FAQs

No, Count Your Carbon is not designed for boarding schools. However, boarding schools can still use the tool to measure the carbon impact of their day-time, academic-based operations. 

No. Count Your Carbon has been designed specifically for use by schools in the UK only. 

No, although we do encourage schools looking to achieve a green flag to use Count Your Carbon as part of your Eco-Schools work. We’ve created a project resource to support with this which you can download here. If you like this resource, make sure to check out Eco-Schools.

Yes. You can register multiple schools from one account, or if the schools are already registered, simply request that you are added as a user via the ‘manage users’ button on the school dashboard. When you login, you’ll be able to switch between schools.

Carbon offsetting is when you compensate for the emissions you produce by supporting projects that reduce or remove carbon dioxide elsewhere. Examples include planting trees, funding renewable energy projects, or capturing methane from landfills. 

While offsetting doesn’t reduce emissions directly, it helps balance the impact by supporting climate-positive actions. To lower your setting’s carbon footprint, focus first on reducing emissions through actions like using less energy or switching to renewables, and then use offsetting for emissions you can’t eliminate. 

Being carbon neutral means balancing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emitted with an equivalent amount removed or offset. This is typically done by reducing emissions as much as possible and then using carbon offsets (like tree planting or renewable energy credits) to “neutralise” the remaining emissions. 
 
Carbon neutrality focuses on balancing emissions, often with significant use of offsets.

Reaching net-zero means reducing greenhouse gas emissions as close to zero as possible across all areas, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Any remaining emissions must then be removed from the atmosphere using methods like carbon capture or reforestation. Offsetting plays a smaller role in net-zero compared to carbon neutrality. 
 
Net-zero emphasises minimising emissions to the lowest possible level and then addressing any unavoidable emissions with permanent removal solutions. 

Count Your Carbon is the UK’s first free carbon calculator designed specifically for schools, so no standard methodology exists for this purpose. However, the tool is built in accordance with the GHG Protocol, which provides scientific guidelines for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. 

Although the GHG Protocol doesn’t include a specific framework for schools, it forms the foundation for how emissions are calculated. Using this guidance, we’ve developed a bespoke methodology tailored to the unique needs of UK schools. To read more about the calculator methodology visit our methodology page.

We use a combination of emissions factor databases, including but not limited to the UK Government GHG Conversion Factors, IEA, Ecoinvent, EXIOBASE, ICE, Rejoose, and Greeny Expert. These sources ensure the tool provides accurate and reliable calculations. 

You can read more about the emissions factors on our methodology page.

The metrics in the carbon reduction guide are intended as a general guide and are based on expert elicitation. Providing precise details about the feasibility, costs (CAPEX/OPEX), and potential carbon reductions (PCR) of a measure is challenging without in-depth analysis, supplier quotes, and feasibility studies. For more accurate information, schools should consult suppliers or conduct detailed assessments.