Middlebury College
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
8.00 / 8.00 |
Jack
Byrne Director of Sustainability Integration Environmental Affair |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 4,157.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 26,592 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 235.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 366 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 635 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 | 4,392.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 27,593 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 7,027 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 865 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Institution-catalyzed carbon offsets generated | 23,744 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 10.56 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 | --- | --- |
| Carbon sold or transferred | 12,074 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Net carbon sinks | 18,697 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 875.56 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
In 2014 Middlebury put a conservation easement on 2100 acres of college forest lands that will be forever protected as forest. We have had the carbon on those lands quantified, verified and registered on the American Carbon Registry (ACR). We buy back the number needed to offset our net carbon emissions and the rest are sold on the ACR.
We are obligated to purchase 6,394 MTCDE of offsets from our Bread Load conservation project for 2019-2020 emissions. This will be done when a sale of a larger quantity of credits takes place, within the next year. 633 carbon credits have already been purchased to offset emissions from the Middlebury College ski area.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 26,717.44 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 | July 1, 2021 | July 1, 2006 |
| End date | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2007 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
2007 was the year we adopted our goal of carbon neutrality by 2016. We achieved carbon neutrality in 2106 and in 2019 we adopted Energy2028 - setting new goals that include sourcing 100% of our energy from renewables, cutting energy consumption 25%, divesting and integrating all this into the educational mission. We continue to use the 2007 baseline year since it is our original benchmark for the years following to present.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,967 | 2,988 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 47 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 3,951 | 2,718 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,168 | 1,186 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 4,842.75 | 3,675 |
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 | 7.27 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 | 220,000 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 8,500 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 101,279 Square feet |
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:
Middlebury met its goal of carbon neutrality by 2016. This was achieved by a number of accomplishments:conversion from #6 fuel oil as a primary source of heating to biomass, several million dollars of energy efficiency projects, 1.2 MW of solar and a conservation easement on 2100 acres of college forest lands that will be forever protected. We have had the carbon on those lands quantified, verified and registered on the American Carbon Registry. We buy back the number needed to offset our net carbon emissions and the rest are sold on the ACR.
A new biomethane initiative will provide the next major cut in carbon emissions — potentially by as much as 40%. That project will supply biomethane fuel generated from Addison County dairy farms to displace the remaining oil still used in the College's heating and cooling plant. It came online in July 2021.
Additionally, a 5MW solar system on College lands is in the construction phase. This system will produce enough electricity to bring Middlebury's electricity sourcing close to 100% renewable.
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:
In 2017 we reviewed and revised the methodology used for our business travel emissions which resulted in a slight drop in the total compared to the previous method. This was due primarily to the increased efficiency in fuel consumption by the aviation industry over the previous decade when we had last set up our conversion factors.
We used FY21 emissions data which included the summer of 2020 during which a normally full campus population is present for the Summer Language School programs. Due to the pandemic those programs were conducted on
line, as were our Bread Loaf English programs. As a consequence energy consumption during this period of time was less than normal.
Regarding scope 2 report of 0 carbon emissions, note that Middlebury's electric utility, Green Mountain Power, had a supply that is 100% carbon freee and 68% renewable. https://greenmountainpower.com/energy-mix/
In 2017 we reviewed and revised the methodology used for our business travel emissions which resulted in a slight drop in the total compared to the previous method. This was due primarily to the increased efficiency in fuel consumption by the aviation industry over the previous decade when we had last set up our conversion factors.
We used FY21 emissions data which included the summer of 2020 during which a normally full campus population is present for the Summer Language School programs. Due to the pandemic those programs were conducted on
line, as were our Bread Loaf English programs. As a consequence energy consumption during this period of time was less than normal.
Regarding scope 2 report of 0 carbon emissions, note that Middlebury's electric utility, Green Mountain Power, had a supply that is 100% carbon freee and 68% renewable. https://greenmountainpower.com/energy-mix/
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.