Climate calculations in Palats

For whom?
This article is intended for administrators and owners within an organisation.

What is a category template?
A category template is a default value that Palats sets per product category. The template is used when a model lacks its own values, in that case, the values are taken from the selected category instead.

There are three types of template values:

• Weight
• Climate impact (production stage A1–A3)
• Equivalent replacement cost

Values are expressed in the unit used when the model is inventoried. If the model is inventoried per item, climate impact is entered per kilogram (kg CO2e / kg) and combined with the weight to give a total. If inventoried in a bulk unit, the values are entered per that unit instead, for example per square metre (kg CO2e / m²).

Where the values come from
The templates are based on generic climate databases and a selected EPD per category.
Where an individual value comes from can be seen directly in Palats. On a model, savings are displayed per item or per bulk unit, and the button How we calculated this shows how the values were derived, where they come from, and whether they were sourced from Palats or entered by your organisation.

Custom category templates
With administrator permissions, you can enter your own templates for your organisation. Values from Palats can be overridden with your own — in that case, your value applies for your organisation. Where Palats does not have templates, you can fill in your own values.

How to enter custom templates

1. Click your name in the bottom left and select Settings
2. Go to Categories in the left-hand menu
3. Click a category to edit or add your own values where Palats does not have any

General and conditional templates
General templates are the values that apply to models inventoried per item. Conditional templates are adjustments to the general values based on the model's:

1. Bulk unit — for example, if the model is expressed in square metres or linear metres. Useful if you work with building materials and need templates for specific bulk units.
2. Specification — for example, if the material is metal. You can then enter a higher value for both weight and climate impact.

Versions of the template database
Palats updates the template database when the underlying data improves — for example, when more EPDs become available or when a source is revised. After an update, figures may differ from previous exports. Individual values may be higher or lower than before, as they have been recalculated against a different source. A report you exported some time ago may therefore not show the same totals as the same report does today. Values entered by your organisation are not affected by updates.

Comparing with a previous version
Do you have a report or chart that was exported before the templates were updated, and are wondering why the figures don't match today's? You can temporarily display the report or chart using the version of the template database that was in effect at that time. To compare with previous templates:

• Reports — In Analyse, open a report, scroll to the bottom of the page, and select a previous version of the template database. You can print the report, and the printout will clearly indicate that it is not using the current templates.
• Charts — Go to Analyse and open a chart. Select a previous version of the template database. Note that charts cannot be saved with a previous version. When you select a previous version, only the period during which that version was active is shown. If the report contains events from both before and after an update, the period is clipped to the selected version's validity window, and events outside that period are not included.