| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.69 |
| Liaison | Laurie Husted |
| Submission Date | June 8, 2020 |
Bard College
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.36 / 8.00 |
Dan
Smith Energy Efficiency Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 3,797.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,956.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 736.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 687.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 2,214.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 4,872.90 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 | 6,748.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 9,517.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 0 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 | 62.92 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 89.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | --- |
| Carbon sold or transferred | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Net carbon sinks | 62.92 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 89.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Carbon offsets include composting (on average) 214 short tons of food waste on-site.
Although we have made this tonnage constant across the years (based on a RecycleMania audit), the carbon sink value in 2011 (-89.9) MT eCO2 was reduced by SIMAP in 2019 (-62.92) MT eCO2.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 6,685.78 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 9,427.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Start date | July 1, 2018 | July 1, 2010 |
| End date | June 30, 2019 | June 30, 2011 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
FY2010/11 is the earliest data set for GHG emissions and energy consumption that we deem accurate and reliable.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 1,325.50 | 1,428 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 30 | 30 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 40 | 40 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 1,959.80 | 2,025.50 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 963 | 710 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 2,570.98 | 2,456.13 |
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user | 2.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3.84 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor area | |
| Laboratory space | 84,482 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 2,500 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 0 Square feet |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
For Scope 1&2 emissions, Bard strives to upgrade existing buildings for energy efficiency (i.e. retrofit lighting, insulation, HVAC controls and equipment, etc) and to construct new buildings that are comparatively more efficient than conventional new construction. Likewise, much of Scope 2 emissions can be attributed to "greening" of the regional electric grid, which has seen large conversion to natural gas-burning facilities and renewables.
For Scope 3 emissions, Bard strives to improve Transportation Demand management to reduce Commuter emissions, and to purchase goods and services that are comparatively more sustainable than conventional counterparts.
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:
All categories and values input to GHG calculator were collected and vetted as best as possible.
There has been some fidelity issues over the years as GHG calculators are either discontinued/switched or updated internally. Updates to SIMAP emissions factors from ver.2017 to ver.2019 has generally led to downward trends (presumably as products and processes become "greener"). This is especially noticeable in Scope 2 Purchased Electricity, where NYS efforts to displace the dirtiest power generation with natural gas and renewables has led to downstream benefit-- reducing weights by nearly 30%.
Where Scope 1&2 values have a high degree of confidence (i.e. from utility and fuel billing), Scope 3 values generally carry a higher degree of uncertainty-- documents from various departments may be inaccurate or incomplete. In particular, business air travel
records are very difficult to collect and quantify, due to the many possible ways for employees to book travel (including Travel
Accounts, or personal purchase and reimbursement). Emissions from student and employee commuting are gathered via a Commuting
Behavior Survey, and is only as good as the feedback provided (though values can be considered a "good estimate").
All categories and values input to GHG calculator were collected and vetted as best as possible.
There has been some fidelity issues over the years as GHG calculators are either discontinued/switched or updated internally. Updates to SIMAP emissions factors from ver.2017 to ver.2019 has generally led to downward trends (presumably as products and processes become "greener"). This is especially noticeable in Scope 2 Purchased Electricity, where NYS efforts to displace the dirtiest power generation with natural gas and renewables has led to downstream benefit-- reducing weights by nearly 30%.
Where Scope 1&2 values have a high degree of confidence (i.e. from utility and fuel billing), Scope 3 values generally carry a higher degree of uncertainty-- documents from various departments may be inaccurate or incomplete. In particular, business air travel
records are very difficult to collect and quantify, due to the many possible ways for employees to book travel (including Travel
Accounts, or personal purchase and reimbursement). Emissions from student and employee commuting are gathered via a Commuting
Behavior Survey, and is only as good as the feedback provided (though values can be considered a "good estimate").
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.