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Air Emissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Table of Contents

Air Emissions

Gas Emissions

Refrigerants

Generators

Emissions Reports/Tests

 

What is the difference between GHG and air emissions?

Greenhouse gases: Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that absorb/trap some of the Earth’s outgoing radiation, causing the atmosphere to warm up (called the ‘greenhouse effect’).

GHG emissions are categorized into 3 different scopes:
Scope 1 Emissions: Direct emissions from owned or controlled sources.
Scope 2 Emissions: Indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy consumed.
Scope 3 Emissions: All other indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain.

Air Emission:
Emissions that result from industrial processes and manufacturing operations and have the potential to emit pollutants into the air.

GHGs and Air Emissions are related concepts, but not identical, as air emissions comprise a broader range of pollutants, while GHGs are a specific subset of gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.

 

For air emissions, how often should we test all parameters?

Annual testing is recommended but not mandatory. Testing frequency will be based on the legal or brand-specific requirement for the facility.

 

For air emissions, should we test according to all parameters in level 2 on questions 8 and 9 (particulate matter, NOx, Sox, etc) or only a few of the parameters?

From FEM 2023 onwards, facilities only need to measure the quantity and not the quality of air emissions.

Also, it is recommended that all facilities monitor and measure all possible air emissions from facility operations. As such, if the facility does not emit any of the pollutant types, it is not required to measure quantities.

Facilities can always analyze whether they are emitting certain types of air emissions to ensure that all such air pollutants are measured and controlled. Guidance to this can also be obtained from industry guidelines specific to the facility type and process.

 

Is it necessary to test air emissions sources if it is out of scope for an air emissions permit?

If you test your air emissions sources, you can respond accordingly within the assessment. If it is not required in your permit, you should be able to indicate this as not applicable to the assessment and move forward with the other sections.

 

What does a unique source identifier refer to in an air emission inventory?

In the air emissions inventory, this is any code or name assigned to a specific emission source that can be referred to by anyone reviewing your self-assessment, such as a verifier, to identify against the actual source.

 

When listing mobile and fugitive air emission sources, is it sufficient to list sources and pollutants, or does the volume of emissions also need to be estimated?

The annual volume/quantity of air emissions must be either calculated or estimated.

 

Are general exhaust fans or vents acceptable control devices for air emissions?

Exhaust fans (or ventilation systems) alone are not capable of removing pollutants from an air stream. Additional control devices (e.g. scrubber, carbon filtration, dust collector) would need to be installed in order to be considered a control device.

 

The concentration of particulate matter in gas emissions is very low. Does it still need to be tracked?

Yes, it is the total annually emitted quantity that is important. Even if the concentration is low, it needs to be monitored and reported.

 

Why is there no option for R32 refrigerant?

R32 is an HFC (Hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant). The facility should first select HFC, then the sub-question with R32 will appear.

 

Are standard refrigerators used by employees to store their lunches included in the definition of a "Refrigerant containing device"?

Any refrigerators, either domestic or industrial that use refrigerant gasses, should be included due to the harm that these refrigerants cause to the environment.

 

What is the difference between these questions: what specific refrigerant do you use in your facility, and what types of refrigerants do you use in your facility?

The first question refers to chemical classification, and the platform will offer a range of classifications or types of refrigerants. The second question refers to chemical name, and the platform offers specific names of refrigerants within each class to ensure facilities can easily select the proper refrigerant without going through an extended list.

 

If neither a generator nor an air conditioning unit operates daily, is it necessary to track and report these emissions?

Even if a generator and/or air conditioning unit runs infrequently , it is still essential to ensure that air emissions from it are tracked and controlled, as the standby generator might run for more than 24 hours in the event of a power outage for the facility.

 

If particulate matter testing on boilers and generators is not mandatory by a country’s government, how can a facility in that country proceed with testing to avoid a 0 score on this question?

In any country where the government does not mandate testing, the facility can proceed with independent 3rd party testing with anybody capable of doing the required tests per specific ISO or other recognized standards.

 

If only electrical boilers (that do not generate air emissions) are used, do "boilers" need to be selected in the Air Emissions Applicability section?

Electric boilers would not be considered an air emission source (as it does not emit any air pollutants) and would not need to be selected as a source in the applicability section for air emissions.

 

Do we have to renew our emissions report even if we do not change our production system?

Renewal of an emissions report is recommended at least once a year, but it is not mandatory as the equipment is likely to degrade as time passes. 

 

If generators are rarely used, is an emissions test still required?

In Higg FEM 4.0, Emission testing is not mandatory for operations emissions, the facility can calculate or estimate the annual emission quantity and report within the module. A valid calculation method including operating hours, combustion efficiency, and fuel type/consumption can be used to do this, but it would be advisable to conduct any tests that are required by the local law of the country.