Audit Trail
An audit trail is a chronological, verifiable record of data entries, changes, and calculations that allows energy or emissions figures to be traced back to their original source for verification purposes.
Definition
An audit trail is a record — ideally automatic and tamper-evident — of how a reported figure was derived: the original data source, any transformations or calculations applied, and who or what made changes along the way. In energy and carbon reporting, a strong audit trail is what allows a reported emissions or consumption figure to be independently verified rather than taken on trust.
Why It Matters
Regulatory frameworks increasingly require reported figures to be auditable, not just accurate — meaning organisations need to be able to show their working, not just their conclusions, when a figure is challenged or formally assured.
How ecolyptus Helps
ecolyptus retains a traceable record from raw meter data through to reported emissions and consumption figures, supporting audit and assurance requirements without manual reconstruction.