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Total energy consumption within the organization G4 EN3 e Methodology

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In 2018, the GRI G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines were superseded by the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI standards). This is the methodology for G4-EN3-e which has been superseded by GRI 302-1-e - the current GRI 302-1-e metric can be found here. 

About

This metric is based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Guidelines. It covers one of the requirements of Indicator G4-EN3 - 'Energy consumption within the organization'. While this metric looks for the total energy consumption of the organization, this indicator asks for additional information:

  • G4-EN3 - a. ​Report on total fuel consumption from non-renewable sources in joules or multiples, including fuel types used.

  • G4-EN3 - b.Report on total fuel consumption from renewable fuel sources in joules or multiples, including fuel types used.

  • G4-EN3 - c.​Report in joules, watt-hours or multiples, the total:

    • Electricity consumption

    • Heating consumption

    • Cooling consumption

    • Steam consumption

  • ​G4-EN3 - d.Report in joules, watt-hours or multiples, the total:

    • Electricity sold

    • Heating sold

    • Cooling sold

    • Steam sold

​Energy consumption has a direct effect on operational costs and can increase exposure to fluctuations in energy supply and prices. The environmental footprint of an organization is shaped in part by its choice of energy sources. Changes in the balance of these sources can indicate the organization’s efforts to minimize its environmental impacts.

For some organizations, electricity is the only significant form of energy they consume. For other organizations, other energy sources might also be important, such as steam or water provided from a district heating plant or chilled water plant.

The consumption of non-renewable fuels is usually the main contributor to direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1), which are reported in Indicator G4-EN15. The consumption of purchased electricity, heating, cooling, and steam contributes to an organization’s energy indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions, which are reported in Indicator G4-EN16.

Methodology

​​This metric is asking for the company's total energy consumption in gigajoules:

For Wikirate researchers:

Companies who align reports to GRI’s Sustainability Reporting Standards often include a GRI Content Index or Annex where GRI disclosures, with GRI codes, are listed.

  • Use the GRI Index, CTRL F, Command F or search button on source preview to search for this index and metrics within the report

  • Use G4 codes, G3 codes or keywords to quickly find values, keeping in mind that some companies report on the metric using different terms, e.g. G4-EN23 or EN23, total waste

  • Always check the metric question and methodology for the unit of measure or currency - researchers may need to carry out calculations or conversions before entering the final metric value

  • Add comments documenting exactly where within the source you found the information (page number) and include details of simple or complex calculations or conversions made to determine the metric value

  • If you are unable to locate a metric value in a source you can search for additional sources where the data is available and add a new source

Further guidance on how to research values for GRI-based metrics is available here, including detailed guidance on adding, editing and checking metric values.

Global Reporting Initiative compliance guidance for companies:

To calculate total energy consumption - G4-EN3-e:

  • Identify the types of energy (fuel, electricity, heating, cooling, and steam) consumed within the organization.

  • Identify the amount of energy (fuel, electricity, heating, cooling, and steam) consumed within the organization, in gigajoules.

  • Calculate the total energy consumption within the organization = Non renewable fuel consumed+Renewable fuel consumed+Electricity, heating, cooling and steam purchased for consumption+Self-genereated electricity, heating, cooling and steam - Electricity, heating, cooling and steam sold.

Energy may be purchased from sources external to the organization or produced by the organization itself (self-generated). Only energy consumed by entities owned or controlled by the organization is expected to be reported in this Indicator.

Organizations reporting on G4-EN3-e should include as a comment to the metric value: the standards, methodologies, and assumptions used and the source of the conversion factors used.