These guidelines set international standards for calculating of energy and CO2 emissions. MACS use these guidelines to calculate reductions in CO2 emission, especially when comparing different fuels.

The IEA’s World Energy Balances presents comprehensive energy balances for all the world’s largest energy producing and consuming countries. It contains detailed data on the supply and consumption of energy for 150 countries and regions, and is used to calculate country-specific emission coefficients for grid electricity.

The GHG Protocol supplies the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standards. The GHG Protocol Corporate Standard classifies a company’s GHG emissions into three ‘scopes’. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions (not included in Scope 2) that occur in the value chain of the reporting company, including both upstream and downstream emissions.

MACS applies Scope 1 and 2 definitions for eSave Financial Products, and eSave Scope 3 provides a tool to calculate Scope 3 Category 15 ‘Investments’ according to the GHG Protocol.

This directive has replaced the guidelines for Energy End-Use Efficiency and for the Promotion of Cogeneration. It sets a general framework for energy efficiency, the role of energy services, energy audits and energy management systems.

DIN V 18599 sets standards for the comprehensive overall calculation of the energy balance of buildings. It covers net, final and primary energy demand for heating, cooling, ventilation, domestic hot water and lighting. MACS use this standard especially for fuel-specific primary energy conversion factors.

The EU directive 2010/30/EEC refers to the labeling of household appliances (e.g. white goods and consumer electronics) and lighting. It requires manufacturers to provide information on energy consumption on a standardized basis. Appliances are categorized in energy efficiency classes so that consumers can compare efficiency.

Energy Performance Certificates are widespread in many countries to characterize the energy (heating) demand of buildings. MACS applies EPCs for buildings for both eSave Financial Products as well as eSave Scope 3.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a UN specialized agency. The ICAO carbon emissions methodology employs a distance-based approach to estimate an individual’s aviation emissions using data currently available on a range of aircraft types. MACS uses the ICAO method for the calculation of aircraft emissions within eSave Scope 3.

Fourteen Dutch financial institutions – the PCAF – have agreed to work together to jointly develop open source methodologies to measure the carbon footprint of their investments and loans. For eSave Scope 3, MACS applies an attribution of emissions proportional in relation to the total project costs in case of newly developed building or property value (i.e. market value) for existing buildings at time of investment, as it is suggested by the PCAF 2018 Report for Commercial Building Loans.