| Overall Rating | Platinum - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 88.14 |
| Liaison | Tonie Miyamoto |
| Submission Date | Dec. 6, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Colorado State University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.06 / 10.00 |
Carol
Dollard Energy Engineer Facilities Management |
"---"
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 | Some |
| 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:
An in-house model patterned after Clean Air Cool Planet (CACP) was used as the tool. New Efficiency Factors (EF) are used as they become available.
Data was calculated through a variety of means including:
- records (utility bills, airline expenses, etc.)
- internal surveys of departments (agriculture, refrigerants, etc.)
- a commuter survey
CSU is a land grant institution and has a number of remote campuses with significant agricultural livestock. The EFs for those animals include "manure management", so if the manure is used for compost on the same campus where it is generated (i.e. manure is spread on crops), then no credit for compost nor penalty for organic fertilizer is used. If the manure is turned to compost and moved/sold offsite, then it is counted as compost. If manure/compost is brought onto our campuses from other sites then it is counted as organic fertilizer.
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:
Colorado State University utilizes the Brendle Group (a local consulting firm) to provide our annual GHG inventory review.
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):
Yes
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 59,500 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 60,600 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 14,500 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 6,940 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 106,100 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 109,500 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 | 180,100 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 177,040 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, 2018 | June 30, 2019 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2009 | June 30, 2010 |
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):
FY10 was the year that CSU developed their first Climate Action Plan (CAP) and established a timeline for carbon neutrality.
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased (exclude purchased RECs/GOs) | 285 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 | 929.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 123.10 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 | 1,214.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 123.10 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):
Food and animal bedding waste is composted in an in-vessel composter and has been growing substantially since the performance year. Windrow composting was added in 2018 increasing compost substantially.
Certified emissions offsets were purchased in conjunction with the Corbett Parmalee remodel project.
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 | 41,644.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,915.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:
GreenE certified RECs were purchased to offset over 20% of academic building electricity use, for several LEED building projects, and 100% of electricity use in Housing and Dining Services. These REC purchases are included in the GHG inventory, but are not subtracted from the gross Scope 2 emissions above. The sources of our RECs are third party REC vendors. The university only purchases GreenE certified RECs. A detailed list of REC purchases can be requested via email carol.dollard@colostate.edu
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 137,241.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 173,001.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 7,871 | 5,343 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 31 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 642 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 28,846 | 24,304.90 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 6,937 | 3,672 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 3,012 | 2,879 |
| Weighted campus users | 27,195.75 | 20,159.18 |
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 | 5.05 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 8.58 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
41.20
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
12,359,438
Gross square feet
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 2,268,422 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 240,513 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 1,891,733 Square feet |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
19,269,041
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 | 20,130 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 15,700 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 | 3,800 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 1,100 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:
CSU established a CAP in FY10. Since that time total GHG emissions have been reduced by 23%. GHG emissions per GSF are down 37% and GHG emissions per student are down 47%
In January 2017, Colorado State signed the Climate Reality Pledge – committing the university to 100% renewable electricity by 2030. Since that time, local utilities have also committed to this same goal.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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.