Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.95
Liaison Susan Powers
Submission Date Feb. 12, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Clarkson University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.50 / 10.00 Susan Powers
Director of the Institute for a Sustainable Environment
ISE
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Yes

Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 3 GHG emissions from any of the following categories?:
Yes or No
Business travel Yes
Commuting Yes
Purchased goods and services Yes
Capital goods No
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 Yes
Waste generated in operations Yes

Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from other categories?:
No

A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:

CACP website used, except for electricity for which emission factors for our specific mix of electricity sources (purchased and on-site generation) were used


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?:
No

A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:

N/A


Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 9,663 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 8,997 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 246 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 412 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 4,966 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 4,525 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets::
Performance Year Baseline Year
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
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the institution-catalyzed carbon offsets program:

N/A


A brief description of the carbon sequestration program and reporting protocol used:

N/A


A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:

N/A


A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:

N/A


Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 2,479 2,172
Number of residential employees 1 1
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 3,711 3,095
Full-time equivalent of employees 747 567
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 147 50

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2014 June 30, 2015
Baseline Year July 1, 2004 June 30, 2005

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:

The baseline year was adopted per the requirements of earlier STARS reporting


Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
1,700,033 Square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 157,227 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 0 Square feet

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
Emissions
Business travel 2,360 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 971 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 32 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 2 298 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories (please specify below) 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":
---

A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
---

The website URL where the GHG emissions inventory is posted:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:

Significant changes in our electricity sources, including on-site solar PV and village hydroelectric reduced our average emission factor for electricity consumed. Many lighting projects completed to reduce wattage and a new district chilling project still under construction will provide higher efficiency and more effective temperature control in our entire academic core of buildings. Efforts at BIRE include geothermal heat pump heating and cooling, solar hot water and innovative air flow system for ventilation and cooling.
Spring 2016 will complete our draft climate action plan


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The GHG inventory is highly sensitive to sources of electricity. We have quantified the specific sources of our electricity to most accurately estimate appropriate emission factors. Details are included in the attached report.


The GHG inventory is highly sensitive to sources of electricity. We have quantified the specific sources of our electricity to most accurately estimate appropriate emission factors. Details are included in the attached report.

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.