Key Terms and References

Eden Suite Key Terms and References

TermDefinition
ActivityAn action that produces emissions or consumes or produces a resource.
Activity GroupAn aggregation of similar activities. For example electricity, natural gas and steam are activities within the Stationary energy Activity Group.
Activity Calculation MethodDefines the Calculation Method to be applied when calculating against a particular Activity.
Activity DataThe result (CO2-e etc.) of performing the appropriate calculation for the specified Activity and Asset.
AggregationThe distribution of data values from an asset up to its parent (if it has one, according to an asset hierarchy) and similarly to its parent asset and so on. Aggregation is applied to actual and estimated data, but not to apportioned data.
AllocationThe distribution of data values from an asset to related organisations (the relationships are established as Organisation Asset relationships). Allocation rules are specified for an activity and a month range.
ApportionmentA rule that defines how much data is to be assigned to a child Asset from the parent Asset for a particular Activity and time frame. An Apportionment rule can be either a percentage value that is applied to all data or a set of fixed values per input.
AR4, AR5, AR6Assessment reports produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and released by the United Nations.
AssetA location or entity where emissions or consumption of resources occur.
Asset ActivityA specific Activity being performed at a specific Asset. This is the only object against which consumption data can be captured (Raw Activity Data) and greenhouse gas emissions (Activity Data) calculated. When configuring the system, an Asset Activity must be created for each combination of Asset and Activity where consumption occurs.
Asset HierarchyPositions an Asset in a Hierarchy. Asset Hierarchies are mainly used for Apportioning.
Asset TypeA logical and generic description for assets that are similar or have similar characteristics.
Asset Type HierarchyDefines the likely structure of an Asset Hierarchy.
AttributeAdditional information captured against an entity in the system (e.g. Asset). An example of an attribute is Square Metres of floor area (SQM) or the Green Star rating of a building.
Child AssetAn Asset which is related to a Parent Asset in its Asset Hierarchy (e.g. a Floor can be a Child Asset of a Building).
Consumption DataThis is a set of three domain objects that manage input into the system, Raw Activity Data, Periodic Raw Activity Data and Periodic Activity Data.
CO2-eCarbon Dioxide Equivalent. The aggregate of all greenhouse gases required to be reported under the Kyoto Protocol, based on the different level of Global Warming Potential (GWP) they are known to cause.
Data ReferenceField to insert a link to a document storage system
FacilityAn Asset or group of Assets as defined by the NGER Legislation. Sits within an NGER Hierarchy
Fuel TypeThe emissions source. This may be a fuel, a product, or a service. Generally, a fuel type may be consumed, combusted, or produced.

Fuels include the solid/liquid/gas fuel types from the NGA factors publications, plus additional types such as passenger kilometres for air travel, medical gases and refrigerants, and reams of paper.

Products might include medications (e.g. paracetamol, naproxen, ibuprofen, aspirin, antibiotics).

Services might include accounting, banking, ICT, education, cleaning, and repair.
GHGGreenhouse gas (GHG): a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. The main GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). (Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) glossary)
Green PowerGreen Power is configured as an Activity. A specialist Green Power Calculation Method is configured against the Activity. This calculator requires usage data inputs of electricity cost and consumption quantity, as well as Green Power quantity and cost.
GWPGlobal warming potential (GWP): a value used to compare the ability of different GHGs to trap heat in the atmosphere, with carbon dioxide used as a benchmark. For example, in 2024, methane’s global warming potential (GWP) value was 28. This means that one tonne of methane released into the atmosphere is estimated to contribute as much to climate change as 28 tonnes of carbon dioxide (Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) glossary)
HierarchyRepresents the overall structure of elements with a single root. A Hierarchy typically represents a reporting structure such as internal operational control or an NGER structure.
Incidental EmissionsEmissions that constitute a very small percentage of a Facility’s emissions under NGER Legislation. The criteria includes but is not limited to being less than 0.5% of total emissions.
IndicatorA measure of the relative impact or performance of an Activity
IPCCIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Master ActivityA master activity can be used to link an activity in one tenant to an equivalent activity in another tenant in the same tenant group. For example, Tenant 1 has an activity Electricity Consumption, and Tenant 2 in the same tenant group has an activity Electricity Usage. For reporting across tenants in the same tenant group, these two activities are to be considered the same for consolidated reporting and this can be achieved by assigning the same Master Activity (say, Electricity) to both of them.
Measurement DeviceA point of measure or capture of Activity data
Metric TypeA reporting mechanism that combines a unit of measure with a fuel type or activity. Used to develop an Indicator.
NGAPublished by the Australian Government's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors provide methods that help companies and individuals estimate greenhouse gas emissions.
NGERThe National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Legislation enacted by the Australian Government requirement the reporting of GHG emissions and energy production and consumption.
NGER HierarchyAn organisational level reporting structure that complies with NGER legislation
NormaliserData such as FTE, bed days, enrolments, Area M2 can be used to normalise data and create indicators.

NOTE: A normaliser may use one of three reporting methods:
  • Sum – when the values should be added over the time period e.g. km travelled, separations, bed days
  • Point in Time – when the values are for a point in time e.g. FTE
  • Average – when the values should be averaged over the time period e.g. area
Offset ActivityA user can nominate an Activity as an Offset Activity so that it can negate part or all of CO2-e from emitting activities
OAROrganisation Asset Relationship. The link between an Asset and an Organisational level that facilitates the allocation of data to the Organisation
OrganisationThe logical framework that is your organisational structure. Structured as an Organisational Hierarchy
Organisational HierarchyRepresents a generic Organisational structure. Organisation Hierarchies are used to support reporting across multiple Assets.
Organisation TypeA logical and generic description for organisational levels that are similar or have similar characteristics.
Organisation Type HierarchyDefines the likely structure of an Organisation Hierarchy.
OSCAROnline System for Comprehensive Activity Reporting, the website managed by the Australian Government for liable organisations to submit their NGER data.
Parent AssetAn Asset which has a series of related sub-assets in its Asset Hierarchy (e.g. a Building can be a Parent Asset of a Floor in that building).
PedigreeA combination of a Usage Type and Data Source and is configured in a priority order for an Activity
Pending DataIf data has been added into Eden Suite and is found to vary (outside pre-set parameters) from the same period the year before, it will be given a Pending status and must be reviewed and accepted before it can be used for reporting. Data that is an exact duplicate will also be given a Pending status.
Periodic Activity DataUnprocessed data that is grouped by month. Periodic Activity Data is associated with a specific Activity and a specific Asset (Asset Activity).
Periodic Raw Activity DataThe consolidation of Raw Activity Data into a single record for a month by Usage Type and Data Source.
PortfolioA portfolio is a set of member tenants or other portfolios form the same tenant group, grouped together for the purposes of consolidated reporting.
Quality CriteriaA quality rating applied to data based on its source. The rating is used under NGERs to determine the Uncertainty rating of the NGERs data.

The defined criteria is as follows:

Criterion A:
The quantity is evidenced by invoices resulting from a commercial transaction with the vendor

Criterion AA:
The quantity is calculated based on indirect measurement at the point of consumption

Criterion AAA:
The quantity is calculated based on direct measurement at the point of consumption or the point of sale

Criterion BBB:
The quantity is calculated based on simplified consumption measurements in accordance with industry practice using equipment that is not calibrated to specific requirements of Criterion AAA.
Raw Activity DataUnprocessed data that is input to an environmental calculator. Raw Activity Data is associated with a specific Activity and a specific Asset (Asset Activity).
RelationshipThe link between an Asset and an Organisational level that facilitates the allocation of data to the Organisation.
Report ContentA snapshot of data underlying a report that may be commented upon, progressed through statuses, and used to provide outputs. (In some cases it may be edited e.g. FRD report content activity data metrics, GHG report content activity data)
ResourceA Resource can be consumed (e.g. Water), produced (e.g. Waste) or emitted (e.g. Refrigerant Leakage) during an Activity. Calculation Methods are used to convert Resource consumption and production values of an Activity into measures of emissions. Resources are grouped into Resource Categories. An Activity may nominate a Resource to be associated with it.
ScopeA classification of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emitting Activities determined by The GHG Protocol
SupplierAn entity that provides consumption information to the System
Supplier GroupA logical grouping of like suppliers eg Electricity Suppliers
Supplier FeedA logical grouping of data from a Supplier, based on date of entry or data Pedigree
System FunctionA System function controls access to a set of features in Eden Suite. For example the CI_Admin role allows a user to access the administration functionality
Systems AdministratorIntelligent Pathways
TenantA tenant is the entirety of an Eden Suite customer’s data including the user’s, activities, assets, organisations and usage data separated from other user’s data.
Tenant GroupA Tenant Group may be established when a number of Eden Suite customers are required to have a relationship with each other e.g. to allow sharing of assets or consolidated reporting
Tenant RoleA Tenant Role is a grouping of system functions to allow user defined roles to be created. This makes the creation and configuration of users easier
The NetworkThe Data Exchange Network which is the platform for receipt and standardisation of electronic Asset Activity data and transmission to Inventory Management Modules
UncertaintyAn assessment of the level of accuracy of the calculated emissions. Uncertainty is determined by the calculation method used and the Quality Criteria of the Raw Activity Data, in accordance with the NGER Determination Method

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