Frequently asked questions: Compensate Plus

The calculation boundaries are based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard 2015 (GHG Protocol).

The emission factors used in the emissions calculation are as specific as possible. For Real estate, the calculations are preferred to be calculated with the actual emission factors from your energy provider. Where no market based emission factors are available, the location based emission factors are used. If no location based factors are available, the generalized conservative factors are used from the source.

The emission factors are updated annually or as required and are available for viewing upon request ( support@compensate.com ).

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is a widely used international standard for all of us to understand and measure greenhouse gas emissions. It takes into account 3 types of emissions:

- Scope 1 – direct emissions: fuel used at the premises, fuel consumption of vehicles owned or leased by the organization.

- Scope 2 – indirect emissions: consumption of electricity, district heating, district cooling, and/or electricity used with leased electric vehicles.

- Scope 3 – other indirect emissions: emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities (not included in scope 1 or scope 2) and business travel (aviation, leased vehicles, other travel by land and water).

You can learn more about the GHG Protocol here .

We’ve tried to make using the calculators as easy as possible, so don’t fret – you don’t have to be a sustainability expert to use them! The information used to calculate the emissions comes from you and your company. You can use the emissions data of a reported year or another set period of time, or the best estimate if you don’t have the exact numbers.

The compensation impact gives you an idea of how many trees would need to be protected in order to compensate for the CO2 emissions created. The compensation impact is calculated based on the CO2 stored in a natural tropical rainforest and the CO2 sequestration potential of a tree in this forest. On average, natural tropical rainforests protect 550 tCO2 per hectare. The sequestration potential for a single tree is 25 kg per year.*

*These estimates are based on the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Tier 1 Biomass values for natural tropical rainforests (Table 4.12), assuming 500 trees per hectare.

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by something us humans do. While all greenhouse gasses are taken into account, they are expressed in CO2 for clarity.

CO2e means carbon dioxide equivalent. This means that all greenhouse gas emissions caused by something are accounted for, and expressed in the functionally equivalent amount of carbon dioxide for clarity.

If, for example, the carbon footprint of your activity is 1 340 tonnes of CO2e, this means that all greenhouse gas emissions have been counted, and the end result is expressed in CO2e.

The calculators will give you your business’ carbon footprint and also tell you what it would take to offset your emissions. You can then submit your results to Compensate and start offsetting straight away! This means that you’ll get an invoice according to your Account details and chosen Compensate Plus plan.

Your Compensate Plus subscription plan combines the compensation fee and the licensing fee.

The compensation fee is based on your total carbon footprint and Compensate’s price for CO2, which ensures high overcompensation and true impact.

In exchange, you get access to our verified calculators, access to the highest-quality carbon capture in the market, tailored impact reporting, and communications support. It’s also good to remember that Compensate is a nonprofit operator. As we are an impact startup, your business also helps us scale and build even more possibilities for climate action!

Your privacy is important to us, and all the data we collect is used to offer this service and to make it better for you. For the details, you can read our Privacy Statement here .

We're sorry to see you go! You can cancel your subscription anytime by sending an email to support@compensate.com . You will continue to have access to your account through the end of the annual billing cycle.

After you’ve logged in, you can access the Flight calculator here. Fill in the information for the trips taken, and add them to your list. You can add multiple trips to the same Summary. You’ll see the carbon footprint of each trip and for all of the trips in total. If you’ve made a mistake, you can remove trips from the Summary. When you’ve added all of the flights you want to offset, press Submit.

Here’s what you need to know:

- The airport/city you flew from, and the airport/city you flew to. If you just know the city, the calculator will suggest airports according to IATA identifiers.

- Whether the flight was one way or a return trip.

- How many times this flight was taken, or how many passengers took this flight.

- Which class you traveled: economy, business, or first. If you’re unsure, please choose “Average“.

If you had layovers on your trips, please mark the flights as separate flights. For example:

You’ve traveled from Helsinki, Finland to New York, USA, and had a layover in Paris, France. First, add a trip from Helsinki’s HKI to CDG in Paris. Then, add another trip from CDG to JFK, New York. This way the carbon footprint is as accurate as possible!

Our calculator is fluent in English, so please make sure you’re searching for your city or airport with its English name. The calculator also recognizes IATA airport codes, such as “JFK” for the John F. Kennedy airport in New York.

You can still find out the carbon footprint! Choose “Average” for the class if you’re unsure what the actual class of the trip was.

The class affects the size of your carbon footprint because seats in different classes take up more space in the aircraft. This makes the footprint of a first class passenger is proportionately bigger than that of an economy passenger.

The calculator determines the amount of greenhouse gas emissions the flight creates per passenger(s) for the given flight distance. All the emissions (CO2, CH4 and N2O) are accounted for, and expressed in CO2e.

Additional emissions, such as nitrous oxides and water vapour when emitted at high altitude, are included in the calculations by using radiative forcing. The radiative forcing index (RFI) is a common measure to include the additional environmental impact of aviation.

The calculations are based on average consumption for typical short, medium, and long haul flights. They also take into account whether you’re traveling economy, business, or first class.

After you’ve logged in, you can access the Digital calculator here . Just fill in the number of employees or users you want to include in the calculation. Then, pick the dates for the desired time period. 

You can add as many groups of employees or users as you’d like. Simply input one group by clicking “Add”, and then add new values into the fields.

The carbon footprint is calculated based on the average daily use of a laptop and a mobile device per user. This average is then multiplied by the number of employees or users you wish to compensate for, and the number of days in your desired reporting period.

The carbon footprint estimation includes 8 hours of laptop use (WiFi connection, SD streaming) and 4 hours of mobile device use (4G connection, SD streaming). The calculation takes into account data transmission, data centers, and the electricity the device itself uses. All the estimated greenhouse gas emissions are accounted for, and expressed in CO2e.

Because calculating exact digital footprints would require multiple variables, this calculation is based on conservative estimates. Compensate is frequently reviewing and, if necessary, updating the emission factors and how we calculate digital emissions.

Yes! If you have external servers, or have exact data on how much energy some of your digital services need, you can calculate these emissions with the Real estate – Electricity calculator here . If you need further help, please see our FAQ for the Real estate calculator.

The Summary lists all of your calculations. If you make a mistake or want to remove a calculation from the Summary, click Remove. When you’re finished, click Submit to send your calculations to Compensate.

We know it’s very annoying when you can’t log in! Here’s some things to try and solve the issue:

Double check the login details you are entering. Make sure that you are using the same email that you used to register with us. Many of our clients have several email addresses and it can be easy to forget which one you have used to register with Compensate Plus.

If you can't remember your password, use the 'Forgot my password' form and we'll send you a link to create a new one. If you don't receive the reset password link, please check your promotions, spam, and junk folders.

If none of this works, you can always contact us via support@compensate.com so we can help you out!

After you’ve done your calculations and hit submit, the service sends them to Compensate’s team and to your own email address. As this is a beta service, we’re also working on storing all your calculations in your profile!

The current version of Compensate Plus doesn’t support multiple users per Account, but we’re working on this! If you have thoughts or suggestions, let us know via support@compensate.com !

Once you submit your calculations, you will receive an email with the results, which you can share with your colleagues. The current version of Compensate Plus doesn’t support multiple users per Account, but we’re working on this! If you have thoughts or suggestions, let us know via support@compensate.com !

Let’s figure it out! You can always reach us via support@compensate.com .

After you’ve logged in, you can access the Real estate calculator here. First, fill in the Basic information of the space/location in question. After that, fill in the amounts and the type of electricity, district heating and district cooling used. Please note that the amounts of energy used need to be filled in in kilowatt hours (kWh). If a location uses fuel (for example, through its own generator), you can add fuel to the calculations too.

Here’s what you’ll need: The name of the space/location (this can be anything you recognize!) and the address. Then, you’ll need information on the electricity, district heating, district cooling, and fuel use. You can often find the information in your utility bills. If in doubt, refer to your service providers. Energy providers often disclose the exact emission factors on their websites. If actual data is not available, the estimates will be calculated for your chosen reporting period.

The more information you have, the more accurate the emission calculations will be. If you’re unsure or don’t have exact data, you can use the average values in Compensate’s calculators.

If you're unsure about certain information (eg. the type of electricity used), our calculators come equipped with values based on national averages which you can always opt to use!

The calculator takes into account the emissions from the use of a building. These include scope 2 emissions created by energy usage, ie. electricity, district heating and district cooling. Emissions from any possible fuels (scope 1 e.g. for heat or electricity production) are also included.

The emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities (not included in scope 1 or scope 2), such as upstream emissions of purchased fuels and energy are counted in (scope 3). For used fuels this means well-to-tank emissions from extraction, refining and transportation of the raw fuel sources to an organization’s site prior to combustion. For used energy, this means well-to-tank emissions from extraction, refining and transportation of primary fuels before their use for the generation of electricity, district heating or district cooling. Emissions associated with grid losses (the energy loss that occurs in getting the electricity, heat or cooling from the power plant to the organizations that purchase it) are also counted in.

Emissions from the construction phase or the embodied carbon in building materials are not included in the calculations.

All the required fields are marked, and the calculator will ask you to fill in the required information before you can submit the calculations. If a section is not relevant to you, you can either leave it blank or choose the “No” option.

After you have completed the calculations one section at a time, click Add. The result will then be added to the Summary. You can view your Summary at the bottom of the page. If you make a mistake, or want to remove a calculation from the Summary, click Remove.

When you’re finished, click Submit to send your calculations to Compensate.

You’ll see the “Total” updating every time you successfully add a calculation to the Summary from any of the sections. The Total includes the total compensation amount in euros, total amount of emissions to be compensated in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents and the compensation impact. The impact refers to the number of trees required to sequester the amount of CO2 emissions in a year. This gives you an idea of how many trees are needed to compensate for the emissions created by your real estate use.

You can add multiple calculations for one location. This can be very useful e.g. if you have multiple electricity contracts. First, fill in the Basic information. Then, fill in the information for the relevant section and click Add. After this calculation is added to your Summary, you can fill in the same section with new information. Again, click Add to include the calculation in your Summary. Now you’ll see two calculations for the same location in your Summary. If you make a mistake or want to remove a calculation from the Summary, click Remove.

You can report multiple locations in one Summary. Here, you have two options:

Option 1: Calculations based on location. Fill in the Basic information. Fill in all the relevant Sections. Click Add. Now, start again from Basic information for a new location. This way, you’ll end up with a Summary that lists all the emissions (electricity, district heating and so on) per location. When you’re finished, click Submit to send your calculations to Compensate. If you make a mistake or want to remove a calculation from the Summary, click Remove.

Option 2: Calculations based on emission source. Fill in the Basic information for location A. Fill in the relevant Section for this location. Click Add. Now, fill in the Basic information for location B. Fill in the relevant Section for this location. Click Add. This way, you’ll end up with a Summary that lists the locations per Section (electricity, district heating and so on). When you’re finished, click Submit to send your calculations to Compensate. If you make a mistake or want to remove a calculation from the Summary, click Remove.

Here’s what you’ll need: The name of the space/location (this can be anything you recognize!) and the address. Please note, the name of the space/location will also be used in the Summary and in the reporting the calculator produces. If actual data is not available, the estimates will be calculated for your chosen reporting period.

The calculator accounts for the emissions from (1) electricity use and (2) upstream emissions. These are also included in the Summary as “Usage emissions” and “Upstream emissions”.

Upstream emissions refer to the emissions from transmission and distribution losses, and to well-to-tank emissions from extraction, refinement and transportation of primary fuels before the fuel is used to generate electricity. Distribution losses occur when electricity is distributed from e.g. a power plant to the organization actually purchasing and using the power.

In the calculator, choose what information you have on hand for the amount of electricity:

• “Yes for this space”: You know the exact amount of electricity used. This applies if you, for example, have access to a utility bill.
• “Yes, for the whole building”: You know the exact amount of electricity used in the building/space that your space is a part of. Next, fill in the size of your space and the size of the greater building/space. Both must be in square meters (m2). The calculator will allocate your share of the whole based on this information.
• “No, let’s use an estimate”: You do not know the amount of electricity used. The calculator will provide an estimate based on the size of the space in question.

• If the electricity is used in Finland, but it’s not 100 % renewable, it’s good to choose “Country average, Finland”.
• If the electricity is 100% renewable, but you do not have information on how it is generated, you can still choose “100% renewable”.
• If you have exact information on the type of electricity used and its emission factor, please include the emission factor by choosing “Provider or country specific with known emission factor”.
• If your space is located somewhere other than Finland, and you know the average emission factor for the country, choose “Provider or country specific with known emission factor” and include the factor.
• If you have no information on the type of electricity used, choose “I don’t know, let’s use an estimate”. The calculator will calculate the emissions based on a country average.
• Please also note that upstream emissions exist even if usage emissions are zero.

Please note that the calculators use the metric system. The amount of electricity used must be in kilowatt hours (kWh). The emission factor must be in gCO2e/kWh. Note that gCO2e/kWh is equal to kgCO2e/MWh.

The calculator accounts for the emissions from (1) the use of district heating and (2) upstream emissions. These are also included in the Summary as “Usage emissions” and “Upstream emissions”.

Upstream emissions refer to the emissions from distribution losses and well-to-tank emissions from extraction, refinement and transportation of primary fuels before the fuel is used to generate district heating. Distribution losses occur when district heating is distributed from e.g. a power plant to the organization actually purchasing and using the heating.

In the calculator, choose what information you have on hand for the amount of district heating:

• “Yes for this space”: You know the exact amount of heating used. This applies if you, for example, have access to a utility bill.
• “Yes, for the whole building”: You know the exact amount of heating used in the building/space that your space is a part of. Next, fill in the size of your space and the size of the greater building/space. Both must be in square meters (m2). The calculator will allocate your share of the whole based on this information.
• “No, let’s use an estimate”: You do not know the amount of heating used. The calculator will provide an estimate based on the size of the space in question.

• If you don’t know the emission factor for your space’s district heating, but you are located in Finland, choose “From a combined heat and power plant, Finland” and check the drop-down menu of Finnish power plants for your city.
• If your city is not in the drop-down menu, choose “From a separate power plant, Finland” and check your location and the emission factor from the options provided.
• If the district heating is 100% renewable, but you do not know how it is generated, you can still choose “100% renewable”.
• If you have exact information on the type of district heating used and its emission factor, please include the emission factor by choosing “Provider or country specific with known emission factor”.
• If your space is located somewhere other than Finland and you know the average emission factor for the country, choose “Provider or country specific with known emission factor” and include the factor.
• If you have no information on the type of heating used, choose “I don’t know, let’s use an estimate”. The calculator will calculate the emissions based on a country average.
• Please also note that upstream emissions exist even if usage emissions are zero.

Please note that the calculators use the metric system. The amount of district heating must be in kilowatt hours (kWh). Note that 1 MWh is 1 000 kWh. The emission factor must be in gCO2e/kWh. Note that gCO2e/kWh is equal to kgCO2e/MWh.

The calculator accounts for the emissions from (1) the use of district cooling and (2) upstream emissions. These are also included in the Summary as “Usage emissions” and “Upstream emissions”.

Upstream emissions refer to the emissions from distribution losses and well-to-tank emissions from extraction, refinement and transportation of primary fuels before the fuel is used to generate district cooling. Distribution losses occur when district heating is distributed from e.g. a power plant to the organization actually purchasing and using the cooling.

In the calculator, choose what information you have on hand for the amount of district cooling:

• “Yes for this space”: You know the exact amount of cooling used. This applies if you, for example, have access to a utility bill.
• “Yes, for the whole building”: You know the exact amount of heating used in the building/space that your space is a part of. Next, fill in the size of your space and the size of the greater building/space. Both must be in square meters (m2). The calculator will allocate your share of the whole based on this information.

• If you don’t know the exact emission factor for the district cooling used, choose “General district cooling, Finland”.
• If you have exact information on the type of district cooling used and its emission factor, please include the emission factor by choosing “Provider or country specific with known emission factor”.
• If your space is located somewhere other than Finland and you know the average emission factor for the country, choose “Provider or country specific with known emission factor” and include the factor.

Please note that the calculators use the metric system. The amount of district cooling must be in kilowatt hours (kWh). Note that 1 MWh is 1 000 kWh. The emission factor must be in gCO2e/kWh. Note that gCO2e/kWh is equal to kgCO2e/MWh.

The calculator accounts for the emissions from (1) the use fuels and (2) upstream emissions. These are also included in the Summary as “Usage emissions” and “Upstream emissions”. Upstream emissions refer to the well-to-tank emissions from extraction, refinement and transportation of the raw fuel sources to the organization's site prior to combustion.

• Select the type of fuel from the alphabetical drop-down menu. Note that the drop-down menu includes the fuels by unit, ie. “Heavy fuel oil per litre”. Fill in the amount of fuel used by using the same unit.
• If the fuel used is not listed in the drop-down menu, choose “Other”. Fill in the emission factor and the amount of fuel used. Make sure you use units that correlate with the emission factor.

The Summary lists all of your calculations. If you make a mistake or want to remove a calculation from the Summary, click Remove. When you’re finished, click Submit to send your calculations to Compensate.