Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.69
Liaison Stephanie MacPhee
Submission Date April 6, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Dalhousie University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.03 / 10.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1 

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 None
Commuting All
Purchased goods and services None
Capital goods None
Waste generated in operations None
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 None
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:
The CAN/CSA‐ISO 14064‐1‐06 Greenhouse Gases ‐ Part 1: Specification with Guidance at the Organization Level for Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Removals (Adopted ISO 14064-1:2006, first edition, 2006‐03‐01) standard was used as a framework for the GHG inventory report. Calculations were derived from The Climate Registry (TCR) ‐ General Reporting Protocol. Emission factors used were taken from TCR 2017 Default Emission Factors document and the Nova Scotia Power website.

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:
Stantec Consulting validated the GHG report methods and outline.

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

Part 2 

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 30,389 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 39,465 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 745 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 647 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 55,922 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 66,066 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 87,056 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 106,178 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 April 1, 2016 March 31, 2017
Baseline Year April 1, 2009 March 31, 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):
The baseline year (2009-2010) is used in our University Sustainability Plan to compare progressive targets to for water, energy, GHGs. This year is when accurate data could be reliably accessed.

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 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 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 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

If total performance year carbon offsets are greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
We are currently investing our focus on energy related GHG reductions on campus, in the next number of years we will be investigating carbon offsets and renewable energy off campus

The reporting fields in the table below are reserved for institutions that have NOT already accounted for renewable energy purchases (including RECs and GOs) in their Scope 2 GHG emissions calculations. Other institutions - including all SIMAP users - should report zero ('0') to avoid double-counting. 

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:
---

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 87,056 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 106,178 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,481 2,259
Number of employees resident on-site 9 9
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 5 5
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 17,610 15,685
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 5,717 5,592
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 606 160
Weighted campus users 17,668.25 16,409.75

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 4.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 6.47 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
23.85

Part 3

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
519,261 Gross square meters

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 174,030 Square meters
Healthcare space 0 Square meters
Other energy intensive space 209,301 Square meters

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
11,588,662.76 Gross square meters

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

Optional Fields 

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 11,289 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 0 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:
In the 2016-2017 fiscal year, a variety of projects were undertaken to reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate the impacts of climate change including: • implementation of major energy and water efficiency projects for the Tupper Medical Building and Student Union Building. • working with FM planners and project managers/operators to build energy and water efficiency into operational and facilities renewal. Examples of implemented projects include conversion of Sexton steam line to hot water line, thermal envelope enhancements to buildings, steam pipe insulation, and set back schedules. • re-commissioning phase 2 of a major building. • Implementing building solar pv systems on campus. • campus-wide lighting upgrades at the Agricultural campus. • implementation of bicycle parking. • participation of 300 employees in the Employee Bus Program. Dal also has a student bus pass.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
This information includes all campuses including Halifax and Agricultural campuses. The baseline year emissions were modified to include the AC campus for fair comparison as the merger to add another campus to Dalhousie happened in 2012.

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.