REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Common Conversion Factors

 

We recognize that different project applicants might use different system of units in their projects. This is especially true when projects are worldwide in scope and span a range of greenhouse gasses. We do not want to create additional burdens for you in preparing your proposal, and we will accept proposals using units most appropriate to your situation. However, we do require that all Summary data reported in the Summary Form (Attachment C) must be reported in the units you use as well as in these standardized units that we can use in comparing proposals.

  • metric tonnes (equal to 2205 pounds)
  • weight in carbon dioxide or CO2 equivalent (for methane, use a GWP of 23 tonnes CO2 for 1 tonne of methane)
  • U.S. dollars, converted from local currency

Instructions for Converting Between Metric and U.S. Units

To Convert from:To:Multiply by:
Area
hectaresacres2.471
sq. kilometersacres247.1
acreshectares0.4047
sq. mileshectares259.01
Weight
kilogramsshort tons1.102 x 10-3
kilogramspounds2.205
metric tonnesshort tons1.102
metric tonnespounds2205
poundsmetric tonnes4.536 x 10-4
poundskilograms0.4536
short tonsmetric tonnes0.9072
short tonskilograms907.18
Volume
cubic meterscubic feet35.31
cubic feetcubic meters0.02832

Instructions for Converting to a Molecular Weight Basis

Greenhouse gas emissions are commonly expressed either in terms of carbon equivalent or carbon-dioxide (CO2) equivalent, where one tonne of carbon is equal to 44/12 tonnes of CO2. For the purposes of this RFP, we are requesting that all final emissions estimates be reported on a CO2-equivalent weight basis. Therefore, some emissions estimates may need to be converted, particularly if your CO2 estimates have been developed in terms of carbon (C) equivalent. The table below provides factors for converting greenhouse gases from an atomic weight basis to full molecular weight.

For example, if carbon dioxide emissions are estimated to be 10 tons of carbon equivalent, then to convert to a full molecular weight basis, the 10 tons CO2 as carbon (C) would be multiplied by 44/12.

To Convert from:To:Multiply by:
tons CO2-Ctons CO244/12
tons CH4-Ctons CH416/12
tons CO-Ctons CO28/12
tons N2O-Ntons N2O44/28
tons NO-Ntons NO46/14

Instructions for Converting other greenhouse gases to a CO2-Equivalent Basis

Some projects may accrue greenhouse gas benefits in addition to, or other than, CO2 (e.g., CH4 and N2O emissions may also be reduced as a result of project activities). In particular, a major change reflected in this year’s RFP is to include projects that reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In order to calculate the total greenhouse gas emissions, it is necessary that all gases must be converted into a common metric. For the purposes of this RFP, if a gas other than CO2, or more than one greenhouse gas, is involved in a project, the total emissions reduction of the project should be reported on a CO2-equivalent basis.

Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) are used to compare the abilities of different greenhouse gases to trap heat in the atmosphere. The GWP of the emission of a greenhouse gas is the ratio of global warming, or radiate forcing (both direct and indirect), from one kilogram of a greenhouse gas to one kilogram of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a period of time (the IPCC uses 20, 100, and 500 years). The GWP provides a means for converting emissions of various gases into a common measure, which allows climate analysts to aggregate the radiative impacts of various greenhouse gases into a uniform measure denominated in carbon or carbon dioxide equivalents.

All non-CO2 emission reductions should be converted to a CO2-equivalent basis using the Global Warming Potentials (GWPs) of the IPCC’s Third Assessment Report (2001). These are the same GWP values used by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) in its December 2004 report on Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2003), and reflects EIA’s attempt to employ the most recent data sources for its greenhouse gas estimates. The 100-year GWPs for selected gases provided in the table below should be used for any CO2-equivalent calculations conducted in this proposal.

In particular, we draw your attention to the GWP for methane, since methane reduction projects are a particular interest of this RFP. In the IPCC’s 2001 Third Assessment Report, the GWP was revised to 23. This is higher than the GWP of 21 developed in the IPCC’s 1996 Second Assessment Report, and which is still used for certain UNFCCC Reporting.

Global Warming Potentials of Selected Greenhouse Gases
(100-year time horizon)
Greenhouse GasGWP
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)1
Methane (CH4)23
Nitrous oxide (N2O)296
SF622200
Source: IPCC’s Third Assessment Report (2001), and U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2003, December 2004, page 12.