Calculator
The calculator handles single-device lookups in two modes: lookup (when we have the exact device on file) and parametric (when we infer from specs). Here's how each one works and when to reach for which.
Two modes, one engine
Lookup mode kicks in when you enter a brand and model we already have a verified PCF for. Result comes back with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 source attached — straight from the manufacturer’s datasheet or an EPD.
Parametric mode kicks in for everything else. The engine takes weight, RAM, storage, country, and lifetime, runs them through the PAIA-aligned model, and returns a calibrated estimate. Calibration is checked against published manufacturer data — the model stays within ±5% on the cohort we benchmark against.
The fields that look optional but aren’t
- Country — drives the grid factor for the use phase. Wrong country, wrong use-phase number. The grid factor for Norway is radically different from Poland.
- Lifetime (years) — multiplies into use-phase emissions. The default is the EU MEErP reference for the category; override it if your fleet retires faster or slower.
- Weight (kg) — anchors the production model. Without it, parametric falls back to a category average and accuracy drops.
Reading the result
Every result splits into four lifecycle phases:
- Production — manufacturing emissions, typically 65–75% of the total for IT assets.
- Transport — from factory to first customer. Generally small, but fluctuates with shipping mode.
- Use phase — electricity consumed during operation, weighted by the country grid factor.
- End-of-life — disposal, recycling, or refurbishment credit if applicable.
Click any number to see the source paper, publication year, and the methodology reference behind it.
Reuse savings
For refurbished devices, the calculator surfaces the difference between the lifecycle of a brand-new unit and the residual lifecycle of the refurbished one. That delta is your reuse saving — useful for customer certificates and Scope 3 Category 11 reporting.
Common questions
- The number looks high. Production dominates IT asset footprints. A new laptop’s manufacturing CO₂ is roughly a year of an average European’s home electricity. The number is probably right; the intuition is the thing that needs updating.
- Why does swapping country change the result? Use phase scales with the local grid’s carbon intensity. Same device in France (low-carbon nuclear) versus Poland (coal-heavy) lands at different totals.
- Can I edit the lifetime after calculation? Yes — the history page lets you re-run any calculation with different inputs. The original stays preserved for audit purposes.