Carbon Footprint: Concept, Methodology and Calculation
15
time steps, using radiative forcing as a physical parameter without the definition of
any fixed time horizon. Negishi et al. [53] adopted time-dependant climate change
metrics, such as instantaneous radiative forcing, cumulative radiative forcing and
global mean temperature change, which are based on the IPCC models [27]; in this
way, the result of the CF study is not a single indicator, as in the static approach, but
different values of indicators as a function of time.
Obviously, it is difficult to compare the CF results obtained with static approach
with that calculated with dynamic models, first of all due to the major differences
in the nature of the indicators. Negishi et al. [53] tried to compare conventional and
dynamic LCA of several building components in terms of GHG emissions, revealing
that the difference can be very considerable, especially when the biogenic carbon is
included in the LCI.
5 Analysis of Available CF Calculation Tools
Carbon Footprint (CF) has become a mainstream environmental indicator in recent
years, due to the growing and pressing issue of climate change, and interest in calculating carbon impacts of different subjects and activities has significantly grown. As
a consequence, CF calculators have been developed with several different focuses
(such as nations, organizations and individuals), being developed both for public and
private use.
Available CF calculators differ from each other by a series of features, that are in
general the intended users, the goals they intend to achieve, the reference geographical
area, the input data required, the calculation methods, the databases used as data
sources and the emission factors. Anyway, even if CF calculators can adopt a variety
of outlines and approaches, all of them seek to measure the carbon emissions resulting
from a given activity or set of activities [83]. Moreover, since they provide estimates
of contributions to climate change, CF calculators can play an important role in
educating and motivating lifestyle changes geared toward carbon emissions reduction
[4].
The aim of this section is to analyze publicly available CF calculators focused on
different themes, also through a review of relevant related literature, so to provide
an overall insight into the typology of the available tools and the characteristics of
the currently used approaches.
5.1 CFO and CFP Calculation Tools
Concerning CF calculators at the corporate level, attention was focused on freely
available online calculators which, being in general simple and easy-to-use, can
be beneficial for providing preliminary estimations and having a view on GHG
15
time steps, using radiative forcing as a physical parameter without the definition of
any fixed time horizon. Negishi et al. [53] adopted time-dependant climate change
metrics, such as instantaneous radiative forcing, cumulative radiative forcing and
global mean temperature change, which are based on the IPCC models [27]; in this
way, the result of the CF study is not a single indicator, as in the static approach, but
different values of indicators as a function of time.
Obviously, it is difficult to compare the CF results obtained with static approach
with that calculated with dynamic models, first of all due to the major differences
in the nature of the indicators. Negishi et al. [53] tried to compare conventional and
dynamic LCA of several building components in terms of GHG emissions, revealing
that the difference can be very considerable, especially when the biogenic carbon is
included in the LCI.
5 Analysis of Available CF Calculation Tools
Carbon Footprint (CF) has become a mainstream environmental indicator in recent
years, due to the growing and pressing issue of climate change, and interest in calculating carbon impacts of different subjects and activities has significantly grown. As
a consequence, CF calculators have been developed with several different focuses
(such as nations, organizations and individuals), being developed both for public and
private use.
Available CF calculators differ from each other by a series of features, that are in
general the intended users, the goals they intend to achieve, the reference geographical
area, the input data required, the calculation methods, the databases used as data
sources and the emission factors. Anyway, even if CF calculators can adopt a variety
of outlines and approaches, all of them seek to measure the carbon emissions resulting
from a given activity or set of activities [83]. Moreover, since they provide estimates
of contributions to climate change, CF calculators can play an important role in
educating and motivating lifestyle changes geared toward carbon emissions reduction
[4].
The aim of this section is to analyze publicly available CF calculators focused on
different themes, also through a review of relevant related literature, so to provide
an overall insight into the typology of the available tools and the characteristics of
the currently used approaches.
5.1 CFO and CFP Calculation Tools
Concerning CF calculators at the corporate level, attention was focused on freely
available online calculators which, being in general simple and easy-to-use, can
be beneficial for providing preliminary estimations and having a view on GHG