Configuring and Customizing Emissions Factors
Last updated
Last updated
Brightest is a calculation-based platform that uses default carbon emissions factors (EF) from established sources like the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United Kingdomâs Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (formerly BEIS and DEFRA), and others, to calculate carbon emissions.
However, you also have the flexibility to add your own emissions factors (EF) to your account EF library or select EFs from the Brightest Emissions Factors Library.
In the Emissions Factors section, you'll see three tabs: Activity, Spend, Library.
Activity: Here you can add all of your activity-based emissions factors using the add tool or csv file importer
Spend: Here you can add all of your spend-based emissions factors using the add tool or csv file importer
Library: Here you can browse or search through the Brightest database of activity and spend-based emissions factors.
Access thousands of activity and spend-based emissions factors from reputable government and international organization sources.
You can select emissions factors from the Brightest Library and add them to your organizationâs emissions factors library.
To add emissions factors to your account using the Brightest library:
Select the âLibraryâ tab in the Emissions Factors management settings. The Brightest emissions factors library will appear.
Search the library for emissions factors by name, description, calculation source, emissions source, or emissions type.
Check the box next to the emissions factor. Then click on the green button â+Saveâ and the emissions factor will be added to your account library.
Below are the field options for an emissions factor.
Name
Yes
Type the name of the emissions factor.
Description
No
Optional to provide a description of the emissions factor
Unit
Yes - for activity-based emissions factors
Select the metric unit for your activity. For example, kg for waste.
Factor type
Yes
Select spend or activity
Spend currency
Yes - for spend-based emissions factors
Select the spend currency
Calculation source
No - but recommended
Enter the name of the institution that published or developed this emissions factor
Emissions source
No
Enter the source of the emissions for example: purchased goods & services, food & agriculture, mobile combustion etc.
Emissions type
Yes
Select the type of emissions this emissions factor is used to calculate: eGRID (eletricity grid), fuel, steam & heat, vehicle, value chain, other
Sub type
No
Documentation reference
No - but recommended
Enter a link or further documentation source to easily trace the original source
CH4
Enter if relevant - Brightest will auto-convert the CH4 into CO2e
Enter the value of CH4 that is composed in this emissions factor (if known)
CH4 unit
Yes - if a value has been entered
Select the measurement unit e.g. g, kg, tonne etc.
CO2
Enter if relevant - you can enter CO2e in this field
If you only have CO2 or CO2e information, enter that here. Many emissions factors are shown in CO2e
CO2 unit
Yes - if a value has been entered
Select the measurement unit e.g. g, kg, tonne etc.
N2O
Enter if relevant - Brightest will auto-convert the N2O into CO2e
Enter the value of N2O that is composed in this emissions factor (if known)
N2O unit
Yes - if a value has been entered
Select the measurement unit e.g. g, kg, tonne etc.
Other GHG
Enter if relevant - Brightest will auto-convert the other GHG into CO2e
Enter the value of the other GHG that is composed in this emissions factor (if known)
Other GHG unit
Yes - if a value has been entered
Select the measurement unit e.g. g, kg, tonne etc.
Is Locked?
No
Toggle this switch "on" if you would like to "lock" this emissions factor to prevent future editing
Add your own custom emissions activity or spend-based emissions factors to your emissions factors library.
Select the activity or spend emissions factors tab.
Click on the green â+Add Emissions Factorâ button
The emissions factors form will appear. Fill out the form with all relevant information. The fields ânameâ, âunitâ, "factor type", "emissions type" and âcurrencyâ (if spend-based) are required.
Once you click âsaveâ, the emissions factor will be added to your library and you will be able to use it for carbon footprint calculations in your sustainability module.
Use the csv file importer to upload multiple emissions factors to your emissions factors library at one time.
Click on the gray â+CSV Importâ button.
The .csv file importer will appear with a link to download the csv file template. Download the template. This is necessary for mapping the correct fields in Brightest.
Fill out the csv file template. Then upload the file to the .csv file importer.
The importer will walk you through âmappingâ the fields in Brightest with the fields in your .csv file. Ensure that the correct fields and required fields are selected.
Not mapped highlighted in gray indicates a field that was not detected in your .csv file. If you would like to add this field, select the field from the drop down menu or add it to your csv file and re-upload it.
Not mapped highlighted in red indicates a required field that was not detected in your csv file. This field must be included, so to continue, select the field from the drop down menu or add it to your .csv file and re-upload it.
Once you approve the mapped fields, you have an opportunity to review the uploaded data before saving it to your library. If the information looks correct, click âsaveâ and your emissions factors will be uploaded to your emissions factors library.
Use your custom emissions factors to calculate the carbon footprint of your assets.
First, navigate to your Sustainability Module.
To add assets use the add tool or upload multiple assets using the csv file import (assets can represent a variety of Scope 1 or Scope 3 items that are controlled or operationally controlled by your company or third parties).
In your asset library, locate the asset you want add the carbon footprint.
Click on the âAdd or Edit Dataâ button in the column labeled âFootprintâ.
The footprint data page for that asset will appear.
Select the category you want to add data e.g. electricity, heating, water etc.
Emissions factors from your library will appear in the drop-down menus in each category. Select the desired emissions factor. Note: The drop-down menu of emissions factors will only be visible once the factors are saved or uploaded to your Activity Emissions Factor Library.
If you would like to use the same emissions factor for all years, toggle the switch "on" in the "Apply Emissions Factor to All Years" field.
Click âsave and updateâ. Brightest will use your custom emissions factor to calculate the items carbon footprint.
Use your custom emissions factors to calculate the carbon footprint of your transit activity.
First, navigate to your Sustainability Module and click on the âTransitâ tab. This will open your transit activity library.
Use the add tool â+ Createâ to add a new transit activity.
The transit activity form will appear. Fill out all relevant information. In the field "Emissions factor" select the desired custom emissions factor from the dropdown menu (if a custom emissions factor is not selected, Brightest will use a default emissions factor).
After filling out all relevant information, click âsaveâ and Brightest will calculate the carbon emissions using your custom emissions factor.
Use your custom emissions factors to calculate the carbon footprint for your materials.
To create a Material and link it to your emissions factors, go to your account Settings.
Navigate to the ESG & Sustainability Settings, then to the âMaterialsâ tab.
Use the add tool â+ Add Materialsâ to create a new material.
The materials form will appear. Fill out the form with all relevant information and select your custom emissions factor from the dropdown menu.
Once you click âsaveâ, the material will be stored to your materials library.
Use your custom emissions factors to calculate the carbon footprint for your products.
To create a Product and calculate its carbon footprint, navigate the Sustainability Module.
Navigate to the âProductâ tab in the Sustainability Module. Use the add tool â+ Add Productâ.
The new product form will appear. You have the option to select a product or material-based carbon accounting method.
Product-based method: select your custom emissions factor from the dropdown menu or use the green â+â symbol to add an emissions factor.
Material-based method: use the â+ Add Materialâ tool to select your material, its emissions factor and provide the percentage of the material composition in the product.
Once you click âcreateâ, the product will be added to your product library.
To enter or edit footprint data, navigate to the âFootprintâ column on the far right.
Enter the amount, month and year. Brightest will then calculate the products carbon footprint using the assigned emissions factors.
Use custom emissions factors to calculate the carbon footprint of spend items and financial transactions.
Navigate to your Sustainability Module, then to the âSpendâ tab.
Use the add tool â+ Add newâ to create a spend item ( use the csv file import).
The new spend item form will appear. Fill out all relevant information. You can select the custom emissions factor from the dropdown menu as well as the emissions scope and category.
Once you click âsaveâ, the spend item will be added to your spend library and the carbon emissions will be calculated using the selected emissions factor.
If you don't assign an emissions factor to a transaction, Brightest will automatically recommend an emissions factor from our Emissions Factor Library which you can review and confirm (or reject and assign a better choice).
To manage your account emissions factors (EFs) navigate to your general account settings then .
The landing page for ESG and Sustainability Settings will open up to the .
