Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 71.04
Liaison Natalie Hayes
Submission Date Oct. 19, 2023

STARS v2.2

Bentley University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 6.97 / 8.00 Natalie Hayes
Associate Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions

Gross GHG emissions

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 3,735 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 3,345.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 168 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 58 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 10,357 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 3,903 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 13,760.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Carbon sinks

Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
Performance year Baseline year
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 1,033 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 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 1,033 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

If total performance year carbon sinks are greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
VERCs were purchased through 3Degrees from Honeywell's Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent, an industrial processing emissions project. These offsets follow the reporting and verification standards of the American Carbon Registry. The contract with 3Degrees was for 100% of Bentley's directly financed air travel and study abroad program for FY2022.

Adjusted net GHG emissions

Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 2,870 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 13,760.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Performance and baseline periods

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Performance year Baseline year
Start date July 1, 2022 July 1, 2007
End date June 30, 2022 June 30, 2008

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
Bentley's climate action plan was written and completed in FY2009 using data accumulated in the years prior. FY2008 was the year in which the Office of Sustainability felt that the university had the most accurate greenhouse gas emissions data.

Part 1. Reduction in GHG emissions per person

Weighted campus users

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance year Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site 3,278 3,330
Number of employees resident on-site 11 12
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 5,312 4,989
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,047 779
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 44 0
Weighted Campus Users 5,558.50 5,161.50

Metrics used in scoring for Part 1

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 0.52 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2.67 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
80.63

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
2,200,000 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 3,500 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 5,009 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
2,212,009 Gross square feet

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
0.00 MtCO2e per square foot

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
Energy Conservation and Efficiency
GHGs from electricity use on campus have been reduced by 30% through energy efficiency measures as compared to the 2008 baseline. Facilities Management and the Office of Sustainability work together on the following initiatives:
1. Energy conservation education
2. 1 solar project for the Arena completed in 2018
3. Green Revolving Fund (GRF)

Alternative Commuting
1.The Office of Sustainability has worked to expand education and programs about carbon-free commuting and public transportation. Since FY2012 people taking these alternative commuting methods has increased by 14%.
2. TDM Study

Renewable Energy Certificates
1. Bentley purchases wind power via green-e certified renewable energy certificates equal to 100% of the university's annual electricity needs.

Carbon Offsets for Air Travel
1. Bentley purchases Verified Emission Reduction Credits to offset business and study abroad air travel.

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:
Bentley's large decrease in Scope 2 emissions is due their purchase of green-e certified renewable energy certificates equal to 100% of the university's annual electricity needs.

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.