Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.96
Liaison Stephanie Corbett
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Case Western Reserve University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.34 / 10.00 Stephanie Corbett
Director
Energy & Sustainability
"---" 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 Some
Capital goods Some
Waste generated in operations All
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 All
Other categories Some

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 Cool Planet Calculator tool has been historically used. Student interns have led the data collection efforts annually, working with the Director of Sustainability.
In FY17, consultants led the data collection and validation efforts, working closely with the Director of Sustainability. This was undertaken to validate historical data and improve the data collection rigor and make the work a part of business as usual at the institution.
Business travel data is collected in the form of dollars spent on air travel and ground travel (including athletics), and converting to miles using an online calculator.
A commuter survey was conducted in FY16 and FY17 with about 2,000 respondents from which the commuting data was newly extracted.
Within purchased goods, paper consumption is included.
The Assistant Director of Sustainability prepares all waste-related data by working with vendors on campus and compiling the data.
T&D losses are calculated using SIMAP and included in the inventory.


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:

The FY17 inventory was validated by Sightlines. A consultant team reviewed historical data and contacted each campus business unit to review data collection protocol and procedures.


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 731 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 4,466 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 1,822 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 14,852 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 65,420 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 88,089 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 48,160 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 62,993 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Total 116,133 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 170,400 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, 2016 June 30, 2017
Baseline Year July 1, 2008 June 30, 2009

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):

President Snyder signed the ACUPCC in 2008, the baseline was adopted for the following year, FY 09


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 22.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 125.40 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 22.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 125.40 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):

Compost weight is the sum of what is produced on main campus as well as the University Farm, using a standard volume to weight conversion.


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:
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Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 116,110.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 170,274.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 4,017 3,000
Number of employees resident on-site 24 15
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 7 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 10,820 8,449
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 4,501 5,044
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 282 0
Weighted campus users 12,296.50 10,873.50

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 9.44 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 15.66 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
39.70

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
8,499,923 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 920,400 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 0 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
10,340,723 Gross square feet

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

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel 11,495 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 9,491 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 487 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 3,421 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:

CWRU has invested heavily into mechanical system upgrades and lighting retrofits since the signing of the Presidents Climate Commitment in 2008, including phasing out the need for heating oil on campus. In conjunction with improvements to the electric grid, electric efficiency has increased while electricity emissions have declined over the last 10 years. The steam CWRU purchased historically was sourced entirely from coal, but in FY2017 switched to natural gas, which caused an emissions reduction as well. There were fewer degree days in FY2015-16, which Facilities was able to take advantage of when heating and cooling buildings.

Furthermore, better data tracking for data elements such as refrigerants and fertilizer has brought the GHG inventory closer to reality. Back in FY2009, information provided were estimates from people within Facilities.


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:

There is a significant change in scope 1&2 emissions from baseline to current. This data has been third-party validated. A great deal of work has been done and investments made on campus to make buildings more efficient and to reduce the energy intensity of campus.


There is a significant change in scope 1&2 emissions from baseline to current. This data has been third-party validated. A great deal of work has been done and investments made on campus to make buildings more efficient and to reduce the energy intensity of campus.

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.