| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 48.76 |
| Liaison | James Speer |
| Submission Date | Feb. 26, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Indiana State University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.72 / 10.00 |
Nicholas
McCreary Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
Does the institution’s GHG emissions inventory include all, some or none of its Scope 3 GHG emissions from the following categories?:
| All, Some, or None | |
| Business travel | Some |
| Commuting | Some |
| Purchased goods and services | None |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | Some |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | None |
| Other categories | None |
A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory, including how the institution accounted for each category of Scope 3 emissions reported above:
In accordance with the American Colleges and Universities President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) signed by Dr. Lloyd Benjamin III in 2007 and reinforced by Dr. Dan Bradley, ISU is required to complete a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The first inventory was completed by Sebesta Blomberg in 2008. A second greenhouse gas analysis was completed internally by the Office of Sustainability at ISU in 2011 and these numbers were updated on the ACUPCC website in 2013. We have also completed a fifth iteration of the Carbon Footprint Analysis in 2015 which contains the most complete carbon footprint that we have calculated to date.
A greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory (a.k.a. carbon footprint) is an itemized inventory of GHG emissions. Each of ISU carbon footprints since 2007 was determined using methodology outlined by the ACUPCC and the most current Campus Carbon Calculator (version 8.0) from the Sustainability Institute at University of New Hampshire which was designed and maintained by the not-for-profit organization called Clean Air-Cool Planet. This version of the calculator is more enhanced than the one used to perform Indiana State University’s previous carbon footprints, yet still incorporates GHG Protocol developed by the World Resources Institute.
We have had a hard time getting data on commuter driving distances, air travel, fleet fuel use, and refrigerant use so we have consistently used the estimates developed by the consultants from our original Carbon Footprint Analysis.
Additionally, during our review process we have audited our ghg numbers by looking at Facilities Management yearly reports back to 1989. Through these reports we are able to get numbers from most scope 1 and scope 2 emissions related to our campus. We entered all of these numbers, from 1989-2018, into Simap, which we purchased to confirm this data.
Has the GHG emissions inventory been validated internally by personnel who are independent of the GHG accounting and reporting process and/or verified by an independent, external third party?:
A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 and Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions):
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 18,792.84 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 73,151.98 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 38,678.34 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 45,866.45 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Total | 57,471.18 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 119,018.43 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 1989 | June 30, 1990 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
In accordance with the American Colleges and Universities President’s Climate Commitment
(ACUPCC) signed by Dr. Lloyd Benjamin III in 2007 and reinforced by Dr. Dan Bradley, ISU is
required to complete a comprehensive inventory of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The first inventory was completed by Sebesta Blomberg in 2007.
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased (exclude purchased RECs/GOs) | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Institution-catalyzed carbon offsets generated | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon sequestration due to land that the institution manages specifically for sequestration | 530 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon storage from on-site composting | 26.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon offsets included above for which the emissions reductions have been sold or transferred by the institution | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Net carbon offsets | 556.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
We are a Tree Campus USA with 3,500 trees on our campus. We also maintain about 15 tree farms on ISU owned property around the main campus and have about 230 acres in forested and grassland locations that are remote from campus (but included in our defined boundaries). We calculated the amount of carbon fixed in these areas at 530 metric tons of carbon fixed each year.
The carbon sequestration from our on-campus trees is 286.3 metric tons of CO2 per year. Our off-campus holdings are 230 acres (or 93 hectares) and, based on Eddy Flux Tower data from Morgan Monroe State Forest, our forested areas sequester approximately 2.62 metric tons of C per hectare per year (Ehman et al. 2002). An estimation of total carbon sequestered by the trees on ISU’s campus and forested properties owned by ISU is approximately 530 metric tons of CO2 per year. This number needs to be improved by more studies on carbon sequestration in eastern deciduous forests, understanding of carbon sequestration in grass lands, and a more quantitative assessment of the land use of ISU’s external landholdings (Table 2 of carbon footprint analysis).
Our Grounds Maintenance staff manage our composting of materials from across campus where they are composted at the ISU Community Garden and used by the gardeners as an organic soil amendment. Pre-consumer kitchen scraps are used as well as leaves from across campus. We have also been increasing the number of community garden plots that use this compost and we did expand to our third city block in 2017.
Emissions reductions attributable to Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) or Guarantee of Origin (GO) purchases:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Emissions reductions attributable to REC/GO purchases | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 56,914.38 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 119,018.43 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,896 | 3,116 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 23 | 2 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 9,793 | 8,400 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,705.32 | 1,300 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 3,252 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 7,164.49 | 8,054.50 |
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user | 7.94 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 14.78 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 10,050.11 Square meters |
| Healthcare space | 3,148.67 Square meters |
| Other energy intensive space | 4,270.29 Square meters |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Emissions | |
| Business travel | 1,458 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 4,566 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 101 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
We have collected most of our Scope 3 GHG from miles traveled and student home zipcodes. These numbers are not as accurate as we would like, but they are a reasonable estimate. We send very little waste to the landfill now, but our landfill captures methane and Boral Bricks uses that captured methane to fire its bricks. According to the Carbon Calculator we receive 9 metric tons of carbon credit from our landfill process, but this form requires that we report zero or higher.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The baseline numbers for 1989-1990 were calculated as an average of our earliest data from 1999 to 2011 before we started to intentionally increase the number of students on campus and to reduce the number of faculty and staff. Additionally, during our review process (over the last 60 days) we have audited our ghg numbers by looking at Facilities Management yearly reports back to 1989. Through these reports we are able to get numbers from most scope 1 and scope 2 emissions related to our campus. We entered all of these numbers, from 1989-2018, into Simap, which we purchased to confirm this data. The large decrease in our ghg emissions can largely be contributed to the switch from a coal fired on campus boiler facility to a natural gas fired boiler facility. Additionally all of our LEED buildings were added after 1989 as well as the created of our office of sustainability.
The baseline numbers for 1989-1990 were calculated as an average of our earliest data from 1999 to 2011 before we started to intentionally increase the number of students on campus and to reduce the number of faculty and staff. Additionally, during our review process (over the last 60 days) we have audited our ghg numbers by looking at Facilities Management yearly reports back to 1989. Through these reports we are able to get numbers from most scope 1 and scope 2 emissions related to our campus. We entered all of these numbers, from 1989-2018, into Simap, which we purchased to confirm this data. The large decrease in our ghg emissions can largely be contributed to the switch from a coal fired on campus boiler facility to a natural gas fired boiler facility. Additionally all of our LEED buildings were added after 1989 as well as the created of our office of sustainability.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.