| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.91 |
| Liaison | Elizabeth Swiman |
| Submission Date | Dec. 19, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Florida State University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.74 / 10.00 |
Jackie
Bucheck Lab Prog/Air Resources Manager Central Utilities Plan |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
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 | None |
| 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:
Information is gathered from environmental, fuel usage, transportation, and utility bill reports and consolidated via a proprietary tool to complete a final EPA GHG report. The factors used for Scope 1 calculations are the accepted methods by the Federal GHG reporting tool. Scope 2 techniques are largely consistent with other common calculation tools. Scope 3 emissions are not currently calculated.
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 internal and/or external verification process:
A third party energy contractor under contract at FSU, Cenergistic, also calculates GHG emissions via EnergyCap, an energy management software system. EnergyCAP pulls quantities of fuels purchased (natural gas & fuel oil #5) from FSU billing usage and calculates what the GHG emissions would be if those fuels were burned in FSU boilers. The GHG calculations from EnergyCap matched that of FSU’s internal GHG calculation.
Additionally, all final GHG calculations were reviewed by Maintenance Engineers to verify accuracy of the data.
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):
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 26,221.05 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 23,832.10 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 223.98 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 0 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 127,421.31 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 111,544.21 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 | 153,866.34 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 135,376.31 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, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2007 | June 30, 2008 |
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):
FSU’s most accurate set of GHG records begin in FY 2007/08.
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 |
A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
N/A
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:
N/A
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 153,866.34 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 135,376.31 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 6,733 | 6,296 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 12 | 22 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 35,340 | 28,157 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 6,670 | 6,645 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 2,461 | 1,190.80 |
| Weighted campus users | 31,348 | 26,787.90 |
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 | 4.91 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 5.05 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 |
1,271,017
Square Feet
Date Revised: July 24, 2019
|
| Healthcare space |
58,689
Square Feet
Date Revised: July 24, 2019
|
| Other energy intensive space | 226,854 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:
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Emissions | |
| Business travel | --- |
| Commuting | --- |
| Purchased goods and services | --- |
| Capital goods | --- |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | --- |
| Waste generated in operations | --- |
| Other categories | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
FSU’s GHG reduction program and energy conservation program go hand in hand. While the campus has grown, FSU has reduced energy use and GHG per square foot significantly when compared to the baseline year.
As of 2017, FSU has hired a dedicated staff member to implement a Laboratory Air Change Reduction program in research laboratories targeted at reducing energy waste due to HVAC service. FSU research buildings consume about 38% of energy on campus, with an estimated 70% being attributable to special exhaust and HVAC systems. Additionally, laboratory spaces are, on average, unoccupied for 75% of each day. FSU’s Laboratory Air Change Reduction Program aims to reduce this wasted HVAC energy and has been implemented in two out of about 35 research buildings. The program will continue to expand, with an estimated completion date in 2020.
FSU’s Utilities provider, City of Tallahassee, completed a 20MW solar farm in 2017. FSU committed to purchasing 60% of the commercial allocation of the solar farm, which makes FSU the largest single consumer of solar energy from City of Tallahassee. The next phase 40MW solar farm is to be completed in 2019, at which point FSU will be 10% powered by solar energy.
As of 2017, FSU has hired a staff member to improve and implement the Refrigerant Management Program aimed at reducing the emission of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have a capacity to warm the atmosphere that is 1,000-13,000 times greater than CO2. Not only has the program significantly reinforced EPA compliance for FSU technicians, but it has additionally required and enforced compliance for third party contractors.
In 2017, Florida State University entered into a multiyear contract with Cenergistic LLC to build a customized energy conservation program. The program goals include conserving energy, saving dollars the university can reinvest, preserving a quality learning environment for students, and increasing awareness to empower energy users to be energy savers. The agreement includes a shared responsibility concept in which Cenergistic provides extensive resources, education and on-site training, and action planning that FSU will incorporate into an updated energy conservation program.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support 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.