Business Energy and Emissions Profile (BEEP)

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of data does BEEP provide?

Our Business Energy & Emissions Profile provides you with:

  • Estimated emissions generated by local small- and medium-sized business in key sectors
  • Highest emissions producing industries in your community as well as which activities are responsible for those emissions
  • Geographic variances in emissions
  • Potential emission reduction opportunities in your community based on actual reductions already achieved by businesses in each sector
Is this data specific to my community?
Data Set Community Specific? Source
Sector-level Climate Smart emissions intensities No.
Aggregated from Climate Smart businesses across North America 		Climate Smart proprietary data from businesses that have completed GHG inventories
Local business data Yes Statistics Canada Business Register
Local emission factors Yes Environment Canada and Statistics Canada
Local climate regions Yes National Resources Canada - National Energy Use Database
Which data is actual, and which is modeled?

Actual data includes:

  • Local business data
  • Local emission factors
  • Local climate regions

Modeled data includes:

  • - Sector-level Climate Smart emissions intensities (modeled from Climate Smart proprietary business emissions data)
How does the modeled data compare to the actual data?

The modeled data provides an estimate of the actual expected emissions profile from each business in your community. This is based upon each business’ NAICS (North American Industry Classification) sector and number of employees. Climate Smart has a large NAICS data set that allows us to confidently produce emissions intensity estimates. Businesses within the same sector and size range typically behave similarly in terms of carbon emissions.

Please see the BEEP Methodology Document for further information.

How current is the data?
The SME data in the BEEP is constantly updated as we continue to work with businesses. The other data elements from Statistics Canada are updated annually.
How often is the data updated?

Data is updated regularly. Here are our latest updates:

Data Set Last Updated Future Update Frequency
Sector-level Climate Smart emissions intensities 2017 Annually (starting 2020)
Local business data 2019 Annually
Local emission factors 2019 Annually
Local climate regions 2020 With each BEEP
What sectors (NAICS codes) and business types are covered in the BEEP?

Thirteen sectors are included in the BEEP analysis. Sectors encompassing diverse operation types are further broken down into subsectors to improve accuracy.

  • 23 - Construction
  • 31 - Manufacturing (food, textiles, leather)
  • 33 - Manufacturing (machinery, goods, furniture, misc)
  • 41 - Wholesale trade
  • 44 - Retail trade (cars, electronics, food, gasoline, clothing)
  • 45 - Retail trade (goods, misc)
  • 51 - Information and cultural industries
  • 52 - Finance and insurance
  • 53 - Real estate and rental and leasing
  • 54 - Professional, scientific and technical services
  • 55 - Management of companies and enterprises
  • 56 - Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
  • 72 - Accommodation and food services

Check out our BEEP Methodology Document for further information.

Why are some sectors (NAICS codes) not included?

Some sectors (North American Industry Classification codes) are not included because our proprietary set of business emissions data does not yet include enough Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to confidently predict accurate sector-level emissions intensities. And we only submit data we’re confident in.

More and more SMEs are becoming Climate Smart certified. As they develop their GHG inventories, we can add additional sectors to meet the threshold for inclusion in the BEEP.

What business types are not included?

Currently, the following NAICS sectors are not included in the BEEP:

  • 11 - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting;
  • 21 - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
  • 22 – Utilities
  • 32 - Manufacturing (Wood, Printing, Oil, Plastic)
  • 48 – Transportation
  • 49 - Warehousing and delivery
  • 61 - Educational services
  • 62 - Health care and social assistance
  • 71 - Arts, entertainment and recreation
  • 81 - Other services (except public administration)
  • 91 - Public administration

Check out our BEEP Methodology Document for further information.

Will our BEEP be publicly accessible?
Absolutely! BEEP communities receive their own community-specific BEEP microsite with a unique URL. Anyone with the link can access it.
Is information about Large Final Emitters public?
Yes. If a business emits 10,000 tonnes or more of CO2 equivalent per year, it is required to report emissions to the Federal Government annually as part of Canada’s national Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. This information is made publicly available by the Federal Government. Climate Smart uses this data set to identify facilities that meet this threshold within a municipality.
Can I share the information in the BEEP?
Absolutely. It’s yours to use as you see fit! This data informs you and your local businesses on how energy is used and GHGs are produced in the community. It also gives you're the insights you need to make informed decisions to move forward with carbon reduction activities. So share share share!
What is the most effective way to share this information?
Every BEEP has a “Sharing” tab with tips on how to share the information effectively on social media. Your BEEP is also a great resource to reference when you’re discussing business and emissions with partners and community advocates.
Has this data ever been used by a Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade, or Economic Commission?
It sure has! We encourage all BEEP communities to engage these key economic bodies. Your data will help target specific sectors for opportunities in emissions reductions and cost savings.
How do you come up with the greenhouse gas reductions included in the BEEP?
We calculate an average percentage reduction for businesses in each NAICS sector based on real reductions achieved by businesses that have gone through Climate Smart Certification program. This includes businesses that have achieved a reduction in emissions between two consecutive years, and the reduction is linked to particular reduction strategies implemented by the business.
Why do Common Reduction Strategies feel like they’re designed just for office-based businesses?

Great question! Those “common strategies” are often low-hanging fruit. The easiest changes to make in terms of carbon management are often low-cost strategies that are related to office environments—purchasing recycled paper, providing bicycle parking, turning off the lights, etc.

Each business that comes through the Climate Smart program is required to submit an emissions reduction plan annually that outlines the specific actions they’ll take to address their emissions. We aggregate this information to identify the most common emissions reductions strategies selected by businesses in each sector. As more businesses come through the program, more of these strategies are being selected which means they are the most common strategies, but they are certainly not the only strategies.

Could local stories be included?
Absolutely - we know that examples close to home can have the most impact so we’re looking for inspiring and instructional stories from all communities. And we can’t wait to share case studies on BEEP communities too. See our BEEP Case Studies here.
Why is BEEP a subscription model?

We believe out-of-date data is detrimental; up-to-date data is crucial.

A subscription ensures that every community’s BEEP is based on annually updated SME data. In all communities, this data constantly shifts. Annual changes in energy mix, fleet make-up, supply chains, and numbers of business and FTEs by sector inform sector-based potential reductions and strategy.

Tracking energy and emissions doesn’t work as a snapshot. In order to monitor and enable change, it’s paramount to understand trends—and these will be supported in the data. Initiatives to change the way we produce, transport, and use energy will take years, and during this time it will be critical to track this data.