ASHRAE Journal - March 2022 - 71

COLUMN SOLVING PROBLEMS
Defining Decarbonization: Foundational Terms and Definitions
Carbon Metric A standard measure of carbon dioxide
equivalent emissions (CO2e) for greenhouse gases.
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e) A measure used to compare
the impact of various greenhouse gases based on
their 100-year time horizon global warming potential
(GWP). CO2e approximates the time-integrated warming
effect of a unit mass of a given greenhouse gas relative
to that of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Global Warming Potential (GWP) An index for estimating the
relative global warming contribution of atmospheric
emissions of a particular greenhouse gas compared to
emissions of an equal mass of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Operational Carbon CO2e emissions during the normal
use of a building during its life.
Embodied Carbon All the CO2e emitted in producing
materials. It is estimated from the energy used to extract
and transport raw materials as well as emissions
from manufacturing processes. Embodied carbon of a
building includes all the emissions from the construction
materials, the building process, all the fi xtures
and fi ttings inside as well as from deconstructing and
disposing of it at the end of its lifetime.
End of Life Carbon CO2e emissions to decommission the
building at its end of life.
Direct Emissions Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from
sources that are owned or controlled by the reporting
entity (primarily from on-site combustion of fossil
fuels).
Indirect Emissions GHG emissions due to the activities of
the reporting entity but that occur at sources owned or
controlled by another entity (primarily from electricity
generated off-site to power buildings).
including embodied carbon, refrigerant, transportation,
electrifi cation, the grid and sequestration. "
One common misconception is where heat pump technology
can be applied and what refrigerants should be
provided, said Peterson. Heat pump technology is evolving,
and ASHRAE can help with future research, while
educating owners and engineers.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) A methodology for assessing
environmental impacts associated with all the stages
of the life cycle of a commercial product, process or
service.
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) An independently
verifi ed and registered document that communicates
transparent and comparable information about the
life-cycle environmental impact of products to enable
comparisons between products fulfi lling the same
function.
Electrifi cation Building electrifi cation refers to replacing
direct fossil fuel use (e.g., natural gas, propane, heating
oil) with electricity use in a way that reduces overall
emissions while lowering other air pollutants.
Building Performance Standards (BPS) A policy that requires
building owners to meet performance targets
by actively improving their buildings over time. These
can include energy or emissions targets buildings must
meet to improve energy effi ciency and reduce climate
impacts.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) The process that captures
emitted carbon dioxide, transports it to the storage site
and deposits it in such a way that it does not enter the
atmosphere. It involves capturing, transporting and
depositing emitted greenhouse gases from fuel power
stations and industries.
Site Carbon Sequestration The process of long-term
capturing and storing of carbon dioxide at the site to
prevent it from entering the atmosphere. This allows
the stabilization of carbon in solid and dissolved forms
to avoid the increase in temperature of the atmosphere.
Carbon sequestrations can be biological and geological.
" Air-source heat pumps have heating limitations in
cold climates. More research and development will be
needed to develop robust heat pumps to work in very
cold climates. Resilience is key when it comes to ensuring
there is heat in buildings at the coldest of extreme
conditions-this usually means at ambient temperatures
that are far below the ASHRAE 99.6% heating design
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ASHRAE Journal - March 2022

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