| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.63 |
| Liaison | Dwayne Doornbosch |
| Submission Date | June 24, 2021 |
Langara College
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
8.00 / 8.00 |
Patricia
Baker Associate Director Facilities Facilities |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 1,254 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 1,849 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1.65 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 0 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 120 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 172 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 | 1,375.65 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 2,021 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent |
Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 1,424 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 2,021 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 | 1,424 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 2,021 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
The entire BC Public Sector purchases offsets in the same way, with the Provincial Government of British Columbia's Climate Action Secretariat (CAS) sourcing verified emission reduction units and retiring them on the public sectors behalf. For 2019, BC public sector organizations invested $16.4 million in carbon offsets to achieve carbon neutrality.
This offset investment supported innovative emission reduction projects across the province in the forestry, agriculture, transportation, oil and gas, waste management and clean technology sectors. As part of the 2019 carbon neutral commitment, B.C. retired 640,305 tonnes of carbon offsets in June 2020.
More Info for on the CNAR Program and specifics related to carbon offset projects can be found here:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/climate-change/public-sector/cnar
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 0 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 0 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 | Jan. 1, 2019 | Jan. 1, 2007 |
| End date | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2007 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
2007 was chosen as our baseline year since this was the first year that Langara completed a comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory as per the standardized methodology legislated by the Provincial Government of British Columbia for all public sector organizations.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 11,246.97 | 7,074.15 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,113.76 | 585 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 182.97 | 0 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 9,133.32 | 5,744.36 |
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 | 0 Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalent | 0 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 | 2,369.65 Square Metres |
| Healthcare space | 523.62 Square Metres |
| Other energy intensive space | 104.02 Square Metres |
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:
Langara has been able to reduce our energy usage and emissions on campus while we grow. Since 2009/10, the campus area has increased by 30%. Several key GHG emissions reduction initiatives are outlined below:
- Construction of the LEED Gold certified Sciences and Technology Building (the fourth LEED Gold building on campus), which included several energy and GHG reduction efforts, including a heat recovery system. The construction of this building also included phase one of a renewed central heating plant on campus that will continue to significantly reduce GHG emissions
- upgrading many end-of-life systems to more efficient alternatives including upgrading lightint to LED throughout campus
- implementation of a geo-exchange system serving the Library building, C-Building, Science and Technology (T) Building, and Langara Student Union (LSU). The Library and T-Building share a geothermal loop formed by 78 bore holes drilled to a depth of 250 feet, and C-Building and LSU share a 90-ton geo-exchange system for their heating and cooling needs. This system provides 30% of the heating and cooling energy demand, while only emitting 3% of the campus' overall emissions.
- Converting constant volume fan systems in our largest building on campus to variable air volume.
- upgrading heating plant for Library and T Building, with the vision to extend across campus.
Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
The Carbon Neutral Action Report (CNAR) is an annual report through which all provincial public sector organizations (PSOs) publicly disclose details related to their achievement of carbon neutrality. CNAR reporting provides a record of each PSO’s greenhouse gas emissions, offset purchases and reduction plans and actions, and is required to be submitted out each year.
A note regarding emissions associated with purchased electricity provided in this credit: emissions from purchased electricity are so low due to British Columbia's (BC Hydro's) clean hydroelectricity grid, which has a very low associated emissions factor. Ninety-seven per cent of the power BC Hydro generates is from clean, renewable resources.
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.