Franklin University Switzerland
OP-6: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Reporter |
Leslie
Tedoldi Business Officer Finance and Administration |
6.1 Greenhouse gas emissions inventory and disclosure
Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions inventory
Copy of the institution’s GHG emissions inventory:
Online location of the institution’s GHG emissions inventory:
Performance year for scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Description of the methodology or calculator used to conduct the scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions inventory:
To calculate aspects of scope 1 and 2 emissions, we self-calcuated these emissions. Most of the online calculators are specific to EU or US countries but are not designed for Switzerland.
Our methods included gathering information on the university's annual energy usage, per building. Then, we calculated the annual carbon emissions from this data using a conservation factor of .184 kg CO2/kWh (from the EPA). Then, we converted these emissions from kg to metric tons.
We followed a similar procedure in calculating carbon emissions from campus waste. The university cleaning staff provided us with the university's weekly waste (excluding resident halls). To estimate the average number of Liters of Waste produced per student each week, we conducted a 4-week survey among a two-person, 4-person, and 6-person dormitory. We took the average amount of waste collected weekly to arrive at 35 L per person. To calculate the carbon emissions, we took an average of the .7 CO2 per mg and the 1.2 CO2 per mg conversion factors. The sources that we used to obtain our conservation factors stated that waste emissions can range from .7-1.2 mg. https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gp/bgp/5_3_Waste_Incineration.pdf
Our calculations are shown in further detail in the Excel document.
Scope 1 GHG emissions
If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required:
Scope 1 GHG emissions from mobile combustion:
Scope 1 GHG process emissions:
Scope 1 GHG fugitive emissions:
Scope 2 GHG emissions
If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required:
Scope 2 GHG emissions from off-site sources of electricity (market-based):
If using a location-based or dual reporting method, the following field is also required:
Scope 2 GHG emissions from off-site sources of heating and cooling:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Biogenic emissions
If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required:
GHG emissions from biogenic sources:
Scope 3 GHG emissions
Scope 3 GHG emissions from business travel:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from commuting?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from commuting:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from capital goods?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from capital goods:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities not included in scope 1 or scope 2?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities not included in scope 1 or scope 2:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from upstream transportation and distribution?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from upstream transportation and distribution:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from waste generated in operations?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from waste generated in operations:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions in all other applicable categories identified in the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from other applicable categories identified in the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard:
If any scope 3 activities have been quantified, the following field is also required:
To calculate the CO2 emissions from business travel, we focused specifically on "Academic Travel." A unique aspect of Franklin's educational experience includes a 1-2 week travel component for each course, occurring once per semester. We calculated the total CO2 emissions from Academic Travel in Spring 2024 and Fall 2024. Many of these trips involve flying to other countries in Europe or to different continents, such as Africa and Asia. We recognize that emissions from Academic Travel are one of Franklin's highest sources of scope 3 CO2 emissions. To address this, we are working to reduce our impact through the Academic Travel Carbon Trading (ACT) Program. This program aims to calculate and find innovative ways to reduce CO2 emissions from Academic Travel.
In our calculations, we considered each course that included a trip, taking into account travel to and from the destination, transportation used during the trip, and emissions from hotel stays and smaller activities. While we acknowledge that our methods are not perfect, our data provides a solid estimate of the CO2 emissions from Academic Travel.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RKAxG-uLUwB7gsrI7N3wtnP_iibqGL7Hia4KrUBq3YQ/edit?gid=0#gid=0
To calculate our carbon emissions from commuting, we focused on daily commuting emissions, which students and faculty commute to/from campus from either dorms, off-campus apartments, or their homes. To calculate these emissions, we took data from a transportation survey sent out in the Spring of 2024, which asked about the mode of transportation students and faculty used to get to/from campus and how long the approximate distance they traveled. From this data, we estimated the CO2 emissions using standard conversion factors for the different types of transportation. Our calculations are detailed in this document:
To calculate Scope 3 GHG emissions from other applicable categories, we estimated the CO2 emissions produced by students traveling to and from Franklin University Switzerland when they return to their respective homes at the beginning and end of each semester. Since FUS is a highly international school, with students from all over the world who travel long distances each semester to arrive on campus, we felt that it is essential for us to calculate these emissions. To do so, we took the available data on the percentage of students from different geographic regions. From there, we used ChatGPT to estimate the flight's carbon emissions from these geographic regions to Switzerland. We note that our total value of 1525.996 Metric Tons of CO2 is highly estimated since we do not know the specific location of each student and exactly how they travel to campus. However, this number provides a baseline for this Scope 3 emission category. We will continue to refine our ways to calculate this value.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16c8wf8ouy9uL5VdYYyO7_XYgVKhHCLD504r-8LJdfGY/edit?usp=sharing
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
6.2 Greenhouse gas emissions per square meter
Gross floor area of building space:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following two figures:
Points earned for indicator OP 6.2:
6.3 Greenhouse gas emissions per person
Full-time equivalent of employees:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following three figures:
Annual scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per person:
Points earned for indicator OP 6.3:
6.4 Adjusted net greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon sinks
Report figures for the performance year. If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required. Non-additional sequestration does not qualify as a carbon sink for scoring purposes, but may be reported in the optional field provided.
Description of the institution’s third party certified carbon offsets:
Carbon storage from on-site composting:
Description of the institution’s carbon storage from on-site composting:
Carbon sold or transferred:
Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration on institution-owned land:
Baseline emissions
Copy of the institution’s baseline GHG emissions inventory:
Online location of the institution’s baseline GHG emissions inventory:
Baseline year for scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Narrative outlining when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
Baseline scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following four figures:
Adjusted net scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Percentage reduction in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from baseline:
Points earned for indicator OP 6.4:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.