| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 88.13 |
| Liaison | Tonie Miyamoto |
| Submission Date | Nov. 7, 2022 |
Colorado State University
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.62 / 3.00 |
Carol
Dollard Energy Engineer Facilities Management |
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:
CSU conducts an annual GHG emissions inventory and submits reports to US EPA and Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE). CSU has been conducting this exercise since 2008 and reports through the EPA’s EGGRt on-line tool.
Between FY10 and FY17, Colorado State University utilized the Clean Air – Cool Planet Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator tool (also known as the Campus Carbon Calculator [CCC]). The CCC was the most commonly used GHG emissions calculator used by institutions of higher education. Between FY17 and FY22, CSU used an in-house tool modeled after the CCC calculator. Beginning in FY22, CSU transitioned to SIMAP (Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform) to conduct the annual GHG inventory.
Data is calculated through a variety of means including:
- Records (utility bills, airline expenses, etc.)
- Internal surveys of departments (agriculture, refrigerants, etc.)
- An annual commuter survey
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 annual GHG inventory is third party reviewed by an outside contractor. Colorado State University contracts with the Brendle Group (a local, woman-owned, sustainability consulting firm) to provide our annual GHG inventory review.
Documentation to support the GHG inventory verification process:
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Stationary combustion | 54,925.57 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources (mobile combustion, process emissions, fugitive emissions) | 12,209.73 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 | 78,877.10 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 | 8,903.28 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | Yes | 20,249.90 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 | Yes | 3,015.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | Yes | 1,362.19 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:
Air Travel - CSU Business and Financial Services provides a summary of fiscal year airfare expenses (domestic & international).
Commuting - CSU Parking & Transportation Services conducts an annual commuter survey.
Waste - Tracking from in-house waste hauling team, CSU is a self-hauling institution through its Integrated Solid Waste Program.
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) | 212 Tons |
| Sulfur oxides (SOx) | 12 Tons |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 113 Tons |
| Particulate matter (PM) | 8 Tons |
| Ozone (O3) | 0 Tons |
| Lead (Pb) | 0 Tons |
| Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) | 0 Tons |
| Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) | 0 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 | No |
| Commuting | No |
| Off-site electricity production | No |
A brief description of the methodology(ies) the institution used to complete its air emissions inventory:
Within the last three years, CSU has conducted an inventory of air pollutant emissions from the following sources:
• Major stationary sources
• Area sources
The inventory includes actual emissions from 2021 for source emissions that are required to be tracked for permitting, and potential-to-emit (PTE) amounts for emissions that are not required to be tracked.
Emissions are calculated based on fuel usage or run-time, and emission factors. Emission factors are sourced from the equipment manufacturer when available, and AP-42 when manufacturer data are not available.
CSU owns and operates numerous stationary sources of air emissions including boilers, generators and incinerators. Many of these sources are covered by an air emission permit or Air Pollution Emission Notice (APEN). CSU calculates air emissions from boilers using the type and amount of fuel consumed, and applying emission factors from AP-42 or based on manufacturer information. Emissions from generators are calculated based on actual run-time and manufacturer supplied emission factors. Incinerator emissions are estimated based on fuel type, allowable charge rate, and emission factors from AP-42.
CSU evaluates the incremental increase in air pollutants emitted with each proposed major project that represents additional air emissions, e.g. cogeneration, large biomass, etc. Some projects have been shelved due to air emissions considerations. A 342-well ground-source heat pump system was installed in 2020. That project enabled switching from natural gas heating to electricity (with a goal of 100% RE by 2030) which will improve air quality and make strides toward our GHG emissions goals.
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:
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.