Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 61.82 |
Liaison | Pamela Mischen |
Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
Executive Letter | Download |
Binghamton University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
6.45 / 10.00 |
Sandy
DeJohn Utilities Manager / Sustainability Coordinator Physical Facilities |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
Does the institution’s GHG emissions inventory include all, some or none of its Scope 3 GHG emissions from the following categories?:
All, Some, or None | |
Business travel | All |
Commuting | All |
Purchased goods and services | None |
Capital goods | None |
Waste generated in operations | All |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | All |
Other categories | None |
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, including how the institution accounted for each category of Scope 3 emissions reported above:
SIMAP (Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform) is used for GHG emissions inventory. SIMAP is an online version of the Campus Carbon Calculator maintained and updated by the University of New Hampshire. Scopes 1 and 2 data are collected through utility and fuel billing. Scope 3, with the exception of waste disposal, is largely estimated based on a previously conducted survey.
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 internal and/or external verification process:
Energy usage data can be verified by utility bills. Waste collection and recycling materials are weighed by a certified truck scale. Air travel emissions are calculated based on tickets purchased through campus air travel agent. Campus commute emissions are estimated based on past surveys.
Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 and Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions):
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 19,025.14 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 25,179 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,546.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 765 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 16,936.53 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 21,826 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total | 37,508.07 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 47,770 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date | End Date | |
Performance Year | July 1, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
Baseline Year | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
Binghamton University started implementing a "green revolving fund" program in 2006 to improve energy efficiency and increase campus recycling and composting rates. FY 2004-2005 was selected as the baseline to gauge our progress since the inception of our most tangible sustainability program.
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased (exclude purchased RECs/GOs) | 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 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 | 38.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Carbon offsets included above for which the emissions reductions have been sold or transferred by the institution | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Net carbon offsets | 38.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Our composting program captures dining hall pre-consumer waste and grass clipping / leaves from grounds management. The dining hall waste is collected by food services staff and composted at one of the employees' farm. Food compost is then brought back to campus for gardening and landscaping. Since the employee commutes daily to campus for work regardless if he transports the compost, we consider this operation "on-site". Grass clipping and leaves are composted on our Nature Preserves ground behind the campus.
Emissions reductions attributable to Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) or Guarantee of Origin (GO) purchases:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Emissions reductions attributable to REC/GO purchases | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:
1400 MWHs of RECs were purchased for LEED New Construction Certification. These are Green-e certified RECs produced from Windthorst-2 generator located in Texas. Based on the emission factor of 0.518342258 kg/kWh in ERCOT, the emission reduction from REC purchases is 725 Metric Tons of CO2.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 37,469.87 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 47,770 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of students resident on-site | 7,189 | 6,284 |
Number of employees resident on-site | 32 | 26 |
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 16,930 | 12,908 |
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 2,512.20 | 1,950 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 96 | 0 |
Weighted campus users | 16,314.90 | 12,721 |
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 | 2.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3.76 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 | 641,235 Square feet |
Healthcare space | 21,000 Square feet |
Other energy intensive space | 276,105 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:
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions | |
Business travel | 943.11 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Commuting | 12,283.65 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Purchased goods and services | --- |
Capital goods | --- |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Waste generated in operations | 6,792.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Other categories | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
Binghamton University discontinued burning coal in April of 2016 and switched to wood fuel (with natural gas to supplement). We continue to improve energy efficiency by lighting upgrades (from T8 fluorescent to LED) and expanding energy management system. Additionally Binghamton is part of a New York State higher education consortium called NYCARES to aggregate load for procurement of generation output from large scale off-site renewable energy project(s). Information on NYCARES will be made available when significant progress is made.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.