| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.66 |
| Liaison | Megan Litke |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
American University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
8.00 / 8.00 |
Courtney
Stoner Sustainability Analyst Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions
Gross GHG emissions
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 7,522.73 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 6,955 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 466.22 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 983 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 28,663 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Total | 7,988.95 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 36,601 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Carbon sinks
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 30,723 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 storage from on-site composting | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration | 67.16 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | --- |
| Carbon sold or transferred | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Net carbon sinks | 30,723 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
If total performance year carbon sinks are greater than zero, provide:
7,000 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalents carbon offsets were purchased to offset our Scope 3 study abroad emissions. AU invested in the Paradigm Project, an endeavor that benefits communities in Africa by empowering women, providing jobs for women, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through reduced deforestation. AU's investment in the carbon offsets from this project enables the Paradigm Project to offer financial assistance to families in Kenya to help pay for wood-burning cook stoves as well as to help expand the Paradigm Project's distribution channels. The stoves are designed to burn wood efficiently thereby reducing the amount of firewood the women in the community will need to collect as well as improving indoor air quality for families. The contract term is from 1/1/2017-12/31/2019 (the offsets are for FY17, FY18, and FY19).
6,500 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalents carbon offsets were purchased in FY18 to offset our Scope 3 commuting emissions. AU invested in the planting of 650 trees planted annually in DC through Urban Offsets and in partnership with the Anacostia Watershed Society. Emissions from commuting are offset through local tree plantings in DC with the Anacostia Watershed Society and Urban Offsets. These local offsets align with the local commuting emissions being created by students, faculty, and staff traveling to and from AU. While the trees are growing large enough to become verified offsets, AU also uses offsets from wind power in India to match emissions from commuting. The contract term is FY18 through FY20.
11,000 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalents carbon offsets were purchased in FY18 to offset Scope 1 emissions and Scope 3 landfilled waste emissions through investment in landfill gas capture and use. Landfill gas capture projects turn garbage into power. As organic waste breaks down without oxygen, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Through the installation of gas collection and control systems, these projects result in the destruction of powerful greenhouse gases, and the gas can be burned in a generator to create renewable electricity. The contract term is for FY18-FY19.
3,000 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalents carbon offsets were purchased in FY18 to offset university-related travel and emissions from Airlie, the farm. These offsets, also through Terrapass, are for efficient trucking technologies and additional landfill gas flaring.
An additional 3,223 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalents carbon offsets were purchased from Hernando County Landfill Electric Generation.
The figure under "Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration" is from compost, but does not come back on-site to campus.
6,500 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalents carbon offsets were purchased in FY18 to offset our Scope 3 commuting emissions. AU invested in the planting of 650 trees planted annually in DC through Urban Offsets and in partnership with the Anacostia Watershed Society. Emissions from commuting are offset through local tree plantings in DC with the Anacostia Watershed Society and Urban Offsets. These local offsets align with the local commuting emissions being created by students, faculty, and staff traveling to and from AU. While the trees are growing large enough to become verified offsets, AU also uses offsets from wind power in India to match emissions from commuting. The contract term is FY18 through FY20.
11,000 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalents carbon offsets were purchased in FY18 to offset Scope 1 emissions and Scope 3 landfilled waste emissions through investment in landfill gas capture and use. Landfill gas capture projects turn garbage into power. As organic waste breaks down without oxygen, it releases methane, a greenhouse gas 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Through the installation of gas collection and control systems, these projects result in the destruction of powerful greenhouse gases, and the gas can be burned in a generator to create renewable electricity. The contract term is for FY18-FY19.
3,000 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalents carbon offsets were purchased in FY18 to offset university-related travel and emissions from Airlie, the farm. These offsets, also through Terrapass, are for efficient trucking technologies and additional landfill gas flaring.
An additional 3,223 Metric Tons of CO2 equivalents carbon offsets were purchased from Hernando County Landfill Electric Generation.
The figure under "Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration" is from compost, but does not come back on-site to campus.
Adjusted net GHG emissions
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 36,601 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Performance and baseline periods
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Start date | July 1, 2018 | May 1, 2004 |
| End date | June 30, 2019 | April 30, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
The GHG emissions baseline was set in FY05.
Part 1. Reduction in GHG emissions per person
Weighted campus users
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 4,140 | 3,200 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 14 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 13,452 | 10,000 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 2,910 | 2,500 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,057 | 0 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 12,517.25 | 10,175 |
Metrics used in scoring for Part 1
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
100
Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area
Performance year floor area
410,257.33
Gross square meters
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor area | |
| Laboratory space | 1,947.25 Square meters |
| Healthcare space | 246.47 Square meters |
| Other energy intensive space | 7,823.73 Square meters |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
422,468.50
Gross square meters
Metric used in scoring for Part 2
0
MtCO2e per square meter
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
AU uses a variety of strategies to reduce GHG emissions.
Firstly, efficiency strategies and engagement initiatives have decreased our energy use per square foot.
Second, AU purchases renewable energy credits and developed onsite and offsite renewable energy to match 100% of the electricity used on campus. "Gross emissions" refers to emissions before carbon offsets have been applied to scopes 1 and 3, but after RECs and other renewables have been applied to scope 2. For scope 2, ~50% of our electricity is matched with RECs, and ~50% comes from our off-site solar in North Carolina. Therefore, Scope 2 emissions is "0" here. See OP-6 for the clean and renewable electricity sources.
Finally, The remaining emissions have been offset (see description of carbon sinks).
Gross scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources were reduced by more than 50% from the baseline year, due to things like changing the shuttle fuel to biodiesel, and using an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy in grounds.
Firstly, efficiency strategies and engagement initiatives have decreased our energy use per square foot.
Second, AU purchases renewable energy credits and developed onsite and offsite renewable energy to match 100% of the electricity used on campus. "Gross emissions" refers to emissions before carbon offsets have been applied to scopes 1 and 3, but after RECs and other renewables have been applied to scope 2. For scope 2, ~50% of our electricity is matched with RECs, and ~50% comes from our off-site solar in North Carolina. Therefore, Scope 2 emissions is "0" here. See OP-6 for the clean and renewable electricity sources.
Finally, The remaining emissions have been offset (see description of carbon sinks).
Gross scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources were reduced by more than 50% from the baseline year, due to things like changing the shuttle fuel to biodiesel, and using an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy in grounds.
Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Although the floor area of building space excludes 3201 New Mexico Ave, the emissions inventory does not exclude this space in the calculations.
Emissions from Airlie are not included in this STARS report, but we include Airlie in our annual GHG reporting to Second Nature.
AU became the first university to achieve Carbon Neutrality in 2018.
Emissions from Airlie are not included in this STARS report, but we include Airlie in our annual GHG reporting to Second Nature.
AU became the first university to achieve Carbon Neutrality in 2018.
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.