Greenhouse Gas Quantification

The course consists of three parts: Part 1: The Estonian carbon footprint assessment method for new construction and renovation, based on life cycle assessment (LCA) and the European standards EN15978 and EN15804; the European LEVEL(S) framework; overview of national carbon footprint assessment frameworks and regulation in Nordic countries; environmental product declarations (EPDs) and most relevant EPD registers; tools for carbon footprint assessment for buildings; Estonian case study; OneClickLCA and Excel-based tools. Part 2: Greenhouse gas quantification for territories, cities and municipalities; territorial and consumption-based greenhouse gas quantification approaches; relevant standards, guidelines and databases; tools for GHG emissions assessment; key concepts (global warming potential, carbon sink, CO2e sequestration, carbon neutrality and climate neutrality); European steering mechanisms (for example European taxonomy and Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)); most relevant databases; examples of tools and climate action plans of European cities. Part 3: Greenhouse gas quantification for organizations; Corporate GHG accounting standard by Greenhouse Gas protocol; challenges of Scope 3 quantification; guidelines and reporting.

NB! This course will take place in autumn semester 2025/2026 which starts on 1st of September and ends on 25th of January (you can find that information under Start date section). TalTech's timetables for Autumn semester 2025 will be published at the end of June via tunniplaan.taltech.ee. Switch the page to English and use "Search" and "Open detailed search" to find your course. NB! Some courses are taught by several lecturers during the same semester. Make sure that the course name and lecturer/teacher infromation of your course match with the information given in the Course Catalogue.

A student who has passed the subject: • identifies the most essential international standards, steering mechanisms, quantification methods and tools applied in the greenhouse gas quantification for 1) buildings, 2) cities, municipalities and territories and 3) organizations and enterprises; • navigates in the most important international and Estonian databases; • relates the main principles of life-cycle assessment method and uses its application in the carbon footprint assessment for buildings in Estonia; • appraises the key concepts and the limitations of the current methods applied in the greenhouse gas assessment for cities and regions and contrasts the results provided by territorial and consumption-based approaches; • operates with the most relevant guidelines, databases and reporting practices regarding the greenhouse gas assessment for enterprises and organizations in Estonia.

Final assessment can consist of one test/assignment or several smaller assignments completed during the whole course. After declaring a course the student can re-sit the exam/assessment once. Assessment can be graded or non-graded. For specific information about the assessment process please get in touch with the contact person of this course. For specific information about grade transfer please contact your home university

None

• Greenhouse Gas Protocol. A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. Revised Edition (sino anno), World Business Council for Sustainable Development, World Resources Institute.
• Häkkinen, Tarja & Kuittinen, Matti (2021), Madalsüsinikehituse suunas: Hindamise ja projekteerimise käsiraamat. ET Infokeskuse AS, Tallinn, Rakennustieto 2021, Helsinki. 194 pages.
• Kalamees, Targo, Kertsmik, Kadri-Ann, Kurnitski, Jarek, Lylykangas, Kimmo, Oviir, Anni, Pasanen, Panu, Tikka, Sara (2021), Uuring ehituse süsinikujalajälje hindamisprintsiipide rakendamiseks Eestis. Lõpparuanne 31.12.2021.
• Kuittinen, Matti, Organschi, Alan, Ruff, Andrew (2022), Carbon. A Field Manual for Building Designers, John Wiley & Sons. 272 pages. ISBN: 978-1-119-72076-8

lectures, exercises