Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.88
Liaison Laura Young
Submission Date Feb. 11, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Michigan State University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.62 / 10.00 Bill Lakos
Engineer/Architect III
IPF Energy and Environment
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Yes

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Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 3 GHG emissions from any of the following categories?:
Yes or No
Business travel No
Commuting No
Purchased goods and services No
Capital goods No
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 No
Waste generated in operations No

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Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from other categories?:
No

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A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:
T.B. Simon Power Plant began reporting greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) in 2010. The EPA methodology is used to calculate all fuels burned in all units at the power plant, which means the data does not include fuel burned in fleet vehicles or purchased electricity. Data are available at the EPA facility level GHG emissions data website. (http://ghgdata.epa.gov/ghgp/main.do) After the passing of the Energy Transition Plan, a more comprehensive account was needed that included scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. The Energy and Environment department of the Infrastructure Planning and Facilities department is responsible for gathering the necessary data to calculate the GHG emissions reported here.

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Has the GHG emissions inventory been validated internally by personnel who are independent of the GHG accounting and reporting process and/or verified by an independent, external third party?:
Yes

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A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
MSU has used Sightlines to benchmark and assess GHG emisssions that include scope 1, 2, and 3. While we do not report scope 3 emissions in our report, we have collected data on the purchase of paper, waste, recycling, fertilizer use, construction, commuting, institutionally sponsored air travel, student study abroad programs, and travel to campus by out-of-state students.

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Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 390,319.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 556,702.13 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 4,761.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 275.75 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 42,894.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 24,035.18 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Institution-catalyzed carbon offsets generated 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 222 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon sequestration due to land that the institution manages specifically for sequestration 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
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 32,476 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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A brief description of the institution-catalyzed carbon offsets program:
Urban forest offset documented by Professor MacFarlane and verified by CCX protocals and third party auditors. Building commissioning program. South Campus Anaerobic digester.

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A brief description of the carbon sequestration program and reporting protocol used:
---

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A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:
---

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A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:
---

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Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 16,143 15,305
Number of residential employees 0 0
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 46,159 45,149
Full-time equivalent of employees 12,091 11,061
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 0 0

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Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2014 June 30, 2015
Baseline Year July 1, 2009 June 30, 2010

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A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
The baseline period was adopted as part of the Energy Transition Plan in 2012.

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Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
22,935,797 Square feet

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Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 1,243,327 Square feet
Healthcare space 177,245 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 766,016 Square feet

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Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
Emissions
Business travel ---
Commuting ---
Purchased goods and services ---
Capital goods ---
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 ---
Waste generated in operations ---
Other categories (please specify below) ---

None
A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":
---

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A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
None
The website URL where the GHG emissions inventory is posted:
None
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
The Energy Transition Plan was adopted in 2012 - www.energytransition.msu.edu

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Due to the fact that the power plant serves the majority of the MSU campus, changes in its fuel supply and plant efficiency have a direct impact on the campus’ environmental performance. Since 2009-10, the campus has decreased coal use by 65 percent, which comprises the largest contribution to the 18 percent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.

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.