| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.48 |
| Liaison | Allison Maxted |
| Submission Date | Jan. 22, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Mohawk College
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
8.19 / 10.00 |
Kayla
LaChance Sustainability Programs and Services Coordinator Sustainability Office |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
Does the institution’s GHG emissions inventory include all, some or none of its Scope 3 GHG emissions from the following categories?:
| All, Some, or None | |
| Business travel | Some |
| Commuting | Some |
| Purchased goods and services | None |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | All |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | All |
| Other categories | Some |
A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory, including how the institution accounted for each category of Scope 3 emissions reported above:
The 2017 GHG emissions inventory was conducted using Scope 5 GHG Emissions software. Mohawk College has been a leader in this space over the past decade, and as a result, the College has adopted several of these accounting practices, like tracking and reporting Scope 3 Commuting, Paper Purchases, Athletics Travel and Land filled Waste. For commuting, emissions are tracked for three separate user groups, including Students, Faculty, and Staff. Home addresses are tracked at the time that parking permits are issued, which provides a much more accurate estimate of round-trip distance traveled to-and-from the College when drivers are commuting. The College tracks the number of days that each vehicle is on campus, which allows us to more accurately estimate total miles traveled each year commuting to Mohawk. The automobile manufacturer, model, and age are also tracked, which permits us to estimate emissions factors for the vehicles more accurately. Paper use was tracked through the printing department. Landfilled waste data were tracked through our waste hauler GFL and waste audits conducted throughout the year.
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?:
A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
In 2018, Mohawk College retained Ameresco to complete the emission inventory for the 2017 reporting year.
The objective was to complete a transparent inventory that could be meaningfully
compared to the 2007 baseline emission inventory, as well as compared against performance indicators for similar institutions.
Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 and Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions):
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 2,507 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,524 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 121 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 728 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 4,876 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Total | 3,235 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 8,521 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2007 | Dec. 31, 2007 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted (e.g. in sustainability plans and policies or in the context of other reporting obligations):
In 2011, Mohawk prepared its first GHG greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions report
which established a 2007 baseline. The baseline enables the development of
meaningful and appropriate emission reduction strategies as well as creates a
benchmark for all future GHG inventories.
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased (exclude purchased RECs/GOs) | 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 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 |
| Carbon offsets included above for which the emissions reductions have been sold or transferred by the institution | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Net carbon offsets | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Emissions reductions attributable to Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) or Guarantee of Origin (GO) purchases:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Emissions reductions attributable to REC/GO purchases | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:
n/a
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 3,235 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 8,521 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 340 | 350 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 20,787.99 | 11,750 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,567 | 1,100 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 911.80 | 398.70 |
| Weighted campus users | 16,167.39 | 9,425.97 |
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 | 0.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0.90 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 | 325,036 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 0 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 21,741.89 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:
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Emissions | |
| Business travel | 44.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 6,398 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 355 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories | 276 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
Mohawk College has carried out a number of initiatives with the aim of reducing GHG emissions while expanding its buildings and facilities.
- A-wing and C-wing lighting retrofits from T8 fluorescent bulbs to LEDS
- Major campaign on alternative and active transportation across the Mohawk Community
- Introduced ride sharing platform, Pop-a-ride for Mohawk students only
- Installed Ontario's largest Solar Carport. The carport's six solar tables cover 125 parking spots at the Fennell Campus. The carport will connect to the zet-zero Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation along with lights and electric vehicle charging stations in the campus parking lot. http://web.mohawkcollege.ca/live-feed/ontario-solar-carport/ontarios-largest-solar-carport.html
- 16 new EV charging stations across the Fennell and Stoney Creek campus
- The Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation because the second project in Canada and the first institutional building to earn a Zero Carbon building - Design certification through the CAGBC's Zero Carbon Building Program. The building feature passive energy designs and a 500kWp rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system, 28 geothermal wells, triple-pane windows, and solar thermal units. https://www.cagbc.org/CAGBC/Zero_Carbon/Project_Profiles/Mohawk_Profile.aspx
- Installation of solar panels on the A-wing, J-wing and H-wing roofs.
- $10.8 million grant for energy retrofit projects including solar panels, replacement of natural gas boiler with an electric boiler and add a battery storage system.
Mohawk College's gross scope 2 emissions has significantly been reduced from the 2007 baseline as a result of the conservation initiatives mentioned above and plans set in place. It has also been reduced as a result of a mandatory coal phase out program in Ontario that began in 2003 and ended in 2014. Ontario went from having 25% of Ontario's supply of energy from coal in 2003 to 0% in 2014 and therefore lowering scope 2 emissions significantly. https://www.ontario.ca/page/end-coal. In 2016, Mohawk College also closed a campus in Brantford, Ontario and sold the Residence building.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Mohawk College's gross scope 2 emissions has significantly been reducd from our 2007 baseline as a result of the above initiatives but also as a result of a mandatory coal phase out program that began in 2003 and ended in 2014. Ontario went from having 25% of Ontario's supply of energy from coal in 2003 to 0% in 2014 https://www.ontario.ca/page/end-coal. In 2016, Mohawk College also closed a campus in Brantford, Ontario and sold the Residence building.
Mohawk College's gross scope 2 emissions has significantly been reducd from our 2007 baseline as a result of the above initiatives but also as a result of a mandatory coal phase out program that began in 2003 and ended in 2014. Ontario went from having 25% of Ontario's supply of energy from coal in 2003 to 0% in 2014 https://www.ontario.ca/page/end-coal. In 2016, Mohawk College also closed a campus in Brantford, Ontario and sold the Residence building.
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.