# How do I calculate the carbon footprint of an electricity meter?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/electricity-meter-carbon-footprint-per-meter

Add the circuit board, current sensor, display, relay and plastic case per meter with supplier figures. Add assembly, calibration and testing electricity, then divide by meters passed. Smart meters add a communication module.

## Bought-in parts

- Assembled board with metering chip.
- Current transformer or shunt, relay and display.
- Plastic base and cover, terminal block.

## Assembly

- Board fitting and sealing.
- Calibration on test benches.
- Accuracy testing and packing.

## Per meter

Report per meter by type, single or three phase, and with or without a communication module.

## Worked example: electricity meter unit per meter (one month)

- Electricity: 20,000 kWh x 0.710 = 14,200 kg CO2
- Meters passed: 50,000
- Plant total: 14,200 / 50,000 = 0.284 kg CO2 per meter
- Add board, sensor and case for the full figure

Inputs are illustrative; use your own bills and production records.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads the plant's electricity bills (CEA grid factor 0.710 kg CO2 per kWh, CO2 Baseline Database version 21.0) and fuel invoices (IPCC 2006 defaults) into a fingerprinted Scope 1 and 2 record, the plant-level input to a per-unit figure. Bought-in materials go to the supplier evidence trail; product reports are self-declared drafts.

- [Product carbon footprint calculator](https://senseible.earth/calculators/product-carbon-footprint)
- [PCB assembly footprint](https://senseible.earth/answers/pcb-assembly-carbon-footprint-per-board)
- [Electric switch footprint](https://senseible.earth/answers/electric-switch-carbon-footprint-per-unit)
- [Automobile industry](https://senseible.earth/industries/automobile)

Sources: [GHG Protocol Product Standard](https://ghgprotocol.org/standards), [ISO 14067:2018, Carbon footprint of products (iso.org)](https://www.iso.org), [IPCC 2006 Guidelines, Volume 2 Energy (fuel defaults)](https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/vol2.html), [CEA CO2 Baseline Database, version 21.0](https://cea.nic.in/cdm-co2-baseline-database/?lang=en)

Last reviewed 2026-10-20.