Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.62
Liaison Michael Kensler
Submission Date Jan. 11, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Auburn University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.06 / 10.00 Amy Strickland
Program Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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

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 No
Waste generated in operations Yes

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

A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:

Auburn University utilizes the Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator to complete its inventory. Data for the inventory is gathered by the Office of Sustainability from units/departments across campus.


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?:
No

A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:

NA


Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 30,981.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 22,358.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 9,866.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 6,603.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 121,476 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 118,400.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

NA


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

NA


A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:

NA


A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:

NA


Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 4,608 2,611
Number of residential employees 0 0
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 23,436 22,438
Full-time equivalent of employees 5,039 4,612
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 383 320

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Oct. 1, 2013 Sept. 30, 2014
Baseline Year Oct. 1, 2007 Sept. 30, 2008

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:

2008 serves as the baseline year for our Climate Action Plan, and therefore, is the year against which our reduction goals have also been established. In addition, it is the first year where we have a satisfactory level of confidence in our data collection and results.


Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
11,726,647 Square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 344,450 Square feet
Healthcare space 42,861 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 1,283,678 Square feet

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
Emissions
Business travel 130,121.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 7,742.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services ---
Capital goods ---
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 8,001.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 15,620 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories (please specify below) 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":

NA


A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
---

The website URL where the GHG emissions inventory is posted:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:

The Climate Action Plan for the university guides our efforts, and makes purchased electricity, on-campus combustion, commuting, funded travel, and fleet composition our key areas of focus. Our primary efforts have been in relation to energy reduction, including retro-commissioning, lighting upgrades, and system efficiencies. We have also started preliminary feasibility studies for combined heat and power, as well as solar. Other efforts have focused on transportation options for students and employees, and include the implementation of buses, carpool portal, carsharing, and bike sharing. Many smaller initiatives are taking place across campus that contribute to ghg reduction efforts.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Scope 3 Commuter Emissions also include Scope 1 Direct Transportation Emissions, given the Scope 1 section includes the fuel use for the campus-supported bus transit system, which is heavily utilized by students for commuting.


Scope 3 Commuter Emissions also include Scope 1 Direct Transportation Emissions, given the Scope 1 section includes the fuel use for the campus-supported bus transit system, which is heavily utilized by students for commuting.

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.