What do these trends tell us?

This graph is meant to show trends over time. Each year’s number should be viewed as an estimate using the best available data rather than exact numbers. From time to time, protocols may be updated and conversion factors revised. Communities can assess emissions from their consumption based on two methods: a location-based method or a market-based method. Both methods serve to allocate emissions from the point of generation to their final point of use, and are typically indirect emissions (“scope 2”). A location-based method is based on average energy generation emission factors for defined locations, including local, sub-national or national boundaries. It yields a grid average emission factor representing the energy produced in a region, and allocates that to energy consumers in that region. The GPC requires that Cities shall use the location-based method for scope 2 calculations, but may separately document emissions from the market-based method. Bellevue’s location-based emission factors are derived from the EPAs eGRID published data for the NWPP electricity grid.

You may notice that in some years total community emissions are significantly lower because the eGRID emission factor used in that year for electricity is lower than other years. For more information about eGRID visit the EPA's site.

For years 2011 onward, Bellevue has allocated non-road combustion and fugitive emissions from King County based on our share of population (e.g. non road emissions from industrial, recreational, and lawn equipment, and fugitive emissions from refrigerants, pipelines and SF6), making our totals slightly higher than it would be under the previous out-of-date methodology.

What are the trends per capita?

As of 2016, Bellevue is home to around 139,400 residents. On average, each one of Bellevue’s residents produced 12.5 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This number is under the national average of 16.4 metric tonnes of Greenhouse Gas emissions produced annually per United States resident. (Source: World Bank, 2013) Bellevue's per capita emissions are about equal to the King County "geographic plus" emissions in 2008 -- reported as 12.4 metric tonnes per capita. (Source: King County 2012 Report: Table 3)

The Blue target line shows the K4C goal of 25% reduction from 2007 translated into an average per capita emissions level by 2020, which is approximately 8.5 metric tonnes (assuming a 1% population increase per year).

What are the biggest sources of our emissions?

Transportation, commercial energy, and residential energy are Bellevue’s top three greenhouse gas producing sectors. Together they make up almost 90% of Bellevue’s total greenhouse gas emissions.