| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.66 |
| Liaison | Amber Saxton |
| Submission Date | Feb. 22, 2024 |
George Mason University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.77 / 8.00 |
Amber
Saxton Sustainability Program Manager Office of Sustainability |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 24,573.15 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 22,437.67 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,768.18 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 2,411.62 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 33,305.25 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 36,574.57 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 | 59,646.58 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 61,423.86 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 | 15.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 14.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration | 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 | 15.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 14.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
N/A
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 59,630.88 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 61,409.46 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 | July 1, 2021 | July 1, 2018 |
| End date | June 30, 2022 | June 30, 2019 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
Fiscal year 2019 was adopted as a reset of George Mason's baseline based on the accuracy of data available. It is ambitious to reset, as per sq ft reductions are discounted from the 2006 baseline to FY2019, but for accuracy and proper assessment going forward, Mason has decided to use FY19.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 5,293 | 6,121 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 17 | 17 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 32,344 | 31,271 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 4,897 | 4,517 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 5,151 | 952 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 25,395 | 27,661.50 |
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 | 2.35 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 2.22 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 | 240,479 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 0 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 168,534 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:
Mason has pursued several small-scale solar projects as living laboratory projects led by students, as well as hired consultants to create an Energy Plan for carbon reduction to include larger-scale renewable and efficiency projects. We have worked to implement operations and maintenance practices that improve energy efficiency and automation, as well as water conservation. We have increased back-of-house composting and started front-of-house composting pilot stations. Mason also conducted a fleet management study and we are implementing recommendations like fleet car sharing, and are working toward EV transitions. We are also optimizing efficiency for waste trucks and routes by installing smart waste stations around the exterior of campus, and we have written a reduction in shipping material and trips into contract language during requests for proposal engagements with vendors. We are working with vendors to reduce waste, including food waste and wasteful single-use plastics, as well as promoting and requiring the use of materials and products that have a higher percent recycled content or greater ability to be recycled at the end of life to promote product circularity. We have also updated our Design Standards and Design Guidelines with similar language and criteria requirements for various equipment and purchased goods.
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 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.