# Presentation: 193743

## Case Study: Using Existing Agency Tools to Develop a GHG Inventory

**Case Study: Using Existing Agency Tools to Develop a GHG Inventory**

*I. Sam Higuchi, Jr. *
*NASA HQ EMD*
*Washington, DC *
- _[shiguchi@nasa.gov](mailto:shiguchi@nasa.gov)__ _

**Federal Environmental Symposium **

**June 2, 2008**

*Kathleen Moxley*
*NASA GSFC*
*Greenbelt, MD*
- _[Kathleen.M.Moxley@nasa.gov](mailto:Kathleen.M.Moxley@nasa.gov)__	_

*Jeremey Alcorn *
*SAIC*
*Reston, VA   *
- _[alcornje@saic.com](mailto:alcornje@saic.com)__	_

## Presentation Nuts & Bolts

- GHG Inventory Initial Efforts, Protocols, Scope, and Boundaries
- Data Collection & Leveraging Existing Systems
- NASA's Initial Approach and Customization Process
- Emerging State Level GHG Emission Regulation
- Lessons Learned
- Next Steps

## NASA’s Mission: 

***“******To pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.”***

- _*The President’s Vision For U.S. Space Exploration_, National Security Directive 31 (2004)
- _*U.S. Space Transportation Policy – Access to Space_, National Security Directive 40 (2005)

## Vision for Space Exploration:

***Vision for Space Exploration:***
***“******A Safe, Accelerated, Affordable, and Sustainable Approach”***

**Complete International Space Station**
**Safely fly Space Shuttle until 2010**
**Develop and fly Crew Exploration Vehicle before 2015 **
**Return to the Moon before 2020**
**Promote international and commercial participation**
**Develop supporting innovative technologies, knowledge, and infrastructures**
**Implement sustained and affordable human and robotic program**

- Douglas R. Cooke, NASA's Exploration Architecture, 12/8/05, NASA Risk Management Conference 2005
- Graphics Credit: NASA/John Frassanito and Associates

## Why Prepare a GHG Inventory Now?

- Reasons
- Massachusetts v. EPA - U.S. Supreme Court – air pollutants include GHG (2007)
- President supports voluntary “cutting our nation’s Greenhouse Gas intensity” (June 11, 2002)
- EPA “Climate Leaders” Program - voluntary reduction of greenhouse gases
- DOE 1605(b) Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases
- California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) – JPL is a new member
- MD Dept. of Environment (MDE) air quality regulations - GSFC
- Executive Order 13423
- Specifically references reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
- Toxic and Hazardous Chemical Plan due by 24 January 2008
- Greenhouse gas theme underlies several areas of Executive Order 13423 (e.g., energy intensity, new construction & major renovation of buildings, agency vehicle fleet, and pollution prevention)

## NASA’s Initial GHG Inventory Efforts

- Developed Internal Ecological Footprint: CO2
- resource consumption _*inventory*_ for sustainability indicator
- Adapted Greenhouse Gas Inventory: CO2 eq.
_*risk management*_ “GHG rough order of magnitude” (including ODSs)
- Explored Greenhouse Gas Accounting: CO2 eq.
*WRI / WBCSD GHGs Protocol*
*EPA “Climate Leaders” Program (excludes ODSs)*
*DOE 1605(b) Program (optional to include ODSs)*
*ISO 14064 & 14065 – Greenhouse Gas (internal audits & projects)*

## Putting NASA’s Draft GHG Inventory Into Context

*If it isn’t measured, it isn’t managed!*
- Greenhouse Gases theme underlies emphasized areas of Executive Order (EO) 13423
- GHG Inventory provides basis for looking at baseline and process moving forward with more feedback and customization at facility level
- Leverage results and tools to aid decision-making for energy projects and GHG emission control

## Initial GHG Inventory Effort – Protocols, Scope, & Boundaries 

- Protocols – *Concurrently Calculated*
- World Resources Institute / World Business Council For Sustainable Development (WRI/WBCSD)
- Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), Energy Management Data Report
- Scope
- Scope 1: Direct Emissions (stationary, mobile, etc.)
- Scope 2: Indirect Emissions (electric, steam, etc.)
- Boundaries
- NASA direct controlled Centers & facilities, civil servant activities, etc. – *mirrors activities monitored under relevant Executive Orders*

## Identify scope activity data needs – 
Read the manual & define requirements!
Identify existing Agency data collection and management systems
Determine if data outputs are relevant, reliable, comparable, available, and maintainable year-to-year
Assess source’s continued viability and sustainability for long-term use

- Read the manual & define requirements!
- Identify existing Agency data collection and management systems
- Determine if data outputs are relevant, reliable, comparable, available, and maintainable year-to-year
- Assess source’s continued viability and sustainability for long-term use

**Data Collection –****Systematic and Pragmatic**

## Leveraging NASA’s Existing Data

- Past Executive Orders mandated collection of energy and transportation data you need!
- Determine appropriateness and availability of data in existing reporting systems
- Engage “keepers” of the data early on
- Select and incorporate data inputs
- NASA Environmental Tracking System (NETS) data resources
- Federal Federal Automotive Statistical Tool, Annual Report Data, See _[https://fastweb.inel.gov/](https://fastweb.inel.gov/)__ _

## NASA’s Initial Approach and Customization Process

- WRI/WBCSD Protocol has good calculation tool modules in MS Excel but time / labor intensive for ~20 facilities at a time
- Used NASA data inputs to define calculation data streams and WRI/WBCSD modules needed
- Developed, customized, and integrated NASA GHG Inventory Template for facility level runs
- Used standardized template outputs and nested structure to rollup Agency inventory results
- Provided low-cost and modular GHG inventory with ability for quick updates and customization

## Quality Assurance in Design and Process 

- Designed tool to:
- Maintain input component data streams
- Use single data input / dual protocol calculations with comparisons for ball park side-by-side QA
- Generic template with facility specific look up tables for customization and consistency
- QA for facility and rollup components
- On-going during preparation process
- After calculations are completed
- Design & planning for future 3rd party audit

## Preliminary GHG Inventory

- Completed preliminary FY2006 GHG Inventory for NASA in late-2007
- Used these initial numbers to develop EO13423 GHG reduction goals
- Continue vetting and review approach and results to finalize baseline
- Preliminary FY2006 FEMP vs. WRI/WBCSD results:
- Scope 1 – 242,431 vs. 238,159 metric tons CO2-e, resp.
- Scope 2 – 1,065,945 vs. 917,157 metric tons CO2-e, resp.
- Carbon Neutral – 82,725 (WRI only) metric tons CO2-e
- Preliminary FY2006 Scope 1 & 2 CO2-e Totals
- FEMP Total – 1,308,376 metric tons CO2-e
- WRI/WBCSD Total – 1,155,315 metric tons CO2-e

## Agency Level - Lessons Learned

- Involve your Agency’s energy and transportation leads early on
- Maximize data “borrowing”
- Minimize new data collection and maintenance where possible
- Integrate accessible, consistent, and authoritative data and conversions
- Use modular and consistent data management process
- Take baby steps but think big!

## Emerging GHG Emission Reporting Requirements In Maryland

- Maryland joined The Climate Registry in May 2007
- Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) notified all Maryland Title V permit holders of new GHG emission reporting requirements in early 2008
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) received MDE’s request for this GHG emission information on Jan. 31st, 2008
- MDE air emissions certification report deadline was originally April 2008, but GSFC requested and was granted an extension till May 1st for GHGs portion
- Aside from AP-42 factors, limited systematic reporting guidance was provided

## NASA’s GHG Inventory Approach Adapted to Meet MDE Requirements

- MDE requested GHG emissions for each permitted piece of equipment for CY2007
- NASA adapted existing WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol tool to calculate GHG inventory
- NASA’s approach and tool used to satisfy MDE regulatory requirement but noted that it represents only a _partial Scope 1 inventory_
- AP-42 versus WRI/WBCSD GHG factors were compared for conservatism
- The Climate Registry system requirements are based upon WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol

## Center Level - Lessons Learned

- State regulations may drive GHG Inventory approaches
- Flexible and transparent architecture is even more important for rapid adaptation, modification, and recalculation
- Good start but need to continue development of integrated tool for both HQ and Centers
- New opportunity to help MDE (and other states) regulators meet their mandates but also avoid piecemeal approach

## On-Going and Future Efforts

- Finalize approach and FY2006 Baseline Inventory
- Setup tool and process to start FY2007 Inventory
- Continue data stream gap analysis
- HFCs, PFCs, & SF6 used at facilities?
- Utilize existing data and tool to plan future policy and to engage NASA decision-makers
- Work with GSFC and other Centers to develop consistent approach but customized and flexible enough to meet state regulatory requirements
- Continue coordination with U.S. EPA Climate Leaders Program

## Means To An End

- “If ***scientists*** supply accurate and reliable information,
***policy makers*** can make intelligent and responsible decisions
- to preserve an acceptable quality of life for our ***children and grandchildren***.”

- B. Cramer (2001) “New Millennium Program’s First Earth Observing Mission (EO-1)” January 11, 2001; Technology Workshop USGS Auditorium / Reston, Virginia
- http://eo1.gsfc.nasa.gov/miscPages/Tech1.html

**Means To An End**

*I. Sam Higuchi, Jr. *
*NASA HQ EMD*
*Washington, DC *
- _[shiguchi@nasa.gov](mailto:shiguchi@nasa.gov)__ _

*Kathleen Moxley*
*NASA GSFC*
*Greenbelt, MD*
- _[Kathleen.M.Moxley@nasa.gov](mailto:Kathleen.M.Moxley@nasa.gov)__	_

*Jeremey Alcorn *
*SAIC*
*Reston, VA   *
- _[alcornje@saic.com](mailto:alcornje@saic.com)__	_

## Useful Supplementary Resources:

- J. Lash & F. Wellington (March 2007) “Competitive Advantage on a Warming Planet,” Harvard Business Review.
- Meridian Institute (July 2002) “Forum on a GHG Accounting System:  Taking Stock and Prioritizing Action,” See _[http://www.merid.org/GHGaccounting/index.php](http://www.merid.org/GHGaccounting/index.php)__._
- J.D. Garbrecht & T.C. Priechota (eds.) (2006) Climate Variations, Climate Change, and Water Resources Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers.
- Florence Daviet (June 2006) The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: Designing a Customized Greenhouse Gas Calculation Tool. World Resources Institute.
- Michael Gillenwater (July 2005) WRI/WBCSD GHG Protocol Stationary Combustion Guidance, Version 3.0, World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), See _[http://www.ghgprotocol.org/calculation-tools](http://www.ghgprotocol.org/calculation-tools)__._
- U.S. EPA (October 2004) Climate Leaders Greenhouse Gas Inventory Protocol Core Module Guidance: Indirect Emissions from Purchases/Sales of Electricity and Steam.

## Programs, Organizations, and ISO Standards to Reference 

- Useful resources for developing robust GHG inventory process and program
- WRI/WBCSD Protocol Guidance
- U.S. EPA Climate Leaders Program Guidance
- California Climate Action Registry Guidance
- ISO 14064-1 – *Design and development of organizational GHG Inventories*
- ISO 14064-2 – *Design and development of GHG Projects*