CEA Carbon Footprint & Emissions Tracking 4

Question 1

What is the primary difference between market-based and location-based methods for calculating Scope 2 emissions?

Accepted Answer

Market-based reflects contractual energy purchases; location-based uses average grid emission factors

Answer

The market-based method uses emission factors from contractual instruments like RECs or power purchase agreements, while the location-based method uses average grid emission factors for the region.

Question 2

A company purchases Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to offset its electricity consumption. Under which Scope 2 accounting method would this reduce reported emissions to near zero?

Accepted Answer

Market-based method

Answer

Under the market-based method, purchasing RECs allows a company to claim zero-emission electricity and report near-zero Scope 2 emissions for that consumption.

Question 3

Which type of emission factor would an analyst use to convert natural gas consumption (in MMBtu) to CO2e?

Accepted Answer

Stationary combustion emission factor from EPA

Answer

EPA provides stationary combustion emission factors for natural gas and other fuels expressed in units of CO2e per MMBtu of energy content.

Question 4

Under the GHG Protocol, which approach requires a company to consolidate 100% of emissions from operations based on the percentage of economic interest it holds?

Accepted Answer

Equity share approach

Answer

The equity share approach requires a company to account for GHG emissions from operations in proportion to its equity share (ownership percentage) in those operations.

Question 5

Which industry sector is typically the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Transportation

Answer

According to the EPA's US GHG Inventory, the transportation sector has been the largest source of GHG emissions in the US since 2016, primarily from fossil fuel combustion.

(CEA) Certified Energy Analyst Practice Test

(CEA) Certified Energy Analyst Practice Test

CEA Carbon Footprint & Emissions Tracking 4