Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 38.32
Liaison Rachelanne Knoll
Submission Date March 30, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Eastern Kentucky University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.55 / 10.00 Debbie Namugayi
Sustainability Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" 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 Some
Capital goods Some
Waste generated in operations All
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 All
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:

EKU uses a customized version of the Campus Carbon Calculator that eliminates information tabs that are not applicable to the University and enhances the precision by using local data related to utilities grid mix and other emissions factors.

Scope 3 emissions were pooled from the following sources:

Commuting - quantified via extrapolation from a robust transportation survey completed by 10% of the total campus community

Directly Financed Travel - quantified by mileage, mode of transportation, and cost information from EKU Procard purchases and local fuel providers.

Study Abroad Air Travel - calculated from total number of students traveling abroad and air mileage to each destination (2 way).

Student Travel (non-communter) - estimates calculated from transportation survey

Solid Waste - calculated from total waste weight sent to landfill and type of landfill facility. Facility recovers methane for energy use.

Wastewater - figure in gallons, provided directly from sewage bill

Paper Purchasing - calculated from the approximate weight of all paper purchases made by the University and the average recycled content of all paper purchases.

Scope 2 T&D Losses - from factors applied to electricity purchasing


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:

Greenhouse gas emissions inventory data was collected internally and shared with a third party consultant, Moore Ventures, Inc. for compilation and review. Results were then vetted with a small Climate Action Plan committee consisting of 5 active University employees spanning facilities, academics, and administration. The credentials of Moore Ventures, Inc. can be found at the end of the EKU Climate Action Plan Report.


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 15,403 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 20,847 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 1,742 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2,467 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 59,912 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 65,506 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 77,057 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 88,820 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, 2016 June 30, 2017
Baseline Year July 1, 2010 June 30, 2014

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):

EKU developed a comprehensive Climate Action Plan in 2016 with a target set for achieving carbon neutrality by 2036. An annual average baseline for greenhouse gas emissions was calculated using available data spanning four fiscal years (July 1, 2010 - June 30th, 2014). This calculation was performed using the Campus Carbon Calculator tool. We selected this baseline since all relevant emissions data was available, but no previous carbon accounting had been conducted nor had there been any concerted effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus. The four-year period provides an excellent snapshot of business as usual at the University prior to our commitment of achieving carbon neutrality.


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 8,756 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 8,756 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 8,756 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 8,756 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):

EKU owns 2402 acres of forested land, which was evaluated by Scott Strouse, Forestry Program Manager, Mountain Association for Community Economic Development and projected to have a carbon sequestration rate of 3.3 MTCO2e per acre. Campus Grass, Shrub, Turf areas comprising 397 acres were estimated to sequester 1 MTCO2e per acre per year, and EKU's farmland of 720 acres was estimated to sequester 0.6 MTCO2e per acre per year based off of studies conducted by the University of Missouri. This equates to a carbon offset total of 8,755.6 MTCO2e annually. (http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G310)


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 68,301 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 80,064 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 4,513 4,130
Number of employees resident on-site 20 20
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 26 6
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 13,789 11,712.50
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 2,577 2,561.75
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,833 1,572.25
Weighted campus users 12,059 10,570

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 5.66 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 7.57 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
25.23

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
5,403,504 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 40,485 Square feet
Healthcare space 4,060 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 64,035.63 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
5,556,629.63 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 2,590 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 11,639 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 261 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Capital goods ---
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 5,925 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 31 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories 6,946 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:

EKU signed the Second Nature Climate Commitment in Oct. 2015, and developed its first Climate Action & Resiliency Plan in Feb. 2017. The following efforts have been made in the past three years to reduce EKU's carbon footprint:

Switched all University printers to mandatory double sided printing.
Made over $500,000 of steamline repairs.
Developed the growing "Photons for the Future!" solar PV & scholarship program.
Implemented a summer energy savings schedule for all on campus employees to reduce energy usage during peak cooling times.
Expanded the "Big E Transit" shuttle bus routes.
Implemented LimeBike dockless bikeshare on campus.
Engaged in relationship with UCapture to offset emissions associated with purchasing.


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:

Meagan Murray - Institutional Research
Bill Rhodes - Facilities Services


Meagan Murray - Institutional Research
Bill Rhodes - Facilities Services

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.