| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.32 |
| Liaison | Karen Oberer |
| Submission Date | Dec. 11, 2020 |
McGill University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.64 / 8.00 |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 33,310 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 52,915 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 2,390 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,492 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 3,828 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 271 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 912 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Total | 39,528 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 57,590 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 | 2,629 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 | 2,629 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):
From the McGill University 2018 GHG Inventory:
"McGill owns and stewards a number of different properties and lands, including the Macdonald Campus Farm, Gault Nature Reserve, Morgan Arboretum, Wilder & Helen Penfield Nature Conservancy, Molson Reserve, and Downtown, Macdonald and Bellairs campuses. One of the many benefits and ecosystem services provided by these lands is that they can act as natural carbon sinks due to their ability to store carbon in trees and soils. They are a vitally important solution to climate change and form part of McGill’s strategy to mitigate, and adapt to, climate impacts.
McGill’s carbon neutrality strategy prioritizes emission reductions, followed by carbon sequestration on our own properties, and lastly offsetting for unavoidable emissions. To understand opportunities to increase carbon sequestration, the first step was to determine the current rate of sequestration. From 2017 to 2019, we supported a thesis project carried out in McGill’s Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences & Department of Natural Resource Sciences. The goals of this research were to:
- Evaluate current rate of aboveground forest carbon sequestration at two forested properties: the Gault Nature Reserve and the Morgan Arboretum
- Explore potential for increased carbon sequestration at two managed properties: the Morgan Arboretum and the Macdonald farm
Key results related to the first research goal are presented in the table below [see 2018 GHG Inventory]. Currently, the Morgan Arboretum and Gault Nature Reserve sequester 2,629 tCO2e per year, equal to 4.7% of our footprint."
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 36,899 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 57,590 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, 2018 | June 1, 2002 |
| End date | Dec. 31, 2018 | May 31, 2003 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
The baseline was defined by Québec's Ministry of Higher Education (MESRS) for all universities in the Province.
Note: gross floor area for baseline year was 653,809.97 sq. metres. (+28.6% campus growth since 2002).
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,321 | 3,034 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 52 | 14 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 17 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 32,754 | 24,007 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 7,293 | 4,497 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 41 | 20 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 30,864.75 | 22,125 |
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 | 1.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 2.60 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 | 168,924 Square meters |
| Healthcare space | 14,575 Square meters |
| Other energy intensive space | 18,082 Square meters |
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:
McGill’s Energy Management Plan (2017) focuses on the transition of buildings from static energy consumers to dynamic smart grids and pave the way to a carbon-neutral energy transition. The plan is comprised of 5 projects and 17 action items, the following of which pertain to reduction in GHG emissions:
1. 100% Energy Conservation Projects
- Deploynent of smart energy grids on downtown campus
- Improvement of the efficiency of powerhouse and distribution networks
2. Mixed projects (energy conservation and alternative sources of funding)
- Major HVAC system upgrades
- Deploy non-conventional renewable energy systems
- Deploy smart energy grids on downtown campus
- Propose a strategy for the deployment of charging stations
3. Energy Conservation Programs
- Retro-commissioning
- Insulation
- Building and system optimization
4. Efficient operations
- Empower building operators
- Improve powerhouse and distribution networks efficiency
- Ensure continuity of energy savings
5. Community engagement
The full action plan is here:
https://www.mcgill.ca/facilities/files/facilities/emp_master_0.pdf
The Vision 2020: Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 2017-2020 also outlines goals for the reduction of GHG emissions, inlcuding the following:
- Develop a “carbon responsibility” program to offset air travel emissions
- Quantify and communicate GHG emissions information to University travelers
- Raise awareness of teleconferencing options
- Finalize a Transportation Master Plan
- Increase bike parking capacity across campus
- Develop a program to encourage the use of sustainable transportation for commuters
- Develop a sustainable Vehicle Management Program
- Offer training to promote eco-driving techniques
The full action plan is here: https://www.mcgill.ca/sustainability/files/sustainability/vision_2020_climate_sustainability_action_plan.pdf
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:
Past GHG inventories (2015-2017): https://www.mcgill.ca/facilities/maintenance-operations/utilities/greenhouse-gas-inventory
Note regarding baseline data:
Scope 1 emissions from other sources were not computed back in 2002-2003. We have estimated them based on the following assumptions:
- same livestock head count except for cows (half as many as reporting year) and same manure management;
- same fertilizer usage (agricultural fields);
- same refrigerant usage (HVAC systems);
- same fuel consumption level from fleet of vehicles.
Scope 2 emissions from other sources were not computed back in 2002-2003. We have estimated them based on the following assumptions:
- same steam usage. If anything, steam consumption has decreased since 2002-2003 due to an upgrade of the HVAC systems of the only building on campus using steam supplied by a third-party supplier. This also assumes the said supplier also had the same steam production and distribution efficiency as today, which, again, is a very conservative estimate due to the many energy conservation measures implemented by the supplier.
Past GHG inventories (2015-2017): https://www.mcgill.ca/facilities/maintenance-operations/utilities/greenhouse-gas-inventory
Note regarding baseline data:
Scope 1 emissions from other sources were not computed back in 2002-2003. We have estimated them based on the following assumptions:
- same livestock head count except for cows (half as many as reporting year) and same manure management;
- same fertilizer usage (agricultural fields);
- same refrigerant usage (HVAC systems);
- same fuel consumption level from fleet of vehicles.
Scope 2 emissions from other sources were not computed back in 2002-2003. We have estimated them based on the following assumptions:
- same steam usage. If anything, steam consumption has decreased since 2002-2003 due to an upgrade of the HVAC systems of the only building on campus using steam supplied by a third-party supplier. This also assumes the said supplier also had the same steam production and distribution efficiency as today, which, again, is a very conservative estimate due to the many energy conservation measures implemented by the supplier.
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.