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As most companies need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, so they turn to a carbon footprint calculator. Organizations can now much more easily recognize their greenhouse gas emissions, put in place measures to reduce and then assess benchmarks to see how they are progressing.

Many efforts are being made to reduce carbon emissions, as witnessed by the US Clean Air Act and the formation of The Climate Registry, a powerful organization that sets the standards for calculating, verify and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. Whilst membership is voluntary, most states, provinces, territories and sovereign nations are taking part in the effort within North America, to reduce carbon emissions.

The carbon footprint calculator is a valuable tool in which facilities can enter data about their daily operations in areas that contribute greatly to greenhouse gas emissions. Energy use, waste generation, purchased materials and transportation are among the main areas that play a major role in the emitting of harmful gases into the environment.

Harmful gases are thought to remain in our atmosphere for hundreds of years following their emission. As the future health of our planet depends on reduction, it is imperative that businesses measure their carbon footprint accordingly. Research has shown that certain gases deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.

By using a carbon footprint calculator, businesses will be able to measure how much of the environmentally harmful gases they use. These substances include carbon dioxide, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs). According to scientists, these gases contribute to the earths warming, which could lead to extreme heat waves, rising sea levels and severe harm to humans, animals, plant life and marine life, if no action is taken to stop the damaging effects.

Following EPA requirements, an organization can identify the extent of their greenhouse gas emissions, can create a management plan, can set goals and report their findings through the use of a carbon footprint calculator. The calculator should be of particular benefit to companies that have multiple locations.

A carbon footprint calculator uses data to calculate emission amounts from all direct and indirect sources. Direct emissions are those from equipment or other sources owned or operated by a company, such as commercial refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) systems or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Indirect emissions are used by a company during daily operations, but are supplied by another source, such as the use of electricity or heat.

With the complexity of the data that needs to be input to a carbon footprint calculator, most companies with AC/HVAC systems in offices, stores, hospitals, warehouses, etc., are turning to refrigerant management programs that are computerized and include a carbon calculator to handle the tedious monitoring, tracking and reporting tasks with ease.