and Reporting: The audit team performs an engineering and financial analysis of proposed emissions reduction measures (ERMs) and quantifies their emissions reductions, implementation costs, and any impacts on operating costs. The team creates packages of measures which are pathways to achieving emissions reduction goals. This step culminates in an audit report containing the detailed analysis results and proposed ERM packages. 
4. Selection and Implementation by Owner: The owner evaluates the ERM packages in consultation with the audit contractor and selects a package to implement. Factors such as capital planning cycles, financing, and incentives can come into play in selecting the most appropriate ERM package.