The Scope 2 Challenge: Building Better Metrics for In-Life Carbon Costs

The adage of not being able to manage what you don’t measure, ascribed to Peter Drucker, has never been more relevant than when addressing Scope 2 emissions. These in-life energy emissions account for around 30 per cent of lifecycle carbon in workplace environments and contribute as much as 70 per cent of the carbon footprint in data centres. Energy use drives both carbon and cost, while waste accumulates where consumption is inefficient. 

Measuring Scope 2 emissions is becoming easier with software and sensor tools, yet variations in the renewable energy mix at national and local levels make accurate calculations challenging. The biggest difficulty lies in converting actual energy usage into CO₂e using appropriate conversion factors for the energy mix. This challenge is particularly acute in outsourced datacentres, where independent verification of energy claims is often lacking. Combined with limited Scope 3 carbon accounting in these environments, organisations face uncertainty when planning meaningful reductions. 

KA2 Approach 

COzPro has evolved to meet these challenges. Focused initially on measuring Scope 3 CO₂e for IT at the asset type and model level, the platform now incorporates IT manufacturer kWh data, industry averages, and national kWh/CO₂e conversion factors to better model in-life carbon. This evolution allows organisations to compare in-life performance against manufacturer baselines and make more informed operational decisions. The next stage is to integrate in-life metrics from strategic partners directly into the platform, further enhancing accuracy, auditability, and actionable insight. 

Outcomes 

By leveraging COzPro’s evolved capabilities, organisations gain clarity into IT energy use and can prioritise acquisitions and operational practices that reduce both carbon and costs. Teams can establish measurable improvements, optimise asset utilisation, and encourage suppliers to adopt transparent reporting standards. 

Looking Ahead 

Open, auditable data on in-life IT energy consumption, whether in-house or from third-party providers, will accelerate the adoption of the triple bottom line. Organisations that integrate these insights into operational decisions will drive reductions in carbon, cost, and waste, while strengthening accountability across their supply chain. 

Conclusion 

Today, organisations face significant uncertainty in accurately measuring in-life energy use and translating it into a meaningful carbon-reduction plan at the IT asset and service level. Whilst it is desirable to measure energy consumption at the asset level, it isn’t always possible. A pragmatic alternative exists: use an organisation’s actual site-level electricity consumption and implement initiatives that reduce costs and waste for owned or leased assets, whilst mandating detailed environmental reporting for outsourced services. The latter ensures that external providers provide accurate, auditable CO₂e reporting across both Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions, or risk losing business to more prescient and sustainable competitors. 

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Explore your IT sustainability journey with KA2. Schedule a short, no-obligation session with our consultants to discuss your IT carbon footprint, lifecycle strategy, or digital sustainability priorities. 

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