Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 28.23
Liaison Brian Webb
Submission Date March 5, 2020

STARS v2.2

Houghton College
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.08 / 8.00 Brian Webb
Sustainability Coordinator
Center for Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions

Gross GHG emissions

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 2,592.64 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2,540 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 264.15 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 306 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 1,334.43 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1,339 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 4,191.22 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 4,185 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Carbon sinks

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 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 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 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

If total performance year carbon sinks are greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
None

Adjusted net GHG emissions

Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 4,191.22 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 4,185 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Performance and baseline periods

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Performance year Baseline year
Start date Jan. 1, 2018 Jan. 1, 2009
End date Dec. 31, 2018 Dec. 31, 2009

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
In 2008 our president signed the ACUPCC, committing us to carbon neutrality by 2050. The baseline calculation was made in early 2010 for the calendar year 2009 emissions.

Part 1. Reduction in GHG emissions per person

Weighted campus users

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance year Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site 719 1,020
Number of employees resident on-site 31 8
Number of other individuals resident on-site 16 5
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 929 1,208
Full-time equivalent of employees 187 253
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 36 0
Weighted Campus Users 1,013.50 1,357.75

Metrics used in scoring for Part 1

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 4.14 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 3.08 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
0

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
915,687 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 0 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 0 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
915,687 Gross square feet

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
0.00 MtCO2e per square foot

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
We installed a 2.6 MW solar system in April 2015. Since then we have pursued smaller-scale energy efficiency opportunities, such as lighting projects and adjusting temperature settings. In fall 2018 we performed a large-scale LED retrofit project.

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:
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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.