Quick Estimate

A Fast Snapshot, Not the Full Picture

Quick Estimate gives you a fast, spend-based snapshot of your carbon emissions using your financial transactions.

It’s a great place to start, but it’s not the end.

Quick Estimate helps you understand where your emissions might be coming from and which areas may need deeper attention. Because it relies on a limited data set, primarily your general ledger and a few operational inputs, it doesn’t capture everything. That means it’s not suitable for official reporting, audits, or confident decision-making on its own.

Think of it as your entry point, a simple and accessible way to get going before diving into a full GHG assessment.

How to Use Quick Estimate

1. Navigate to Quick Estimate from the home screen or main menu

2. Import your transaction data (if importing from Xero see steps here)

3. Select your currency

4. Input your fuel usage or average fuel price, and your electricity consumption or average electricity price

5. Let Sumday review and categorise your transactions

6. Review the estimated emissions breakdown by category and scope

7. Use Sumd[AI] to ask questions and explore further

How Quick Estimate Works

Quick Estimate maps your transaction data to relevant emissions sources using region-specific, spend-based emissions factors. It covers Scopes 1, 2 and 3.

What emission factors are included?

The following emission factors are used to multiply your inputs to calculate emissions:

Scope 1 – Fuel Use

Fuel-related transactions are flagged from your ledger.
If you provide litres consumed, emissions are calculated using standard emissions factors.
If exact quantities aren’t available, we estimate usage based on average fuel prices in your region.
Note: Quick Estimate assumes all fuel is diesel.

Scope 2 – Electricity Use

Electricity-related expenses are identified in your transactions.
If you provide kWh, we’ll use that to calculate emissions.
If you don’t know kWh, we estimate usage based on average electricity prices in your region.
Note: Purchased steam, heat, or cooling is not included.

Scope 3 – Other Purchased Goods and Services

Quick Estimate uses transaction metadata, such as supplier name and description, to assign appropriate emissions factors and identify the likely Scope 3 category.

What’s Not Included in a Quick Estimate

Because Quick Estimate uses limited data inputs, there are important exclusions you should be aware of before using it: 

Scope 1

• It assumes all fuel is diesel.
• Fugitive and process emissions are not included.
• If your operations involve other fuel types or process emissions, the estimate will likely be understated.

Scope 2

• Steam, heat or cooling purchases are not captured.
• Only electricity-based emissions are included. 

Scope 3

Some key Scope 3 categories are excluded entirely, including:

• Fuel and energy-related activities;
• Waste generated in operations;
• Employee commuting;
• Leased assets; and
• All downstream emissions categories under the GHG Protocol.

Quick Estimate also uses the spend-based method, meaning it won’t be as accurate as activity-based or supplier-specific methods. If these categories make up a large part of your emissions, expect the total estimate to be lower than your actual footprint.

Quick Estimate vs. a Full GHG Inventory Assessment

In Summary

Quick Estimate is a fast way to get started, but it’s not a complete picture. If you’re preparing for reporting, external assurance or detailed decision-making, you’ll need to complete a full GHG inventory.

Sumday helps you go from quick insights to full carbon accounting when you're ready.

If you have questions or want help interpreting your estimate, reach out—we’re here to support you.

📩 support@sumday.io
🔗 Learn more about full assessments.