Fuel Combustion Emissions Calculator
Calculate criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas, propane, diesel, oil & coal combustion
Free fuel combustion emissions planning screen for local heat-input arithmetic. Enter annual natural gas, propane, diesel, fuel oil, or bituminous coal use to estimate CO2, NOx, SOx, PM, MMBtu, CO2-only metric tons, and a local cost-context band. The app includes AP-42, GHGRP, permit, source-test, CEMS, fuel-analysis, and qualified-review warnings because the local rows are not row-verified regulatory factors.
Move reviewed annual pollutant totals into the facility inventory screen after method checks
Facility Emissions Inventory →Screen diesel generator fuel, CO2, and source-review flags before selecting approved factors
Emergency Generator Emissions Calculator →Compare tune-up fuel savings before deciding whether emissions should be recalculated
Boiler Efficiency Calculator →Use the AP-42 lookup as a source pointer before relying on any factor row
AP-42 Emission Factor Lookup →How It Works
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Select a Local Fuel Row
Choose natural gas, propane, No. 2 fuel oil, diesel, or bituminous coal. Treat the row as a planning assumption until the current source document and source category are checked.
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Enter Annual Fuel Use
Enter annual use in the app unit, such as MCF, therms, CCF, gallons, or tons. The app converts fuel use to local MMBtu using its heat-content row.
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Add Sources as Needed
Add separate rows for major fuel-use records so the worksheet can show a local total and a source-by-source CO2 share.
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Review Screening Totals
Review local CO2, NOx, SOx, PM, MMBtu, and CO2-only metric tons. The app does not calculate CO, VOC, HAP, CH4, N2O, PM10, PM2.5, or control-device effects.
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Read the Source Boundary
Check the warning block and source pointers before using the output outside early planning.
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Export a Planning Record
Export the inputs, outputs, warnings, assumptions, and source pointers for internal review. Do not treat the export as permit-ready evidence.
Built For
- Environmental managers building an early fuel-use worksheet before method review
- Facility engineers checking the order of magnitude for combustion-source emissions
- Consultants gathering planning inputs before selecting AP-42, source-test, CEMS, material-balance, or permit methods
- Plant staff comparing fuel-use records before sending the data for environmental review
- Energy managers estimating whether fuel savings may need a later emissions-method update
- Sustainability teams flagging Scope 1 combustion data that still needs GHG method review
Assumptions
- Annual fuel use is converted to MMBtu using local heat-content rows.
- Local output rows are CO2, NOx, SOx, and PM only.
- CO2e is CO2-only and does not include CH4 or N2O.
- The app does not model control devices, startup, shutdown, malfunction, or permit averaging periods.
- The local cost-context band is not a regulatory carbon price.
Limitations
- Local rows are not reconciled to current AP-42 tables, factor ratings, or chapter notes.
- Does not calculate CO, VOC, HAPs, CH4, N2O, PM10, PM2.5, or biogenic CO2 treatment.
- Does not choose a GHGRP tier, GWP basis, state inventory method, or permit method.
- Does not determine Title V, PSD, NSR, NNSR, synthetic-minor, HAP, or GHG applicability.
- Not suitable for compliance demonstrations, permit applications, or certified reports without approved methods and qualified review.
References
- EPA AP-42 Compilation of Air Emissions Factors from Stationary Sources.
- EPA AP-42, Fifth Edition, Volume I, Chapter 1 - External Combustion Sources.
- EPA GHG Emission Factors Hub.
- 40 CFR Part 98, Subpart C - General Stationary Fuel Combustion Sources.
- EPA Report on the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More
Where Your Facility's Emissions Actually Come From
Most facilities undercount their emission sources. Combustion, refrigerants, coatings, and backup generators all add up - and the permit math starts with knowing what you're actually releasing.
Why Refrigerant Leaks Are Worse Than You Think
A single pound of R-410A has the same warming impact as a ton of CO2. How GWP works, what the EPA leak repair rules actually require, and why your maintenance logs matter more than you think.
What Your Stack Temperature Is Costing You
Every 40°F of excess stack temperature is roughly 1% of fuel wasted. How to read stack losses, what the numbers mean for your boiler tune-up, and when heat recovery pays for itself.
What Your Air Permit Actually Costs
Title V fees, compliance testing, recordkeeping staff time - the real cost of an air permit goes far beyond the annual fee. How to estimate your total cost of compliance.
When Your Backup Generator Needs a Permit
RICE NESHAP, emergency vs non-emergency hours, and the 100-hour maintenance limit that catches most facilities off guard. What triggers permitting for standby generators.
Stack Opacity: What It Means for PM Compliance
EPA Method 9 visible emissions, Ringelmann scale, opacity limits, what triggers enforcement, and how to avoid opacity violations at your facility.
Concrete Batch Plant Dust Emissions Explained
PM10 vs PM2.5 from concrete batch operations, AP-42 emission factors, baghouse controls, fugitive dust management, and air permit thresholds.
Natural Gas vs Propane: Emissions and Cost Compared
CO2 emissions per therm vs per gallon, BTU content differences, combustion efficiency context, and source checks needed before reporting or permit use.
Tank Breathing Loss Calculations (EPA AP-42)
How to calculate standing and working VOC emissions from fixed-roof storage tanks per EPA AP-42 Chapter 7.1, including expansion factors, turnover factors, and permitting thresholds.
Estimating Facility Emissions
AP-42, material balance, CEMS, and stack-test method prompts before source-supported facility emissions review.
Fleet Fuel Comparison: CNG, Propane, Diesel, and Electric Options
Diesel gallon equivalent pricing, infrastructure break-even analysis, 10-year NPV modeling, emissions comparison, maintenance cost differences, and vehicle class considerations for alternative fleet fuels.
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