| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.71 |
| Liaison | Keisha Payson |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bowdoin College
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
9.83 / 10.00 |
Keisha
Payson Sustainability Director Facilities Mgmt |
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 | Some |
| 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 | Some |
| 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:
The data collected and reported comes from actual utility invoices and metered consumption data with the exception of airline travel and employee commute. Our Financial Analyst provided gallons of gasoline purchased, #2 oil purchased, MMbtu of NG purchased, and kwh purchased for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. For scope 3 emissions, company travel was calculated by dollars spent on airline travel gathered from the Controller's Office. Airline travel was calculated based on a dollar amount spent on travel using figures from airlines.org. Based on the Department of Transportation data in 2017, we used $0.1527 cents per mile. Emissions based on College owned vehicles was based on purchased gallons of gasoline. For employee commuting data, employee commute distances were calculated by comparing workplace location to paycheck zip code and dividing this distance by national carpooling averages. Also included in this calculation was employee job class (i.e., part time academic year, full time academic year, part time year round, full time year round, etc. ) The mileage data was then multiplied by the regional fuel economy to generate the gallons of gasoline and diesel used. The adjusted mileage data was converted to GHG emissions using the NOV 2015 EPA guidance for gasoline passenger vehicle emissions per mile.
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:
Bowdoin contracts with a local energy consultant to complete its annual GHG Emissions Report.This report breaks down the college's total emissions into measurements of the sources of Scope 1, 2, & 3, while providing historical data and future predictions to guide the college's reduction goals.
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 | 8,575 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 9,924 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 709 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 390.79 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 2,630 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 6,583.68 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 | 11,914 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 16,898.47 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):
We chose 2005 as the baseline year in order to be consistent with previous STARS submissions.
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased (exclude purchased RECs/GOs) | 9,790 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 | 0 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 | 9,790 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):
Climate Action Reserve certified carbon offsets from the Mt. Carberry Landfill in Berlin, NH.
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 | 13,221.62 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:
One REC represents the environmental benefits of 1-megawatt hour (MWh) of renewable electricity generated and delivered to the power grid. By purchasing these products, we alone have the right to all associated claims about the environmental benefits it embodies. Bonneville Environmental Foundation RECs may be sourced from new wind, solar, biomass and qualifying hydoelectric facilities, although those in the contract with Bowdoin specify wind facilities in Texas. The contract is for two years, with an annual purchase of 17,771 RECS (17,771,000 kWh equivalent) from Bonneville Environmental Foundation. These RECs are not counted in Scope 2 (above) as renewable energy, only here as RECs. The reduction in Scope 2 above between the baseline year and the performance year is due to reduced kWh consumption as well as a greener electric grid - not due to any REC purchase.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 16,898.47 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 1,634 | 1,581 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 25 | 22 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 22 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 1,814 | 1,701 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 928 | 704 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 2,493.25 | 2,204.50 |
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 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 7.67 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 | 98,315 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 9,194 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 169,029 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 | 724 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 1,373 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 158 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 0 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:
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.