Carbon Offsets

[Sanjeev4497]

Hi Team,

I am working on an LCA for a fitout where the client will be offsetting all of their operational energy carbon. I was wondering how to model this in eTool so that operational GWP is 0 but the other impact categories still have an impact?

[Fei Ngeow]

Hi Sanjeev,

Generally speaking LCAs are usually used to find out how much GWP the project has remaining in order to know how much they need to offset. Carbon offsets are normally what’s used when all other options have been exhausted to offset whatever little GWP that’s left. Therefore it seems rather counter intuitive to model carbon offsets in an LCA. I believe EN 15978 also states that carbon offsets should not be included in scope.

Are you sure you’re not talking about renewable energy purchase agreements instead? If so, please refer to this support post: https://support.etoollcd.com/index.php/knowledgebase/greenpower-renewable-energy-purchase-agreements-in-lca/

[Sanjeev4497]

Hi Fei, thank you for your reply.

I agree it should not be modelled but cannot see in EN 15978 any reference to carbon offsets. Could you please specify what section you are referring to?

Regards

[Fei Ngeow]

Hi Sanjeev,

Interestingly enough, we’re unable to find it explicitly stated in EN 15978. However the boundary for module D does not include any carbon offsets:

[auditorium5671]

great