Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 75.35
Liaison Megan Litke
Submission Date March 30, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

American University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 9.01 / 10.00 Amit Paul
Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Yes

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Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 3 GHG emissions from any of the following categories?:
Yes or No
Business travel Yes
Commuting Yes
Purchased goods and services No
Capital goods No
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 Yes
Waste generated in operations Yes

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Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from other categories?:
Yes

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A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:
American University uses Sightlines who enter the data they gather into the CACP GHG calculator.

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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?:
Yes

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A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
We use Sightlines.

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Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 7,499.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 6,955 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 1,018.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 983 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 22,878.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 28,663 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets::
Performance Year Baseline Year
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 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon storage from on-site composting 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 25,424.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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A brief description of the institution-catalyzed carbon offsets program:
NA

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A brief description of the carbon sequestration program and reporting protocol used:
na

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A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:
na

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A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:
RECs and Offsets purchased for 2015 were purchased through a contract with Renewable Choice Energy.

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Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 3,993 3,200
Number of residential employees 16 0
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 12,110 10,000
Full-time equivalent of employees 2,814 2,500
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 0 0

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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year May 1, 2014 April 30, 2015
Baseline Year May 1, 2004 April 30, 2005

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A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
The GHG emissions baseline was set in FY05.

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Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
359,257.11 Square meters

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Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 22,456.33 Square meters
Healthcare space 0 Square meters
Other energy intensive space 0 Square meters

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Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
Emissions
Business travel 3,212.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 7,902.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 277.50 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 1,414.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 386 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories (please specify below) 6,367.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":
study abroad, waste water

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A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
None
The website URL where the GHG emissions inventory is posted:
None
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
AU uses a variety of strategies including purchasing renewable energy credits, developing onsite and offsite renewable energy, employing energy efficiency strategies, and a variety of engagement and education initiatives.

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.