Greenhouse gas conversion factors are used to determine the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the use of energy. In order to convert energy consumed in kWh to kg of carbon dioxide, the energy use should be multiplied by a conversion factor.
For example the conversion factor for natural gas is 0.185kgCO2/kWh, so the use of 1,000 kWh of gas is responsible for the production of 0.185 x 1000 = 185kg CO2.
Greenhouse gas conversion factors are published by Defra to supplement their Environmental Reporting Guidelines.
The latest conversion factors (2008) can be found on the
Defra website.
Note: Carbon emissions are usually quoted in kg CO2/kWh.
If you wish to convert the carbon dioxide factors into
carbon equivalents (ie kgC/kWh), multiply the figure
by 12 and divide by 44.
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