Environmental Reporting

We can support your environmental reporting. Emissions data is updated each spring, once data can be collected from all sources. If you need additional information, please contact the District Energy team at 651-297-8955, email info@districtenergy.com, or support request form.

Carbon Factor

District Energy provides its greenhouse gas (GHG) profile as a carbon factor for operations, which represents the carbon intensity of the energy produced for heating and cooling. This metric makes it easy for customers to calculate their own carbon profile: simply multiply District Energy’s carbon intensity by your building’s energy consumption.

District Energy reports all emissions in carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e), a standard unit of measurement used to account for the emissions from various greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide based on their global warming potential relative to carbon dioxide. District Energy produces heat from dedicated natural gas boilers with fuel oil back up, and a combined heat and power (CHP) system. For heat produced by the CHP, only the portion of emissions allocated to heat production is included in the carbon factor. This is because the same fuel is used to generate both heat for our heating customers and electricity for Xcel Energy, and the emissions associated with electricity production are attributed to Xcel Energy rather than to heating customers.

CO₂e Emissions Scope 1

Scope 1 emissions are direct GHG emissions from fuels combusted on site. At District Energy this includes:

• Combustion of natural gas, woody biomass, and fuel oil in boilers to produce hot water.
• Combustion of gasoline and diesel in company-owned fleet vehicles and mobile equipment.

Under typical operating conditions, approximately 50% of the current annual heat production comes from renewable urban tree waste and solar thermal. Tree waste sources in the Twin Cities metro area include storm and disease damaged trees such as those affected by emerald ash borer, tree trimmings, and habitat restoration. Carbon dioxide emissions from tree waste is accounted as zero because unlike fossil carbon, burning waste wood releases biogenic carbon that was recently absorbed from the atmosphere during tree growth—returning it to the same carbon cycle.

CO₂e Emissions Scope 2

Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions related to the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling that originate off site but contribute to support onsite energy use. At District Energy this includes electricity purchased from Xcel Energy to produce chilled water, distribute hot water, and operate the plant and offices.

Xcel Energy retires Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) on behalf of its Minnesota customers, representing the renewable portion of its electricity supply allowing District Energy to claim the renewable attribute of that electricity through their Certified Renewable Percentage program.

Starting in 2021, District Energy annually retires additional RECs on behalf of its own customers for the portion of the purchased electricity not already covered by Xcel’s program. As a result, District Energy’s market-based Scope 2 emissions are zero, passing that attribute to our customers.

Heating Fuel Mix Percentage

Annual Heating CO2e Emissions (short ton/MWh sales)

Annual Cooling CO2e Emissions (short ton/MWh sales)