What is district heating?
District heating is a system where heat is produced at a central location and then sent through pipes to provide warmth and hot water to multiple buildings in a neighborhood or city. It's like having one big heater that serves many homes and offices instead of each building having its own individual heating system.
How do I know if my building is supplied by district heating?
To find out if your heating and hot water are supplied by district heating, you can:
Check Your Bills: Look for mentions of district or communal heating.
Ask Your Landlord or Building Manager: They can confirm the heating system used.
Look at Your Heating System: If there’s no individual boiler and instead a central unit or heat exchanger, you might have district heating.
Notice External Heat Pipes: Insulated pipes going into the building can indicate district heating.
Check Building Documents: Maintenance or energy documents may mention district heating.
Calculating energy usage & carbon emissions from district heating
Follow these easy-to-follow steps to calculate your carbon emissions in the KEY ESG platform:
1. Identify Your Energy Usage:
Determine your energy consumption for heating and hot water in kilowatt-hours (kWh). You can find this information on your heating bills or through your building management.
2. Search the Climatiq Database:
Visit the Climatiq Data Explorer.
Search for “district heating” and filter the results by your specific country to find the most relevant emission factors.
3. Choose the Appropriate Emission Factor:
For most customers who purchase district heating from a third party, use the well-to-tank emission factor. This factor covers the entire lifecycle of the energy, from the extraction and processing of fuels to the final heat production, ensuring a comprehensive calculation of carbon emissions.
If district heating is not delivered by a third party (e.g., local or on-site systems), the use phase emission factor alone might be sufficient. This factor only covers emissions generated during the production of heat at the district heating plant.
4. Definitions of Emission Factors:
Use Phase Emission Factor: Includes emissions from the combustion or conversion process at the district heating plant. Use this for local, on-site systems without third-party involvement.
Upstream Emission Factor: Accounts for emissions from the extraction, processing, and transport of fuels to the heating plant. This is usually integrated into the well-to-tank factor.
Well-to-Tank Emission Factor: Combines upstream and use phase emissions, covering the full lifecycle of energy use from fuel extraction to heat generation. This is the most comprehensive and appropriate factor for third-party district heating.
5. Calculate Carbon Emissions:
Use the formula: Total Emissions=Energy Usage (kWh)×Well-to-Tank Emission Factor (kg CO₂e/kWh)\text{Total Emissions} = \text{Energy Usage (kWh)} \times \text{Well-to-Tank Emission Factor (kg CO₂e/kWh)}Total Emissions=Energy Usage (kWh)×Well-to-Tank Emission Factor (kg CO₂e/kWh)
For example, if your energy consumption is 10,000 kWh and the well-to-tank emission factor is 0.25 kg CO₂e/kWh, the calculation would be:
Total Emissions = 10,000 kWh × 0.25 kg CO₂e/kWh
Total Emissions = 2,500 kg CO₂e (or 2.5 metric tons of CO₂e).
6. Example Calculation Including Distribution Losses:
If you use 10,000 kWh of energy and the well-to-tank emission factor is 0.25 kg CO₂e/kWh:
Total Emissions = 10,000 kWh × 0.25 kg CO₂e/kWh
Total Emissions = 2,500 kg CO₂e (or 2.5 metric tons of CO₂e).
7. Ensure Accurate Data:
Regularly check for updates in the Climatiq database to ensure you are using the most accurate and current emission factors.
Conclusion
For most customers who purchase district heating from a third party, using the well-to-tank emission factor provides the most accurate and comprehensive estimate of carbon emissions. It covers the full lifecycle of energy from extraction to final heat production, ensuring that no emissions are overlooked. For local or on-site systems without third-party involvement, the use phase emission factor may be sufficient.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please reach out to the KEY ESG team via the in-app chat function or by emailing support@keyesg.com. We are here to help you understand and manage your carbon footprint more effectively.