University of Glasgow Carbon Footprint Calculator for Researchers
The Centre for Sustainable Solutions and Glasgow University Estates Sustainability Team has developed a free online tool to help academic members of staff at the University of Glasgow and other higher education institutions across the UK to determine the carbon footprint of their research project or group. We hope that the tool will help you explore pathways for reducing the overall environmental impact of your research activities.
A carbon footprint is the term given to the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced because of a specific human activity. Footprints can relate to the manufacture of a product or the impact of an individual person, project, or organisation and are normally measured in tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (tCO2e). Carbon footprint calculations allow us to measure, understand and therefore more effectively manage our environmental impacts.
This carbon footprint tool utilises benchmark data sourced from the Hawkins & Mumovic paper: Evaluating determinants of energy use in higher education buildings using artificial neural networks – an enhanced study. It also uses published HESA data to adjust these benchmarks according to the specific energy usage of each HE/FE institution. Utilities consumption is then estimated using space occupation data, with the option to account for shared spaces, accordingly.
Procurement emissions are calculated using the Higher Education Supply Chain Emissions Tool V3.13 (HESCET). Calculation inputs are based on a general data entry section focused on Utilities, Travel & Waste. The procurement section uses HESCET data to estimate future procurement emissions associated with the project.
The tool requires the use of a university email address to register and allocate your account to the correct institution. There is a supporting document available within the programme for guidance on how the tool works.
There is a feedback option available in the sidebar. Please report any feedback or issues to help us continue to develop and maintain the tool.
This tool was created by University of Glasgow students: Vladislav Brusokas, Sam Saju, Ya Cheng, Taewan Kim, Xiaoshi Chen & Zhuofan Min, with additional support from Sayonee Dassani & Rabindranath Jha from the Glasgow University Software Service (GUSS).
HEPA (Higher Education Procurement Association) Available at: https://www.hepa.ac.uk/resources/news/view?g=d2e49004-d155-46f7-a036-a5692846a965
UK Government (2025) Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2025
HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) Estates management record: Table 3. Available at: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/estates/table-3
Hawkins, D. and Mumovic, D. (2012) ‘Evaluating determinants of energy use in higher education buildings using artificial neural networks – an enhanced study’, Portugal SB13: Contribution of Sustainable Building to Meet EU 20‑20‑20 Targets, Guimarães, Portugal, 2013
University of Oxford/AECOM (2011) University of Oxford Water Management Strategy. Birmingham: AECOM
- For queries on using this tool: sustainable-solutions@glasgow.ac.uk.
- Access the Carbon Footprint Calculator: University of Glasgow Carbon Footprint Calculator
- Please note: This tool was developed for the University of Glasgow research community using data and calculations specific to our needs. We welcome queries from other universities and organisations interested in developing their own tool. Contact us at sustainable-solutions@glasgow.ac.uk.