Calculating Your Carbon Offset

Understanding Carbon Emissions from Energy Use

Every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity your business consumes results in a certain amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, depending on the energy source. Fossil fuels contribute the most, while renewable energy such as REGO-backed electricity produces little to no emissions.

Calculating your carbon footprint is the first step in linking your energy consumption to tree planting, enabling measurable sustainability outcomes.

Step 1: Gather Energy Consumption Data

Start by collecting energy data from the past 12 months. This includes:

• Electricity bills (kWh consumed)
• Gas or other heating fuels used (therms, kWh equivalent)
• Renewable energy usage (REGO-backed certificates)

Plant 4 The Planet provides guidance to ensure data is accurate, comprehensive, and ready for carbon calculations.

Step 2: Convert Energy Use to CO₂ Emissions

Use standard carbon conversion factors to translate energy use into CO₂ emissions. For example:

• Electricity (grid average UK): ~0.233 kg CO₂ per kWh
• Natural gas: ~0.184 kg CO₂ per kWh equivalent
• Renewable energy (REGO-backed): 0 kg CO₂ per kWh

Multiply your total energy use by the relevant conversion factor to calculate annual CO₂ emissions. This forms the basis for determining how many trees to plant to offset your footprint.

Step 3: Determine Tree Planting Needs

The number of trees needed depends on species, growth rates, and local climate. On average, one tree can sequester approximately 22 kg of CO₂ per year once mature. Steps include:

• Calculate annual CO₂ emissions from your energy use
• Divide total emissions by annual CO₂ sequestration per tree
• Adjust for tree species, location, and project verification
• Determine proportional planting to match your energy usage

Plant 4 The Planet ensures proportional tree planting is credible, verifiable, and linked directly to your business’s energy consumption.

Step 4: Verify and Monitor Impact

Verification ensures trees are planted and maintained as planned. Best practices include:

• Partnering with accredited forestry or environmental organisations
• Using GPS and remote monitoring to track planted trees
• Recording growth rates, survival, and CO₂ sequestration
• Reporting verified outcomes for stakeholders

Plant 4 the Planet provides transparent dashboards linking energy consumption, CO₂ offset, and proportional tree planting for measurable sustainability impact.

Step 5: Integrate Renewable Energy

Combining tree planting with REGO-backed electricity maximises impact. Renewable energy reduces emissions at the source, while tree planting offsets remaining emissions:

• Switch to REGO-backed electricity to eliminate upstream CO₂ emissions
• Use tree planting to offset unavoidable emissions from operations
• Track total environmental impact combining both strategies

Plant 4 The Planet integrates renewable energy with proportional tree planting, delivering a complete solution for measurable business sustainability.

Reporting Your Carbon Offset

Transparent reporting strengthens credibility. Businesses can:

• Publish annual CO₂ reductions and tree planting metrics
• Integrate results into ESG and sustainability reporting
• Share progress with employees, clients, and stakeholders
• Demonstrate measurable environmental action tied to energy usage

Plant 4 The Planet provides reporting dashboards and certification for proportional tree planting and carbon offsets, making sustainability outcomes verifiable and impactful.