Direct-Use Product Emissions Database

While the database has been developed in close coordination with RILA, it will be available to RILA members and non-members alike.

DPED has three separate dimensions with seven total classification parameters:

Two for the intended sector the product is sold:

1. General industry: general consumer, commercial, or industrial
2. Specific market: home & offices, entertainment, lawn & garden, etc.

Four levels of product categorization, from broad to specific:

1. Product class (ex. appliances, equipment, lighting, electronics, etc)
2. Product family (ex. small appliances, power equipment, outdoor cooking, etc.)
3. Product category (ex. freezers, grills, water heaters, vacuums, thermostats, etc.)
4. Product type (ex. trail mowers (lawn mower), top-load (clothing washer), beverage cooler (refrigerator), etc.)

One for the specific fuel type the product uses (electricity, natural gas, kerosene, dual-fuel, etc.)

DPED is designed to cover direct-use product emissions, so it covers product categories that directly consume electricity or fuel. A diverse committee of retailers has determined the most relevant and appropriate categories to include.

Most of the DPED focuses on general consumer products (residential, home, and office), but some commercial products are represented. A commercial classification includes products specifically designed for the scale of commercial and industrial customers, like a large walk-in freezer or heating a large construction site.

Yes, each Energy Star product is differentiated from its non-Energy Star counterpart, and many products have entries for both. Products that don’t directly state their Energy Star status are also categorized.

We have incorporated as many possible products from a selection of retailers to get as comprehensive distribution of products as possible. During this pilot, we will collect feedback to expand to additional products and product categories in future iterations.

Global figures are provided, but in the first version of DPED, there is greater granularity and data quality for product usage in the U.S. and Canada. Local emissions factors will be utilized when the specific location is given and will default to average values when the location is not provided.

DPED will be updated on an annual basis to account for new emission factors, assumptions, new product lines,  and updated methodologies.  Any changes to DPED will be logged so that year-over-year changes can be clearly identified. After DPED is launched, the first group of users will be able to submit feedback to shape the next iteration of DPED.

Yes, the sources of emission factors, assumptions, methodologies, formulae, etc. will be documented and made available to all users. We will not, however, divulge proprietary or other confidential information.

Optera has a 15+ year history in carbon accounting, helping the largest organizations measure, calculate, and reduce their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

All emission factors and global warming potentials come from reputable sources. Emission methodologies adhere to the strictest standards for GHG accounting, life-cycle analysis, and energy-use calculation.

When direct industry and brand-specific assumptions are unavailable, they are researched according to a hierarchy of primary, secondary, and other sources to ensure the best available data is used.

A data quality index (DQI) is employed to log the reliability of each data point, allowing us to go back and easily improve database assumptions as better data is made available.