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92 <br /> Executive Summary <br /> INTRODUCTION <br /> This report provides an inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are <br /> attributable to human activities in Orange County. It acts as a foundational document <br /> for the 2023 climate action plan, which provides a roadmap for reducing carbon <br /> emissions while preserving the living standards of County residents. A GHG inventory <br /> describes the primary sources of emissions within the County, including those <br /> originating from residents,commercial enterprises,and governmental operations.The <br /> emissions studied can be either direct or indirect. Direct emissions are those emitted <br /> at the location of use such as natural gas combustion in heating buildings, whereas <br /> indirect emissions are purchased and used at one location but generated elsewhere, <br /> such as those originating from the electrical grid'. A GHG inventory is crucial for <br /> creating strategies and programs that reduce future emissions and providing insight <br /> into the environmental condition of the County during the study year. This report <br /> was reviewed by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) <br /> for completeness and accuracy to ensure its reliability as a foundation for informed <br /> decision-making and action. <br /> This GHG inventory analyzes two different tracks, which are presented separately. The <br /> community track encompasses all Orange County residents, including businesses, <br /> individuals, and industrial emissions sources. Community emissions were divided into <br /> sectors: commercial, residential, and industrial energy; transportation and mobile <br /> services; solid waste; and water and wastewater. The County government operations <br /> track includes the emissions related to Orange County government activities, including <br /> government facilities, vehicle fleets, and employee commuting. The County operations <br /> inventory is a subset of the community inventory, and has specific usage portioned out <br /> from the community inventory. <br /> This report relies on the best available data to date. If certain data could not be <br /> collected, best estimates were used. Emission factors were compiled for each sector <br /> from reliable sources, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US <br /> Community Protocol, which update information regularly. This GHG inventory offers <br /> a reliable reflection of real-world emissions in Orange County. All calculations were <br /> made using the US Community Protocols for Greenhouse Gas Accounting studies, as <br /> published by ICLEI2. Two appendices are included in this report. Appendix A.1 lists raw <br /> usage data collected from utilities and other sources, while Appendix A.2 provides a <br /> detailed methodology of all calculations used in determining emission totals. <br /> https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/scope-1-and-scope-2-inventory-guidance <br /> 2 U.S.Community Protocol for Accounting And Reporting of GHG Emissions Version 1.2 <br /> July 2019 ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA <br /> 1 ORANGE COUNTY, NC • APPENDICES <br />