C6. Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Code 7.0

Participants are to establish a corporate-wide greenhouse gas reduction goal. Energy consumption and all relevant Scopes 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions are to be tracked, documented and publicly reported against the greenhouse gas reduction goal. Participants are to look for cost-effective methods to improve energy efficiency and to minimize their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Elements to Demonstrate Compliance to RBA Code

1. Policy

Ensure the facility environmental policy includes energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions elements including:

• a. Energy consumption and all relevant Scopes 1 and 2 Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are tracked, documented and publicly reported against the corporate greenhouse gas reduction goal.
• b. Cost-effective methods to improve energy efficiency and to minimize energy consumption and all relevant Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions are implemented.

2. Procedures & Practices

Procedures & Practices are in place such that:

• a. Corporate-level implementation, where greenhouse gas responsibility is held at corporate level:
  • i. Documented corporate policy.
  • ii. GHG reduction goal.
  • iii. Documented corporate process.
  • iv. Assigned responsibility.
  • v. Proof of implementation.
• b. Facility-level implementation, in case there is no corporate-level implementation:
  • i. A baseline of energy use (by source).
  • ii. The sources of electricity and other energy are documented, consumption recorded and accurate by source:
    • On-site combustion: oil, coal, diesel, natural gas, propane, garbage, etc.
    • Copies of records of total quantity of fuel combusted on-site (or easily extrapolated from fuel bills and other purchased fuel records).
    • Purchased electricity.
    • Renewable energy use – if the facility purchases renewable energy through their utility company.
  • iii. Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions are documented, consumption recorded and accurate by source and with a description of its boundary.
• c. Public reporting:
  • i. Publicly report a corporate-wide GHG footprint (total scopes 1 & 2) as a quantitative value of total emissions. A percentage (e.g., 90% of last year's emissions) is unacceptable.
  • ii. The value must represent annual emissions.
• d. An adequate and effective energy and GHG reduction program with:
  • i. Annual objectives.
  • ii. Regular objective tracking.
  • iii. Progress monitoring.
  • iv. Adjustments made if off track.
  • v. Structured roles and responsibilities, written procedures, targets, monitoring and reporting.

3. Controls & Monitoring

Controls & Monitoring should include:

• a. There is no significant energy consumption or GHG emissions at the facility that are not tracked and documented.
• b. Technology or management strategies to minimize energy consumption and GHG emissions are visible.
• c. Reduction programs are visible within the facility.
• d. GHG engineering control examples
  • i. Building automation technology, programmable thermostats, lighting controls, or energy-efficient heating, cooling, lighting, and ventilation technology.
  • ii. Use of on-site combustion or vehicles that are fuel efficient or use a less GHG-intensive source (natural gas, electric, cellulosic ethanol, etc.).
  • iii. Purchasing or installing on-site renewable energy.
  • iv. Use of high-efficient collection/treatment systems to absorb/treat cleaning agents.
  • v. Use of refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP) in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems.

4. Records

Records are maintained including:

• a. Accurate energy and GHG emissions inventory records are maintained and available for review.
• b. Inspection records of energy and GHG emissions and their points of use are maintained and available for review.
• c. Copies of records of total quantity of fuel combusted on-site (or easily extrapolated from fuel bills and other purchased fuel records).
• d. Description of boundary defined for reporting (such as financial control, operational control, or equity share).
• e. Description of how energy consumption and other GHG sources are converted into GHG emissions using internationally accepted GHG protocol.

1.0.0 (2021-01-01)

Changed

• Initial historical baseline — Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions (C8, RBA Code of Conduct 7.0): Earliest imported version of the criterion (provision C8 in VAP 7.0.0). Participants establish a corporate-wide GHG reduction goal; energy consumption and all relevant Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions are tracked, documented, and publicly reported against that reduction goal. Includes a corporate-level or facility-level implementation, public reporting of a corporate-wide Scope 1 & 2 footprint, and a separately rated cost-effective energy-efficiency and GHG reduction program with annual objectives, tracking, and progress monitoring.