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How to Navigate Your Audit Report

The audit report is designed to give you full visibility into how your carbon inventory has been calculated. This article explains what’s included, how to interpret the formulas, and where to find assumptions.

What’s in the Audit Report?

The audit report includes everything required to review and validate your carbon footprint calculations:

  • Inputs – The spend or activity data you’ve added to Trace’s platform.

  • Methodology – The emissions factor used, including its source, year, and any assumptions applied.

  • Outputs – The calculated emissions results, so you can spot-check and validate.

Where to Find the Formulas

The key calculation formulas now span updated columns:

  • Column T onwards → Inputs (note: there may be multiple inputs, e.g. monthly kWh usage).

  • Column R → Emissions factor.

  • Column P → Calculated tonnes CO₂.

The calculation always follows this structure: 

(Column T onwards inputs, multiplied together) × Column R = Column P

 

Example

If the input columns show:

  • usage: 3931 kWh

  • period: 12 months

You’ll need to multiply those numbers together before applying the emissions factor from column R. You can then compare the result will with column P.

How to Find Key Pieces of Data

  1. Emissions Factor

    • Column R contains the emissions factor.

    • Column G shows the source of the factor.

    • Column H provides more detail, including the source year and any reference material.

  2. Currency Conversion

    • Column Q contains the average conversion rate used.

    • If spend data is in a foreign currency, it is converted into the currency of the emissions factor using the 12-month average exchange rate for your measurement period.

  3. Expense Data

    • Column L lists the general ledger account linked to each expense.

    • Column M shows the supplier name for that calculation.

Understanding Assumptions

Some calculations require assumptions. For example, for working-from-home electricity we use:

  • Assumption value → An employee uses 11 kWh per day when working from home. (Listed in column T and onwards).

  • Assumption source → The reference or study used to justify the assumption. (Listed in column O).

Why This Matters

By reviewing the audit report, you can:

  • Trace every emissions calculation step-by-step.

  • Validate the data sources and assumptions used.

  • Confidently report or share your carbon footprint results.

👉 Tip: We’re working on a new version of the audit report that will be clearer and easier to navigate. Stay tuned!