Tech Carbon Standard Schema v0.0.1

The Tech Carbon Standard Schema defines the specific structure for technology carbon emissions data, organised into four main categories that cover the complete technology lifecycle. This schema ensures consistent reporting of technology-related carbon emissions across organisations.

Schema Overview

Schema Information:

Key Features:

Document Structure

{
  "schema_version": "0.0.1",
  "upstream_emissions": {
    "software": { "emissions": 0, "notes": "..." },
    "employee_hardware": { "emissions": 55000, "notes": "..." },
    "network_hardware": { "emissions": 1000, "notes": "..." },
    "server_hardware": { "emissions": 0, "notes": "..." }
  },
  "direct_emissions": {
    "onsite_employee_hardware": { "emissions": 5000, "method": "location-based", "notes": "..." },
    "networking": { "emissions": 1000, "method": "location-based", "notes": "..." },
    "servers": { "emissions": 1000, "method": "mixed-methods", "notes": "..." },
    "generators": { "emissions": 0, "notes": "..." }
  },
  "indirect_emissions": {
    "offsite_employee_hardware": { "emissions": 3000, "notes": "..." },
    "cloud_services": { "emissions": 5000, "notes": "..." },
    "saas": { "emissions": 84000, "notes": "..." },
    "managed_services": { "emissions": 1000, "notes": "..." }
  },
  "downstream_emissions": {
    "end_user_devices": { "emissions": 1000, "notes": "..." },
    "network_data_transfer": { "emissions": 1000, "notes": "..." }
  }
}

Emission Object Structures

Standard Emissions

Most emission categories use this structure:

{
  "emissions": 1000,
  "notes": "Description of calculation methodology"
}
Field Type Required Description
emissions number Yes Carbon emissions in kgCO2e (minimum: 0)
notes string No Notes on calculation methodology or data sources

Scope 2 Emissions

Direct operational emissions include an additional method field for GHG Protocol compliance:

{
  "emissions": 1000,
  "notes": "Electricity consumption calculated using grid carbon intensity",
  "method": "location-based"
}
Field Type Required Description
emissions number Yes Carbon emissions in kgCO2e (minimum: 0)
notes string No Notes on calculation methodology or data sources
method string (enum) No “location-based”, “market-based”, “mixed-methods”, or “other”

GHG Protocol Scope 2 Methods:

Emissions Categories

1. Upstream Emissions

Embodied carbon in hardware and carbon impact of software development:

"upstream_emissions": {
  "software": {
    "emissions": 0,
    "notes": "Emissions associated with developing and delivering off-the-shelf and open-source software installed on the organisation's systems."
  },
  "employee_hardware": {
    "emissions": 55000,
    "notes": "Embodied carbon emissions associated with hardware devices owned by an organisation, including emissions from the manufacture, transportation, installation, maintenance, and end-of-life of a device."
  },
  "network_hardware": {
    "emissions": 1000,
    "notes": "When considering the upstream emissions of a network, consider the embodied carbon of any networking devices that are owned by the organisation."
  },
  "server_hardware": {
    "emissions": 0,
    "notes": "Servers, storage systems, and data centre infrastructure installed on-premise."
  }
}
Category Description Typical Calculation
software Emissions from software development and delivery Development team energy × time × emission factors
employee_hardware Embodied carbon in end-user devices Device count × embodied carbon per device
network_hardware Embodied carbon in networking equipment Equipment embodied carbon from manufacturer data
server_hardware Embodied carbon in on-premise servers Server embodied carbon × quantity purchased

2. Direct Emissions

Direct running costs attributed to electricity powering technology:

"direct_emissions": {
  "onsite_employee_hardware": {
    "emissions": 5000,
    "notes": "Emissions associated with the operation and use of devices owned by an organisation.",
    "method": "location-based"
  },
  "networking": {
    "emissions": 1000,
    "notes": "Emissions associated with the operation and use of networking and infrastructure.",
    "method": "location-based"
  },
  "servers": {
    "emissions": 1000,
    "notes": "The energy consumed by on-premise servers and data centres.",
    "method": "mixed-methods"
  },
  "generators": {
    "emissions": 0,
    "notes": "Any fossil fuel-powered generators, solar PV, wind turbines, or other systems installed on-site to supply electricity to technology equipment."
  }
}
Category GHG Scope Description Typical Calculation
onsite_employee_hardware Scope 2 Office electricity for employee devices Device power × hours × grid carbon intensity
networking Scope 2 Electricity for networking infrastructure Equipment power × hours × grid carbon intensity
servers Scope 2 Energy for on-premise servers and data centers Server power × utilisation × grid carbon intensity
generators Scope 1 On-site fossil fuel power generation Fuel consumption × emission factors

Note: Scope 2 categories support the optional method field for GHG Protocol compliance.

3. Indirect Emissions

Indirect running costs attributed to external hardware and services:

"indirect_emissions": {
  "offsite_employee_hardware": {
    "emissions": 3000,
    "notes": "The emissions incurred by computers (desktops, laptops), monitors, printers, and other devices used by employees, when used out-of-office."
  },
  "cloud_services": {
    "emissions": 5000,
    "notes": "The emissions associated with cloud platform services like compute, storage, and networking."
  },
  "saas": {
    "emissions": 84000,
    "notes": "The emissions associated with Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications."
  },
  "managed_services": {
    "emissions": 1000,
    "notes": "The associated emissions of Managed Security Operations, IT support and data backup services."
  }
}
Category Description Typical Calculation
offsite_employee_hardware Employee devices used outside office Remote work energy estimates × emission factors
cloud_services Third-party cloud platform services Provider carbon footprint tools and usage data
saas Software-as-a-Service applications Spend-based estimation with industry carbon intensities
managed_services Externally managed IT services Service-specific carbon intensity × usage

4. Downstream Emissions

Carbon associated with customer use of organisation’s products and services:

"downstream_emissions": {
  "end_user_devices": {
    "emissions": 1000,
    "notes": "This considers the emissions generated from the electricity consumption of devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones that utilise the products or services provided by an organisation."
  },
  "network_data_transfer": {
    "emissions": 1000,
    "notes": "These emissions are associated with the infrastructure enabling data transmission, enabling end-users to access the products and services."
  }
}
Category Description Typical Calculation
end_user_devices Customer device electricity consumption User base × device power × usage time × grid intensity
network_data_transfer Data transmission infrastructure Data volume × network infrastructure carbon intensity

Validation Requirements

Required Fields

Optional Fields

Validation Rules

Complete Example

{
  "schema_version": "0.0.1",
  "upstream_emissions": {
    "software": {
      "emissions": 0,
      "notes": "Not currently meaningfully calculable or estimatable"
    },
    "employee_hardware": {
      "emissions": 55000,
      "notes": "Embodied carbon of purchased laptops and monitors, using production and transportation figures from manufacturers' product lifecycle reports"
    },
    "network_hardware": {
      "emissions": 1000,
      "notes": "Loose estimate, based on minimal hardware purchase"
    },
    "server_hardware": {
      "emissions": 0,
      "notes": "No servers or storage hardware purchased"
    }
  },
  "direct_emissions": {
    "onsite_employee_hardware": {
      "emissions": 5000,
      "notes": "Calculated using UK grid carbon intensity 2023; exact laptop and monitor counts; and, average laptop and monitor power consumption figures",
      "method": "location-based"
    },
    "networking": {
      "emissions": 1000,
      "notes": "Loose estimate, based on known minimal networking infrastructure"
    },
    "servers": {
      "emissions": 1000,
      "notes": "Loose estimate, based on known minimal infrastructure"
    },
    "generators": {
      "emissions": 0,
      "notes": "No generators"
    }
  },
  "indirect_emissions": {
    "offsite_employee_hardware": {
      "emissions": 3000,
      "notes": "Calculated using UK grid carbon intensity 2023; exact laptop and monitor counts; and, average laptop and monitor power consumption figures"
    },
    "cloud_services": {
      "emissions": 5000,
      "notes": "Full cloud estate measured using Cloud Carbon Footprinting tool"
    },
    "saas": {
      "emissions": 84000,
      "notes": "Spend-based estimate calculated using Plan A platform"
    },
    "managed_services": {
      "emissions": 1000,
      "notes": "Loose estimate, based on known minimal managed services"
    }
  },
  "downstream_emissions": {
    "end_user_devices": {
      "emissions": 1000,
      "notes": "Calculated based on www website traffic figures"
    },
    "network_data_transfer": {
      "emissions": 1000,
      "notes": "Calculated based on emissions estimate associated with www website and its traffic figures"
    }
  }
}

Common Validation Errors

Error Cause Solution
Negative emissions Emission value < 0 Ensure all emission values are ≥ 0
Invalid method Wrong method value Use exactly: “location-based”, “market-based”, “mixed-methods”, or “other”
Missing emissions field Emission object without emissions Add required emissions field to all emission objects
Wrong schema version Incorrect version string Use exactly "0.0.1"
Additional properties Extra fields in emission objects Remove any fields not defined in the schema

Technical Reference

Schema Definitions

The schema uses two main definitions for emission objects:

Standard Emissions (emissions_def):

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "emissions": { "type": "number", "minimum": 0 },
    "notes": { "type": "string" }
  },
  "required": ["emissions"],
  "additionalProperties": false
}

Scope 2 Emissions (scope_2_emissions_def):

{
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "emissions": { "type": "number", "minimum": 0 },
    "notes": { "type": "string" },
    "method": { "enum": ["location-based", "market-based", "mixed-methods", "other"] }
  },
  "required": ["emissions"],
  "additionalProperties": false
}

JSON Schema Features

Resources