Before students can calculate the emissions of FarmBot, it is important to learn about the types of emissions which can play a crucial role in evaluating the environmental impact of a product or technology.

Emission types

On the whiteboard, create two categories for emissions: Production-Related Emissions (also known as embodied emissions) and Usage-Related Emissions. Ask students to brainstorm what might contribute to FarmBot’s carbon footprint, and write their responses under the appropriate category.

  1. Production-Related Emissions originate during the product’s creation phase, involving the mining and processing of raw materials, manufacturing, and shipping.

  2. Usage-Related Emissions arise during the operation of the product, in this case, the electricity used by FarmBot.

While a third type, post-lifespan emissions, is sometimes considered, this lesson will primarily focus on the first two, as they are most pertinent to FarmBot’s operational context.

What’s next?