· Senior Advisory
· Operator-grade intelligence
This reference table consolidates all emission factors used in Restoration Carbon Protocol calculations. It is the lookup document you use when completing a per-job carbon report — every factor needed for Categories 1, 4, 5, and 12 across all five job types is in this table, with source citations for audit purposes.
Version: RCP v1.0 | Factor vintage: EPA 2024, DEFRA 2024, EPA WARM v16 | Units: All values in kg CO2e unless noted as tCO2e
Table 1: Category 4 — Vehicle Transportation
| Vehicle Type | Fuel | kg CO2e per mile | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger car | Gasoline | 0.355 | EPA Table 2, Mobile Combustion 2024 |
| Light-duty truck / work van (under 8,500 lbs GVWR) | Gasoline | 0.503 | EPA Table 2, Mobile Combustion 2024 |
| Light-duty truck / cargo van | Diesel | 0.523 | EPA Table 2, Mobile Combustion 2024 |
| Medium-duty truck / equipment trailer (8,500–26,000 lbs GVWR) | Diesel | 1.084 | EPA Table 2, Mobile Combustion 2024 |
| Heavy-duty truck — unloaded (26,000+ lbs GVWR) | Diesel | 1.612 | EPA Table 2, Mobile Combustion 2024 |
| Heavy-duty truck — loaded (waste hauling, C&D) | Diesel | 2.25 | EPA Table 2 + load factor adjustment |
| Licensed hazmat waste hauler (ACM, lead, general hazmat) | Diesel | 3.20 | EPA Table 2 + hazmat vehicle premium |
| Licensed hazmat hauler (PCB, high-hazard specialty) | Diesel | 3.80 | EPA Table 2 + specialty vehicle premium |
| Medical waste hauler (biohazard) | Diesel | 2.80 | EPA Table 2 + medical waste vehicle |
| Pack-out truck (contents restoration) — loaded | Diesel | 2.25 | EPA Table 2 + load factor |
| Pack-out truck — empty (return trip) | Diesel | 1.612 | EPA Table 2 — unloaded heavy |
Table 2: Category 1 — Materials
Chemical Treatments
| Material | Unit | kg CO2e per unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quaternary ammonium antimicrobial / biocide (liquid) | Liter | 2.8 | EPA EEIO — Chemical manufacturing sector |
| Hydrogen peroxide-based antimicrobial/biocide | Liter | 1.9 | EPA EEIO — Chemical manufacturing sector |
| Borax-based mold treatment | kg | 1.1 | EPA EEIO — Inorganic chemical manufacturing |
| Hospital-grade disinfectant (EPA-registered) | Liter | 2.8 | EPA EEIO — Chemical manufacturing sector |
| Enzyme biological digester / deodorizer | Liter | 1.6 | EPA EEIO — Specialty chemical manufacturing |
| Encapsulant / smoke-blocking primer | Gallon | 4.2 | EPA EEIO — Paint and coatings manufacturing |
| Thermal fogging agent | Liter | 2.1 | EPA EEIO — Chemical manufacturing sector |
| Desiccant drying agent (silica gel) | kg | 1.4 | EPA EEIO — Chemical manufacturing sector |
| Wetting agent / amended water (surfactant for ACM) | Liter | 1.4 | EPA EEIO — Chemical manufacturing sector |
| Dry ice (CO2 pellets for blast cleaning) | kg | 0.85 | EPA EEIO — Industrial gas manufacturing |
Personal Protective Equipment
| PPE Item | Unit | kg CO2e per unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disposable Tyvek suit (Level C) | Each | 1.2 | EPA EEIO — Apparel manufacturing |
| Level B full encapsulating suit | Each | 3.0 | EPA EEIO — Apparel/specialty manufacturing |
| Level C PPE full kit (Tyvek + gloves + goggles + boot covers) | Kit | 1.8 | Composite of individual items |
| Level B PPE full kit (encapsulating suit + supplied air + gloves) | Kit | 4.2 | Composite of individual items |
| Nitrile gloves (pair) | Pair | 0.3 | EPA EEIO — Rubber and plastics manufacturing |
| N95 respirator (disposable) | Each | 0.4 | EPA EEIO — Medical equipment manufacturing |
| Half-face respirator, P100 cartridges (pair) | Pair | 0.8 | EPA EEIO — Medical equipment manufacturing |
| Full-face respirator cartridges (pair) | Pair | 1.2 | EPA EEIO — Medical equipment manufacturing |
| Boot covers (pair) | Pair | 0.15 | EPA EEIO — Rubber and plastics |
Containment and Filtration
| Material | Unit | kg CO2e per unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-mil polyethylene sheeting | m² | 0.55 | EPA EEIO — Plastics product manufacturing |
| 4-mil polyethylene sheeting | m² | 0.37 | EPA EEIO — Plastics product manufacturing |
| Double-layer 6-mil containment (hazmat/biohazard) | m² | 1.10 | 2× single-layer factor |
| Zipper door — disposable | Each | 1.8 | EPA EEIO — Plastics/hardware |
| Zipper door — reusable (amortized over 20 uses) | Use | 0.09 | 1.8 ÷ 20 uses |
| HEPA filter — air scrubber (standard) | Each | 3.2 | EPA EEIO — Industrial machinery manufacturing |
| HEPA vacuum bag (commercial grade) | Each | 0.4 | EPA EEIO — Paper/plastics manufacturing |
| Biohazard bag — 33-gallon red (medical waste) | Each | 0.65 | EPA EEIO — Medical plastics manufacturing |
| ACM disposal bag — 6-mil labeled (33-gallon) | Each | 0.55 | EPA EEIO — Plastics product manufacturing |
| Sharps disposal container (1-gallon) | Each | 0.35 | EPA EEIO — Plastics/medical equipment |
| Glove bag (pipe insulation removal) | Each | 0.85 | EPA EEIO — Plastics product manufacturing |
Table 3: Category 5 — Waste Disposal
| Waste Type | Disposal Method | tCO2e per ton | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard C&D debris (non-hazardous mixed) | Landfill | 0.16 | EPA WARM v16 |
| Cat 2 water-contaminated porous materials | Standard landfill | 0.18 | EPA WARM + contamination premium |
| Cat 3 sewage-contaminated materials | Regulated C&D landfill | 0.22 | EPA WARM + regulated disposal |
| Smoke-contaminated C&D debris (standard) | Standard landfill | 0.16 | EPA WARM v16 |
| Smoke-contaminated C&D (regulated facility) | Licensed C&D landfill | 0.20 | EPA WARM + transport premium |
| Mold-contaminated porous materials | Standard landfill (most jurisdictions) | 0.18 | EPA WARM + contamination premium |
| Friable ACM (pipe insulation, spray fireproofing) | Licensed hazmat landfill | 0.42 | EPA WARM + licensed facility + transport |
| Non-friable ACM (floor tiles, roofing, joint compound) | Licensed C&D with ACM cell | 0.28 | EPA WARM + regulated C&D transport |
| Lead paint debris (TCLP-classified hazardous) | Licensed hazmat landfill | 0.38 | EPA WARM + hazmat transport |
| PCB-containing materials ≥50 ppm | Licensed PCB incineration | 1.85 | EPA hazardous waste incineration factors |
| PCB-containing materials <50 ppm | Licensed landfill | 0.22 | EPA WARM + transport premium |
| Mercury-containing lamps/thermostats | Mercury recycler | 0.15 | EPA WARM — recycling credit offset |
| Regulated medical/biohazard waste (standard) | Autoclave + licensed landfill | 0.55 | EPA medical waste treatment factors |
| High-pathogen biohazard waste | High-temperature incineration | 0.85 | EPA hazardous waste incineration factors |
| Sharps waste | Sharps autoclave or incineration | 0.65 | EPA medical waste — sharps category |
| Contaminated water (Cat 3, to wastewater treatment) | Municipal wastewater treatment | 0.000272 per liter | EPA WARM v16 — wastewater treatment |
| Disposable PPE — standard | Standard landfill | 0.25 | EPA WARM — mixed plastics |
| Disposable PPE — hazmat-contaminated | Licensed hazmat or medical waste landfill | 0.30–0.55 | Apply appropriate hazmat or medical waste factor |
Table 4: Category 12 — Demolished Building Materials
| Material | tCO2e per ton (landfill) | tCO2e per ton (recycled) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gypsum drywall (1/2″) | 0.16 | 0.02 | EPA WARM v16 |
| Dimensional lumber / wood framing | -0.07 | -0.15 | EPA WARM v16 — carbon storage credit |
| OSB sheathing | -0.05 | -0.12 | EPA WARM v16 — carbon storage credit |
| Carpet + pad (standard residential/commercial) | 0.33 | 0.05 | EPA WARM v16 |
| Hardwood flooring | -0.12 | -0.18 | EPA WARM v16 — carbon storage credit |
| Vinyl / LVP flooring | 0.28 | 0.08 | EPA WARM v16 — plastics category |
| Ceramic / porcelain tile | 0.04 | 0.01 | EPA WARM v16 — inert material |
| Fiberglass batt insulation | 0.33 | 0.05 | EPA WARM v16 |
| Cellulose insulation (spray or loose-fill) | 0.06 | -0.02 | EPA WARM v16 |
| Spray polyurethane foam insulation (SPF) | 0.72 | N/A | EPA WARM v16 — plastics category |
| Acoustic ceiling tiles (standard) | 0.12 | 0.03 | EPA WARM v16 — ceiling tile category |
| Structural steel (demolished) | -0.85 | -0.95 | EPA WARM v16 — steel recycling credit |
| Copper pipe / wiring | -0.45 | -0.60 | EPA WARM v16 — copper recycling credit |
| Aluminum (ductwork, framing) | -1.20 | -1.45 | EPA WARM v16 — aluminum recycling credit (high value) |
Weight Estimation Proxies
When disposal receipts are not available, use these weight proxies to estimate demolished material tonnage:
| Material | Weight per sq ft (installed, dry) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2″ gypsum drywall | 2.5 lbs | Use dry weight, not post-water-damage wet weight |
| 5/8″ gypsum drywall (Type X) | 3.1 lbs | Common in commercial construction |
| Carpet + pad (residential) | 3.0 lbs | Including pad and tack strips |
| Carpet + pad (commercial, glue-down) | 2.2 lbs | Heavier carpet, no pad |
| LVP / vinyl plank flooring | 2.8 lbs | Including underlayment |
| Ceramic tile (floor, 3/8″) | 4.5 lbs | Including thin-set mortar |
| Acoustic ceiling tiles (2’×2′ standard) | 1.8 lbs | Mineral fiber type |
| Fiberglass batt insulation (3.5″ R-13) | 0.5 lbs | Per sq ft of coverage area |
| Dimensional lumber 2×4 wall framing (per linear foot of wall) | 4.0 lbs | Assumes 16″ OC framing in 8-ft walls |
| Non-friable ACM floor tile (9″×9″) | 4.0 lbs | Including mastic adhesive |
How often will this reference table be updated?
The RCP emission factor reference table will be updated annually following the release of updated EPA WARM, EPA Mobile Combustion, and DEFRA databases. Version numbers are included in the table header — always cite the version used in your per-job carbon report data quality notes.
What if I need an emission factor for a material not in this table?
First check EPA WARM v16 directly (available free at epa.gov/warm). Second, check the EPA EEIO database for the relevant industry sector. Third, check DEFRA’s Conversion Factors for Company Reporting. If none of these sources contain the specific material, use the closest proxy category and document the substitution in your data quality notes.
Are these factors suitable for use in EU CSRD reporting?
EPA and EPA WARM factors are US-specific but are accepted in most international ESG frameworks when accompanied by clear source citation. For EU CSRD reporting specifically, DEFRA factors (UK) or OECD emission factors may be preferred by auditors for non-US operations. The RCP will publish a DEFRA-specific factor table in a future supplement for EU-applicable reporting contexts.
Table 6: Refrigerant GWP Values — IPCC AR6 Update
The Global Warming Potential values for refrigerants used in restoration drying equipment have been updated under IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6, 2021). AR6 GWP-100 values are 14–18% higher than AR5 for the HFCs commonly found in LGR dehumidifiers. RCP v1.0 uses AR6 values for refrigerant-related calculations. The EPA AIM Act continues to use AR4 values for regulatory compliance; UNFCCC/Paris reporting uses AR5. When delivering data to clients, disclose which GWP vintage was used.
| Refrigerant | Common use in restoration | AR5 GWP-100 | AR6 GWP-100 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-410A (HFC-32/125 blend) | Most current LGR dehumidifiers | ~1,924 | ~2,256 | +17.3% |
| R-32 (HFC-32) | Dri-Eaz LGR 6000i; newer units | 677 | 771 | +13.9% |
| R-454B (HFC-32/HFO-1234yf blend) | Next-gen low-GWP units | ~467 | ~530 | +13.5% |
| HFC-134a (R-134a) | Older residential dehumidifiers | 1,300 | 1,530 | +17.7% |
Source: IPCC AR6 WG1, Chapter 7, Table 7.SM.7 (2021). EPA Technology Transitions GWP Reference Table.
Table 7: EPA eGRID 2023 — Subregional Emission Factors for Major Restoration Markets
The national average grid factor (0.3497 kg CO₂e/kWh, eGRID 2023) used as the RCP default understates or overstates electricity emissions significantly depending on where equipment is operated. Using location-specific subregion factors improves data quality for clients in GRESB, SBTi, and CSRD reporting contexts.
Use the subregion factor for the state/metro where the job was performed, not where the contractor’s facility is located.
| eGRID Subregion | Primary coverage | kg CO₂e/kWh | vs. RCP default (0.3499) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYUP | Upstate New York | 0.1101 | -68.5% |
| CAMX | California / Western US | 0.1950 | -44.3% |
| NEWE | New England | 0.2464 | -29.6% |
| ERCT | Texas (ERCOT) | 0.3341 | -4.5% |
| US Average | National default (RCP v1.0) | 0.3497 | Baseline |
| FRCC | Florida | 0.3560 | +1.7% |
| SRSO | Southeast (excluding FL) | 0.3837 | +9.7% |
| NYCW | NYC and Westchester | 0.3927 | +12.2% |
Source: EPA eGRID2023 Summary Tables Rev 2 (published March 2025). Full subregion table available at epa.gov/egrid. A California restoration contractor using the national average overstates electricity emissions by 44%; a Florida contractor understates by 1.7%. The difference is largest for multi-week jobs with sustained equipment energy consumption.
Table 8: PPE and Consumables — LCA-Sourced Per-Unit Emission Factors
The EPA EEIO proxies in Table 2 are sector-level estimates. The following values are sourced from published lifecycle assessments and Environmental Product Declarations for specific product types. Use these in place of the EEIO values where the product type matches.
| Item | Unit | kg CO₂e | Source | vs. EEIO proxy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrile glove (3.5g, size M) | Each | 0.0277 | Top Glove LCA 2024, SATRA-verified | -82% vs. EEIO pair proxy |
| Nitrile glove pair | Pair | 0.0554 | Top Glove LCA 2024 | -82% vs. current 0.3 EEIO |
| N95 respirator (disposable) | Each | 0.05 | Springer Env. Chem. Letters 2022 | -88% vs. current 0.4 EEIO |
| DuPont Tyvek 400 coverall (180g HDPE) | Each | 0.40–0.63 | Estimated: 180g × 2.2–3.5 kg CO₂e/kg HDPE | -47–65% vs. current 1.2 EEIO |
| LVP/LVT flooring (Shaw EcoWorx) | m² | 5.2 | Shaw Contract EcoWorx Resilient EPD 2023 | Consistent with WARM v16 plastics |
| Ceramic tile (standard) | kg | 0.78 | ICE Database v3.0 (University of Bath) | More granular than WARM v16 inert |
| Ready-mix concrete (30 MPa) | kg | 0.13 | ICE Database v3.0 | 132 kg CO₂e/m³ |
| Polyethylene LDPE sheeting | kg | 1.793 | DEFRA 2024 (closed-loop recycling scenario) | Use as proxy for virgin LDPE sheeting |
| H₂O₂ antimicrobial (active ingredient) | kg active | 1.33 | ACS Omega 2025 (anthraquinone process) | Lower than EEIO chemical proxy |
Note on Tyvek: DuPont has not published an independent lifecycle assessment for standard Tyvek 400 coveralls. The value above is estimated from HDPE production emission factors. DuPont has commissioned an LCA for Tyvek 500 Xpert BioCircle (a recycled-content variant) claiming 58% reduction versus standard Tyvek, which implies a quantified baseline exists internally. The RCP will update this value if DuPont publishes the underlying LCA data.
Note on nylon carpet (DEFRA 2024): The DEFRA 2024 value of 5.40 kg CO₂e/kg for nylon carpet should be verified against the actual DEFRA 2024 full spreadsheet to confirm whether this represents virgin nylon production or a closed-loop recycling scenario. DEFRA 2024 uses AR5 GWP values throughout.
Factor Vintage and GWP Basis: Version Disclosure
RCP v1.0 uses the following factor vintages:
- Electricity: EPA eGRID 2023 (published March 2025)
- Mobile combustion / vehicle fuels: EPA 2025 Emission Factors Hub
- Waste disposal: EPA WARM v16
- Refrigerant GWPs: IPCC AR6 (2021)
- Materials (non-EEIO): ICE Database v3.0, EPD-sourced, DEFRA 2024
- Materials (EEIO proxy): EPA USEEIO v2.0
- GWP basis: AR6 GWP-100 for refrigerants; AR5 GWP-100 for all other gases (consistent with EPA GHG Inventory basis)
When factors are updated in patch releases, the factor vintage table updates accordingly. All RCP Job Carbon Reports should reference the schema_version field (RCP-JCR-1.0) which implicitly references the factor table version used at calculation time. For year-over-year comparisons, use the same factor vintage across both years unless a major correction justifies restating prior-year figures.
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