| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.00 |
| Liaison | Ciannat Howett |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
Emory University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.43 / 8.00 |
Kelly
Weisinger Director Office of Sustainability Initiatives |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 50,338.74 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 59,266.02 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 4,540.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 10,913.03 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 137,124.08 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 189,925.41 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Total | 192,003.32 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 260,104.46 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 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 storage from on-site composting | 93.89 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 209.16 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon sold or transferred | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Net carbon sinks | 93.89 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 209.16 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
As of 2019, Emory University did not utilize offsets as part of its GHG emissions reductions strategy. The carbon accounting industry does not require onsite composting to be a verified offset, therefore information on “vendor, project source, verification program, and contract timeframes” as requested is not best practice nor required for onsite compost programs in GHG emissions inventories. Onsite composting meets the accounting best practices for offsets because baseline scenarios are known, composting programs are additional, there are no negative secondary effects, there is no risk of reversibility, and it is not double-counted. Emory composts onsite a small amount of landscaping materials.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 191,909.43 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 259,895.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Start date | Sept. 1, 2018 | Sept. 1, 2009 |
| End date | Aug. 31, 2019 | Aug. 31, 2010 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
GHG emissions reporting began in the year FY2010, with 2005 as the original baseline year, and subsequent inventories were conducted in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2019.
In 2019, Emory’s Sustainability Vision Committee proposed an update to Emory’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals to mirror the latest scientific evidence and recommendations of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The scientific evidence shows that in order to mitigate global warming to a 1.5 degree Celsius increase or below, net anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases must decrease 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, and reach net zero emissions by 2050. In light of this evidence, Emory leadership approved an update to Emory’s baseline inventory year to 2010 and its GHG reduction targets to match.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 4,479 | 4,190 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 16 | 27 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 712 | 671 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 15,214 | 12,724 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 16,664 | 10,183 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 85 | 0 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 25,680.50 | 18,905.50 |
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 | 7.47 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 13.75 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor area | |
| Laboratory space | 2,678,208 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 2,229,724 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 1,121,081 Square feet |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
Emory's Sustainability Vision outline goals for 50% total energy use reduction by 2025 from a 2015 baseline, and GHG emissions reductions to match the IPCC's recommendations to achieve 40% reduction by 2050 and net neutral emissions by 2050. Even as Emory University and Emory Healthcare continue to grow, Emory surpassed its goal to reduce energy consumption on campus by 20% by 2020. Emory is making progress toward its new goals through careful monitoring, strategic operations, innovative technology in constructed buildings, and behavior change. Since 2015, Emory has implemented combined heat and power technology in its steam plant, added rooftop solar to four buildings (and counting), employed geothermal energy technology in its first LEED platinum building, and has participating in national best practices and employed policies to reduce energy consumption onsite. Additionally, Emory offers incentives to reduce single-occupancy-vehicle commuting and provides an on-campus experience conducive to sustainable commute modes. More information on energy strategies can be found at https://sustainability.emory.edu/initiatives/energy/.
Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The data provided in this credit is based off of GHG Emissions Inventory conducted for FY 2010 and FY 2019. One estimation was made for weighted campus users because of lack of data: family members resident onsite as part of "other individuals" was estimated as 9, taking into consideration the ratio of onsite residential employees and family members from surrounding years.
Emory's GHG Emissions Inventory includes the adjacent Emory Healthcare System and scientific research facilities, with the goal in mind to promote sustainability efforts across the whole Emory institution. The decision to include these energy intensive facilities significantly contributes to the carbon emissions levels inventoried.
The data provided in this credit is based off of GHG Emissions Inventory conducted for FY 2010 and FY 2019. One estimation was made for weighted campus users because of lack of data: family members resident onsite as part of "other individuals" was estimated as 9, taking into consideration the ratio of onsite residential employees and family members from surrounding years.
Emory's GHG Emissions Inventory includes the adjacent Emory Healthcare System and scientific research facilities, with the goal in mind to promote sustainability efforts across the whole Emory institution. The decision to include these energy intensive facilities significantly contributes to the carbon emissions levels inventoried.
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.