Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 54.23
Liaison Jeff Jeremiason
Submission Date Nov. 30, 2021

STARS v2.2

Gustavus Adolphus College
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.32 / 8.00 Chuck Niederriter
Co-Director of the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation, Professor of Physics and Environmental Studies
Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 8,524 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 7,109 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 377 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 306 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 8,510 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 11,596 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 17,411 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 19,011 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 67.99 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration --- ---
Carbon sold or transferred 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Net carbon sinks 67.99 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):

For onsite composting: calculated the MTCO2 equivalent by converting the 162,240 lbs produced in a year to CO2 stored (using this calculator https://naturbag.com/food-scrap-calculator/) = 149,895 pounds of carbon stored, which = 67.99 MTCO2 equivalent.

There is carbon sequestration on institution-owned land (prairie and woodlands in the Arboretum) but we do not have data for it.


Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 17,343.01 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 19,011 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 June 1, 2018 June 1, 2011
End date June 1, 2019 June 1, 2011

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:

The baseline year of 2011 was chosen since during this year Gustavus officially joined the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. This year also marked when the “Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan” created by the director of the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation was accepted by the Board of Trustees.


Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance year Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site 2,234 2,362
Number of employees resident on-site 5 5
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 2,213 2,341
Full-time equivalent of employees 585 649
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted Campus Users 2,658.25 2,834.25

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 6.52 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 6.71 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
2.73

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
1,826,361 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 53,501.80 Square feet
Healthcare space 1,245 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 7,076.10 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
1,942,930.70 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

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:

One of the President’s goals, set in 2019, is a 25% reduction in energy usage by 2024, and to make progress on that goal by reducing the amount of electricity we purchase by 1 MW either by conservation efforts or installation of renewable energy. This will also reduce on-campus greenhouse gas emissions. The GHG Emission Reduction Plan outlines the following components are the focus of the our GHG emission reduction effort:
• Conservation and efficiency: including retro-commissioning and overhaul of building energy systems, lighting and window upgrades, etc.
• Planning and choices: including LEED standards for all new buildings and existing large renovations.
• Utility context: taking local and national current energy regulations into account.
• Renewable energy: adding and expanding our on-campus renewable energy generation.
• Education and outreach: supporting the behavioral and decision-making changes needed to reduce campus GHG emissions; enabling our students to be better environmental citizens and to lead the societal transition to lower emissions, and providing direct outreach support to the wider community as it makes that transition.


Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The reason for the reduction in GHG emissions from baseline to performance year, despite utilities increasing, is that our power provider, Southern MN Municipal Power Agency, has changed it's energy sources (reducing coal and increasing renewable sources).


The reason for the reduction in GHG emissions from baseline to performance year, despite utilities increasing, is that our power provider, Southern MN Municipal Power Agency, has changed it's energy sources (reducing coal and increasing renewable sources).

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.