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Custom factor fields

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Several fields are available for configuration when you create custom factors.

Factor fields

Table 1 defines the fields that are available for factors.
Table 1. Factor fields
Field Used in validation logic? Part of factor dates? Description
Parent Region     This field narrows down the results in the Region field, which can be useful when searching on city names that may have multiple results, like Paris. By default, this value is set to Earth and all regions are searchable in the Regions field.
Region Yes  
An autofill text-box. Select the appropriate region for the factor.
Note: If a region is not found based on the text entered, then no region is matched in IBM® ESG Suite and a region is not saved. If the factor is applicable globally, then enter Earth as the region.

To create two factors for the same data type for the same time period, you must create a custom region. For more information, see Creating custom regions.
Data Type Yes   Choose the data type to associate with the factor.
Factor Set Yes   Select the appropriate custom factor set. It's possible that your organization has two custom factor sets, one for standard location-based emissions and another for Scope 2 market-based reporting.
Note: Factors that are captured in the factor set that is labeled market-based only apply to the Market-based Emissions report. Factors that are captured in a factor set labeled Custom - org. name apply to emissions in standard reports and dashboards.
Sub Type Yes   This option must remain as Default. If another option is selected besides Default, the factor will not be applied to your data.
Name     The name of the factor. If the factor changes over time, or multiple factors apply across multiple regions, then best practice is to include both year and region in the factor name. For example, Electricity - Australia - 2024.
Description     Enter a description of the factor.
Total CO2e (kgCO2e/unit)     Enter the kg of CO2e per unit factor. It equals the sum of CO2, CH4 and N2O per unit factors expressed in kg of CO2-equivalents. The unit refers to the primary unit of the data type. The unit is usually explicitly identified in the data type name contained within square brackets, for example, Electricity [kWh]).

The Total CO2e (kgCO2e/unit) field is the main factor used to calculate emissions in standard reports and dashboards.

If the data source does not result in emissions, leave blank.

CO2 (kgCO2e/unit)     CO2 component of factor expressed in kg CO2e per unit. Leave blank if unknown or not applicable.
CH4 (kgCO2e/unit)     CH4 component of factor expressed in kg CO2e per unit. Leave blank if unknown or not applicable.
N2O (kgCO2e/unit)     N2O component of factor expressed in kg CO2e per unit. Leave blank if unknown or not applicable.
BioCO2 (kgCO2e/unit)     BioCO2 component of factor expressed in kg CO2e per unit. Leave blank if unknown or not applicable.
Indirect CO2e (kgCO2e/unit)     Allows for lifecycle emission (upstream and downstream) to be allocated to the data source. For example, this value might account for additional emissions from transportation and extraction of a fuel. Leave blank if unknown or not applicable.
Energy (GJ)/unit     Conversion to allow data to be expressed in terms of energy.
Mass (Kg)/unit     Conversion to allow data is to be expressed in terms of mass.
Volume (L)/unit     Conversion to allow data to be expressed in terms of volume.
Area (m2)/unit     Conversion to allow data to be expressed in terms of area.
Distance (m)/unit     Conversion to allow data to be expressed in terms of distance.
Uncertainty Factor     Leave blank. Legacy functionality that is no longer in use.
Category 1     Free text field that is not used for any reporting, but can be used to add information relevant to the factor.
Category 2     Free text field that is not used for any reporting, but can be used to add information relevant to the factor.
Category 3     Free text field that is not used for any reporting, but can be used to add information relevant to the factor.
Category 4     Free text field that is not used for any reporting, but can be used to add information relevant to the factor.
Category 5     Free text field that is not used for any reporting, but can be used to add information relevant to the factor.
EPA SourceSiteRatio     Not used. Leave blank.
Effective From Yes Yes Defines the effective start date of the factor. If left blank, the factor is applied to all matching data prior to the Effective To date. If the Effective To date is also blank, the factor applies to all matching data regardless of time period.
Effective To Yes Yes Defines the effective end date. If left blank, the factor applies to all matching data after the Effective From date. If the Effective From date is also blank, the factor is applied to all matching data regardless of time period.
Published From Yes Yes

Defines the date on which the factor was published. This field uses equivalent logic to the Effective From field.

Published dates are used in preference to effective dates for activity data captured after the period of historical data. If the published date is unknown or you would like to calculate emissions according to the factor effective period, set the Published From date to be the same as the Effective From date. For more information, see Assigning factors.
Published To Yes Yes Defines the end of the validity period for published dates. This field uses equivalent logic to the Effective To field.
Review On     Date for factor review. This field is not involved in validation logic.
Factor Source     A reference for factor source.
Notes     Additional notes on the factor such as uncertainty calculation methodology, indirect factor source, or the person or group responsible for maintaining the factor.

Factor validation fields

Table 2 describes the field validation logic that is applied when you create custom factors.
Table 2. Factor validation fields
Field Mandatory? Description
Action Mandatory
The valid values are:
  • CREATE: Create an emission factor. If you are using an old factor and would like to create a new one, make sure to delete the value in the Factor_Link column.
  • UPDATE: Update the factor with your changes. Make sure you do not delete the Factor_Link when you use UPDATE.
Organization Mandatory Do not edit or delete the value in this column. For both CREATE and UPDATE, every row must contain the name of your organization for the record to be processed.
Associate_Link Mandatory Similar to Organization, the Associate_Link ID must be entered in every row for both CREATE and UPDATE.
Factor_Link Mandatory This field is required only for rows where the Action field is set to UPDATE.
Country Optional This field is not required for global emission factors. This field is mandatory for Country, State, or City level factors.

The name of the field must exactly match the values in the Envizi ESG Suite database. A complete list of regions in Envizi ESG Suite can be downloaded from the Creating a custom factor topic.
State Optional

This field is not required for global or country level emission factors. The field is mandatory for State or City level factors.

The name of the field must exactly match the values in the Envizi ESG Suite database. A complete list of regions in Envizi ESG Suite can be downloaded from the Creating a custom factor topic.
City Optional

This field is not required for global, country, or state level emission factors. This field is mandatory for city level factors only.

The name of the field must exactly match the values in the Envizi ESG Suite database. A complete list of regions in Envizi ESG Suite can be downloaded from the Creating a custom factor topic.

Note: If you configured a custom region, you can find the name of that region by navigating to Admin > Custom Regions
Take note of the state and country as those fields are mandatory when providing the city.
Factor Set Mandatory  
Scope Mandatory

As Envizi ESG Suite contains a few data types that exist in more multiple GHG scopes, there is validation on this field.

Valid values include:
  • Scope 1
  • Scope 2
  • Scope 3
  • No Scope
  • Offsets
  • KPI
  • Building Attributes
  • Social Metrics
Data Type Mandatory The data type must be entered exactly as it is in Envizi ESG Suite and the correct scope must also be entered for validation.
Sub Type Optional

This is a rarely used function that can differentiate factors that exist within a data type, region, and factor set for the same time period. An example of this might be various grades of paper or transport fuel grades (92, 95, 98 octane).

If you want to use sub type, contact the Envizi support team.
Name Mandatory  
Description Optional This field is for your records only and there is no validation on this field.
Total CO2e(kgCO2e/unit) Optional This field is the value on which all emissions are calculated. If this value is omitted, then emissions are not be calculated for data linked to this factor.
CO2(kgCO2e/unit) Optional This value is only available in the Emissions Performance dashboard.
CH4(kgCO2e/unit) Optional This value is only available in the Emissions Performance dashboard.
Note: You may encounter an error if your file contains very small numbers that result in scientific notation, for example, 3.413E-05. To fix and avoid this error, format all columns that contain numeric values, where at least 1 value is shown as scientific notation, as ‘number’ with 8 decimals.
N2O(kgCO2e/unit) Optional This value is only available in the Emissions Performance dashboard.
BioCO2 Optional This value is only used in extract reports.
Indirect CO2e(kgCO2e/unit) Optional

This value is only available in the Emissions Performance dashboard.

This is also sometimes known as the Well-to-tank (WTT) conversion factor and refers to the upstream Scope 3 emissions associated with extraction, refining and transportation of the raw fuel sources before consumption in their intended activity. In the case of electricity, it can also refer to the downstream Scope 3 emissions associated with grid losses from transmission and distribution, that is, the energy loss that occurs in getting the electricity from the power plant to the organization that purchases it.
Energy(GJ)/unit Optional This value is needed to show energy in reports and dashboards. For example, if the factor being entered is measured in kWh, the conversion is 0.0036 GJ/kWh.
Mass(Kg)/unit Optional This value is needed to show mass in reports and dashboards. For example, if the factor being entered is measured in lbs, the conversion is 0.453592 kg/lbs.
Volume(L)/unit Optional This value is needed to show volume in reports and dashboards. For example, if the factor being entered is measured in m3, the conversion is 1000 L/m3.
Area(m2)/unit Optional This value is needed to show area in reports and dashboards.
Distance(m)/unit Optional This value is needed to show distance in reports and dashboards.
Effective_From Optional This is required to determine the starting effective period of the factor. If left blank the factor will apply for all time into the past.
Effective_To Optional This is required to determine the starting effective period of the factor. If left blank the factor will apply for all time into the future.
Published_From Optional This is required to determine the starting effective period of the factor according to when the factor was published. If left blank, the factor will apply for all time into the past. For more information, see the Assigning factors topic.

If your organization does not apply factors based on when they were published, then this field should contain the same value as Effective_From.
Published_To Optional This field is required to determine the starting effective period of the factor according to when the factor was published. If the field is blank, the factor will apply for all time into the future. For more information, see the Assigning factors topic.

If your organization does not apply factors based on when they were published, then this field should contain the same value as Effective_To.
Review_On Optional This field is for your records only and there is no validation on this field.
Factor_Source Optional This field is for your records only and there is no validation on this field.
Notes Optional This field is for your records only and there is no validation on this field.