| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.66 |
| Liaison | Megan Litke |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
American University
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.40 / 3.00 |
Courtney
Stoner Sustainability Analyst Office of Sustainability |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory within the previous three years that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
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:
American University uses Gordian (previously Sightlines), who enters the data they gather into the SIMAP calculator.
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 GHG inventory verification process:
American University partnered with third-party firm Gordian (previously Sightlines, a Gordian company), to conduct a greenhouse gas inventory as part of a sustainability analysis and benchmarking service. Gordian’s proprietary process quantifies data from source documents (such as energy bills) and verifies the results by reviewing them with campus facilities and sustainability staff. Inputs are updated yearly, verified using a standard process, and handled using Gordian’s internal data processing tools. Emissions are calculated using the methodology established by SIMAP, formerly the Campus Carbon Calculator, which is the most commonly used tool for calculating GHG inventories across the higher education sector.
Documentation to support the GHG inventory verification process:
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Stationary combustion | 7,522.73 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources (mobile combustion, process emissions, fugitive emissions) | 466.22 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year (market-based):
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Imported electricity | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Imported thermal energy | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year:
Gross GHG emissions from biogenic sources, performance year:
Does the GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from the following sources?:
| Yes or No | Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Business travel | Yes | 14,828.17 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | Yes | 4,407.06 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | Yes | 72.08 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | No | --- |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | Yes | 1,316.68 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | Yes | 408.35 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources | No | --- |
Total Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
A brief description of how the institution accounted for its Scope 3 emissions:
Business Travel - includes all university related travel for faculty and staff, study abroad travel, and athletic (ground) travel
Commuting - includes faculty, staff, and student commuting
Purchased goods and services - includes paper purchased, excluding Airlie.
Fuel-and energy related activities includes T&D Losses
Waste generated in operations includes waste and wastewater, excluding Airlie.
Has the institution completed an inventory within the previous three years to quantify its air pollutant emissions?:
Annual weight of emissions for::
| Weight of Emissions | |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) | --- |
| Sulfur oxides (SOx) | --- |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | --- |
| Particulate matter (PM) | --- |
| Ozone (O3) | --- |
| Lead (Pb) | --- |
| Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) | --- |
| Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) | --- |
| Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations | --- |
Do the air pollutant emissions figures provided include the following sources?:
| Yes or No | |
| Major stationary sources | --- |
| Area sources | --- |
| Mobile sources | --- |
| Commuting | --- |
| Off-site electricity production | --- |
A brief description of the methodology(ies) the institution used to complete its air emissions inventory:
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity (location-based):
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy (location-based) :
Website URL where information about the institution’s emissions inventories is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Although the rest of the report excludes 3201 New Mexico Ave for operational purposes, it is included in the GHG emissions inventory.
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources = Direct Transportation + Refrigerants & Chemicals + Agriculture (CO2 MTCDE)
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions = emissions before carbon offsets have been applied, but after renewables.
For our full, official GHG emission inventory and in our reports to Second Nature, we include the farm Airlie, which AU owns. However, it is not included in the above numbers for STARS, since we have excluded it for other categories in this report.
Although the rest of the report excludes 3201 New Mexico Ave for operational purposes, it is included in the GHG emissions inventory.
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources = Direct Transportation + Refrigerants & Chemicals + Agriculture (CO2 MTCDE)
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions = emissions before carbon offsets have been applied, but after renewables.
For our full, official GHG emission inventory and in our reports to Second Nature, we include the farm Airlie, which AU owns. However, it is not included in the above numbers for STARS, since we have excluded it for other categories in this report.
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.