Home " How to calculate my Carbon Footprint? " Performing your GHG inventory® to comply with the "tertiary sector decree

Carry out its GHG inventory® to respect the "tertiary decree


Since the Paris Climate Agreement (2016), the government's energy transition plan has forced companies and communities toact quickly. The IPCC reminds us in its latest report that all sectors of activity are affected. Everyone must therefore significantly reduce their carbon emissions and decrease their energy consumption.

The recent regulations propose two axes of solutions:

  • to achieve carbon neutrality: calculate its GHG inventory®: account for its GHG emissions and establish priority areas for reduction;
  • for energy efficiency: respect the "tertiary decree": reduce the energy consumption of public and private infrastructures .

The "tertiary decree": the targeted actors...  

As of October 2019, the "Tertiary Order" is more binding and monitored. It applies to public and private sector organizations in operation since November 24, 2018. This decree concerns (parts of) buildings dedicated to tertiary activities, with a surface area of over 1000m². Offices, teaching buildings, hotels, industries, shops and administrations are affected by this decree.

...meet these objectives...

The obligations oblige to drastically reduce the energy consumption of tertiary infrastructures. On the basis of a reference year of consumption after 2010, it is a question of drastically reducing its consumption:

  • by at least 40% by 2030,
  • by 50% in 2040,
  • to a 60% reduction in 2050.

In order to do so, companies must improve the energy performance of their existing infrastructures. Carrying out a reduction action plan today is essential in order to reach the first objective of 2030.

...to be in good standing.

Regardless of the means to reduce the energy consumption of tertiary infrastructures, the decree focuses on the objectives to be reached in 2030, 2040 and 2050. However, to meet these targets, GCI provides guidance on how to proceed.

  1. Collect energy consumption data 

Your approach must take into account the following data:

  • energy consumption by type of energy of your infrastructures,
  • the surfaces concerned,
  • the type of activity hosted,
  • the technical data of the building.

Once collected, you will have to transmit this data to the Ademe's OPERAT platform. Since September 30, each unit in charge of purchasing for the company must file its energy balance declaration on this platform and update it every year.

2. Define an energy optimization plan

The most effective and complete action plan is to carry out a GHG inventory®. This method allows us to perfectly meet the expectations of the decree, and goes even further than the simple accounting of energy consumption.

Global Climate Initiatives is an expert in Carbon Footprinting©. By working with you, our experts will help you to pay particular attention to the carbon footprint of your activity. Together, you will be able to perform a complete reporting of your organization's GHG emissions and define an action plan to reduce the energy balance of buildings subject to the "tertiary decree".

Penalties for non-compliance with the "tertiary decree

Since September 30, companies in the tertiary sector that do not declare their energy emissions on the OPERAT platform will be put on notice by the prefect. If no declaration is made within three months of this notice, the government will apply the "Name & Shame" principle : the names of the dissident companies will be published on the government's website - this publication being prejudicial to the company's image.

Companies that, without a valid reason, do not have a strategy to reduce their energy consumption are liable to a fine of €1500 for natural persons and €7500 for legal persons.

Differences between the "tertiary decree" and the GHG inventory®

The "tertiary decree" and the Bilan Carbone © have different targeted objectives and a different scope of action.

The GHG inventory® is more complete, since it considers the GHG emissions of both old and new buildings. These energy data remain close to the data transmitted to OPERAT, as new constructions represent a small percentage of the buildings. However, the overall energy emissions data from the GHG inventory® is more accurate and allows for a more effective GHG emissions reduction strategy.

Moreover, the data in the tertiary sector decree focuses only on scope 2, i.e. the energy emissions of infrastructures. The GHG inventory® lists not only the direct emissions, but also the indirect emissions of your company in each sector of activity. Scopes 1, 2 and 3 include emissions from energy consumption, as well as all direct and indirect emissions of your company. The Carbon Footprint© therefore allows you to carry out a complete evaluation of your company's GHG emissions.

By killing two birds with one stone, the GHG inventory® allows you to meet the requirements of the "tertiary decree" and to establish a sustainable action plan.

Global Climate Initiatives offers any organization (public or private) the opportunity to conduct a complete, 100% guided, online Carbon Footprint© in compliance with the regulations. Beyond a simple accounting of emissions, GCI also helps you to implement an effective strategy to reduce your emissions.

Carry out your company's carbon inventory with the CGI platform

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