| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.73 |
| Liaison | Megan Litke |
| Submission Date | Jan. 31, 2011 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
American University
OP-8: Clean and Renewable Energy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.97 / 7.00 |
Emily
Curley Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Option 1: Total clean and renewable electricity generated on site during the performance year and for which the institution retains or has retired the associated environmental attributes :
116
MMBtu
None
Option 2: Non-electric renewable energy generated:
0
MMBtu
None
Option 3: Total clean and renewable electricity generated by off-site projects that the institution catalyzed and for which the institution retains or has retired the associated environmental attributes :
0
MMBtu
None
Option 4: Total RECs and other similar renewable energy products that the institution purchased during the performance year that are Green-e certified or meet the Green-e standard's technical requirements and are third party verified:
181,526.64
MMBtu
None
Option 5: Total electricity generated with co-generation technology using non-renewable fuel sources :
0
MMBtu
None
Total energy consumed during the performance year :
328,603.64
MMBtu
None
A brief description of on-site renewable electricity generating devices :
27 kW (~34,000 kWh / year) solar PV array on School of International Service.
None
A brief description of on-site renewable non-electric energy devices:
---
None
A brief description of off-site, institution-catalyzed, renewable electricity generating devices:
---
None
A brief description of RECs or other similar renewable energy products purchased during the previous year:
In 2010, AU purchased renewable energy certificates (RECs) equivalent to 100 percent of purchased electricity. By purchasing RECs, AU is enabling the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by sponsoring the production of renewable energy in place of the energy that is delivered to campus via the electricity grid. AU ensured that these RECs have real environmental benefits by purchasing Green-E certified RECs from Renewable Choice Energy in the form of wind energy. Green-E is a stringent, independent standard and process for verifying the credibility of renewable energy certificates.
PLEASE NOTE
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Green Building Council's LEED guidelines, and the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, this use of renewable energy mitigates all greenhouse gas emissions from American University's electricity consumption.
Unfortunately, the calculation in this STARS credit fails to reflect the value of this commitment to renewable energy. By failing to fully recognize this strategy for fighting climate change, STARS is inadvertently stalling progress against climate change by discouraging universities from mitigating the emissions from their purchased electricity by using a valid and cost-effective tool that is readily at hand for all to use. We hope AASHE will reconsider the calculation in this credit and support this market-based approach to catalyzing renewable energy development in the U.S.
None
A brief description of co-generation technologies deployed:
---
None
The website URL where information about the institution's renewable energy sources is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The EPA and LEED both recognize the purchase of renewable energy credits as being equal to directly sourcing green power. So the calculation in this credit is confusing and significantly undervalues our institution's use of clean and renewable energy.
Calculation:
Natural gas, 2009 = 147,077 MMBtu
Electricy, 2009 = 53,202,416 kWh / 181,526.64 MMBtu
RECS, 2009 = 53,202,416 kWh / 181,526.64 MMBtu
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.