| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.81 |
| Liaison | Ian Johnson |
| Submission Date | March 4, 2022 |
Colorado College
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.19 / 3.00 |
Michael
Brubaker Campus Operations & Plant Manger Facilities Services |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory within the previous three years that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
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:
Colorado College uses the University of New Hampshire’s SIMAP (Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform) carbon and nitrogen accounting platform. Based in partnerships with the University of Virginia and the EPA, this tool provides a comprehensive and accessible platform to maintain the GHG inventory. It is targeted specifically at colleges and universities, allowing for easy comparison with other institutions.
Each year, a paid student intern and a team of student volunteers at the Colorado College Office of Sustainability collect campus greenhouse gas emissions data from the previous fiscal year. Data collected include all direct and indirect campus emissions, or Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon and nitrogen emissions. Students compile these data into the GHG emissions inventory which is submitted to SIMAP, analyzed using its algorithms, and returned in a report that includes year-to-year comparisons.
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 GHG inventory verification process:
The GHG inventory is conducted by a lead GHG Inventory intern and volunteer team members (students) who work for the Office of Sustainability. The Sustainability Director maintains a Greenhouse Gas Inventory Quantifier certification through CSA Group (CSA Groups is the third-party oversight to ISO Standard 14064/5 that deals with quantification of greenhouse gases). The Sustainability Director reviews and validates the information collected and submitted by the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Team.
Documentation to support the GHG inventory verification process:
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Stationary combustion | 8,495.76 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources (mobile combustion, process emissions, fugitive emissions) | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year (market-based):
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Imported electricity | 51.69 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Imported thermal energy | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year:
Gross GHG emissions from biogenic sources, performance year:
Does the GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from the following sources?:
| Yes or No | Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Business travel | Yes | 753.98 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | Yes | 1,260.29 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | Yes | 337.28 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources | --- | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
A brief description of how the institution accounted for its Scope 3 emissions:
Scope 3 commuting and student travel emissions are calculated through two annual surveys, one for faculty and staff commuting and one for student travel home. Business travel and study abroad data are retrieved from the college’s Finance and Administration, and Off-Campus Study offices, respectively. Paper purchasing data comes from the Information Technology Services office and waste/wastewater data comes from Facilities Services.
Has the institution completed an inventory within the previous three years to quantify its air pollutant emissions?:
Annual weight of emissions for::
| Weight of Emissions | |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) | 0.57 Tons |
| Sulfur oxides (SOx) | 0 Tons |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 0.49 Tons |
| Particulate matter (PM) | 0.08 Tons |
| Ozone (O3) | 0 Tons |
| Lead (Pb) | 0 Tons |
| Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) | 0 Tons |
| Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) | 0.03 Tons |
| Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations | 0 Tons |
Do the air pollutant emissions figures provided include the following sources?:
| Yes or No | |
| Major stationary sources | Yes |
| Area sources | Yes |
| Mobile sources | Yes |
| Commuting | Yes |
| Off-site electricity production | Yes |
A brief description of the methodology(ies) the institution used to complete its air emissions inventory:
Calculations used to determine the heating plant’s air emissions are based upon State of Colorado adopted emission factors noted in the permit to operate conditions required by the State.
The other standard categories of air emissions that we used were VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity (location-based):
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy (location-based) :
Website URL where information about the institution’s emissions inventories is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
These numbers represent emissions from the central heating plant and do not include emissions from managed properties. The managed properties are largely heated through natural gas and electricity. These emissions are not significant nor feasible to measure at this time.
These numbers represent emissions from the central heating plant and do not include emissions from managed properties. The managed properties are largely heated through natural gas and electricity. These emissions are not significant nor feasible to measure at this time.
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.