# Overview | Region Scorecard methodology
Source: https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard

Methodology for Cloud Region Impact Scoring

Greenpixie's region scoring methodology produces four scores for each public cloud region of the providers in scope. This document set describes how each of them is produced. The **carbon grade** places a region's grid on a scale from A+ to F by how carbon-intensive its electricity is, and the **water stress category** reports how contested water already is where the region sits. The **pricing score** records whether a region is expensive or inexpensive compared with the middle of its provider's own estate, and the **availability score** records how much of the provider's catalogue a customer can buy there.

No customer usage or spend data is used in any of the four. The pricing and availability scores are derived only from prices as published by the provider, the water stress category is published by the World Resources Institute and carried through unchanged, and the carbon grade comes from Greenpixie's own grid intensity data.

## How the scores are produced [#how-the-scores-are-produced]



Hourly grid carbon intensity factors for each region's grid are averaged into one figure. Every region of every provider is then assigned to one of seven grades from A+ to F using Jenks natural breaks.

Each region is matched to the Aqueduct 4.0 area covering its location, or to its country where no finer match exists. The category Aqueduct publishes for that area is used unchanged.

Prices are grouped into product categories, erroneous entries removed, and a basket built from categories priced in at least half a provider's regions. A region's median price ratio across that basket sets its cost grade.

Availability counts the product categories a region prices against the count priced by its provider's most complete region. Both percentages are internal, and each is assigned to a grade within its own provider.

Start with the [Introduction](/methodology/region-scorecard/introduction), or jump to any section from the sidebar.

- [1. Introduction](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/introduction): Purpose, audience, and context of the methodology.
- [2. Scope and Applicability](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/scope-and-applicability): What is in scope, out of scope, and the evaluation boundary.
- [3. Definitions](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/definitions): Key terms used throughout the methodology.
- [4. Methodology Overview](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/methodology-overview): How the methodology works at a high level.
- [5. Inputs and Evidence Sources](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/inputs-and-evidence-sources): The data categories and evidence sources the methodology draws on.
- [6. Eligibility, Selection, and Inclusion Logic](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/eligibility-and-inclusion): What is included and how it is selected and mapped.
- [7. Assessment and Calculation](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/assessment-and-calculation): The calculation components and their outputs.
- [8. Monitoring, Updates, and Review Timing](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/monitoring-and-review): How the methodology is kept current.
- [9. Quality Assurance and Oversight](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/quality-assurance): Standards alignment, validation, and review controls.
- [10. Governance and Methodology Changes](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/governance): Working group, review cadence, and version control.
- [11. Outputs and Interpretation](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/outputs-and-interpretation): Primary outputs, intended use, and interpretation guidance.
- [12. Related Documents](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/related-documents): Standards, research, and sources referenced by the methodology.
- [13. Notice on Intellectual Property and Permitted Use](https://greenpixie.com/docs/methodology/region-scorecard/intellectual-property): IP notice and permitted use of this document.

Version 2.1, August 2026.