Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 61.82
Liaison Pamela Mischen
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Binghamton University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 6.45 / 10.00 Sandy DeJohn
Utilities Manager / Sustainability Coordinator
Physical Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
Yes

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?:
Yes

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:
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Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 and Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions):
Yes

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:
38.84

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
6,417,785 Gross square feet

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:
8,018,360 Gross square feet

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

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:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.