Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.20
Liaison Jessica Thompson
Submission Date June 20, 2024

STARS v2.2

Northern Michigan University
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.25 / 3.00 Jessica Thompson
AVP Sustainability
People Culture & Wellbeing

Criteria

Part 1. Greenhouse gas emissions inventory

Institution has completed an inventory to quantify its Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The inventory may also:

  • Include Scope 3 GHG emissions from one or more of the following sources:

    • Business travel (the transportation of employees and students for institution-related activities in vehicles owned or operated by third parties)

    • Commuting (regular commuting to and from the institution by students and employees)

    • Purchased goods and services (e.g., food and paper)

    • Capital goods (e.g., equipment, machinery, buildings, facilities, and vehicles)

    • Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or 2

    • Waste generated in operations (solid waste and/or wastewater disposal/treatment in facilities owned or operated by third parties)

    • Other sources not included in Scope 1 or 2 (e.g., student travel to/from home)

  • Have been verified by an independent, external third party or validated internally by personnel who are independent of the GHG accounting and reporting process.

Part 2. Air pollutant emissions inventory

Institution has completed an inventory to quantify its air pollutant emissions. The inventory includes at least nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). It may also include other standard categories of toxic air emissions - e.g., carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and so on - from one or more of the following:

  • Major stationary sources (e.g., combustion-based energy plants, boilers, furnaces, and generators)

  • Area sources (minor stationary sources such as paint booths, book preservation operations, and wastewater treatment plants)

  • Mobile sources (e.g., campus fleet, other motorized vehicles, and lawn care equipment)

  • Commuting

  • Off-site electricity production


Applicability

This credit applies to all institutions.


Scoring

Each part is scored independently.

Part 1

An institution earns the maximum of 2.5 points available for Part 1 when it has completed an inventory that includes all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions, includes Scope 3 GHG emissions from at least six of the sources listed in the criteria, and has been validated internally by personnel who are independent of the GHG accounting and reporting process and/or verified by an independent, external third party. Partial points are earned as follows:

GHG inventory attributes

Points earned

Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions

1.25

Scope 3 GHG emissions from:

  • Business travel

  • Commuting

  • Purchased goods and services

  • Capital goods

  • Fuel- and energy-related activities

  • Waste generated in operations

  • Other sources

0.104 for each source up to 0.625

Independent validation/verification

0.625

Total points earned for Part 1 →

Up to 2.5

Part 2

An institution earns the maximum of 0.5 points available for Part 2 when it has completed an inventory of air pollutant emissions that includes at least three of the categories listed. Partial points are earned as follows:

Air pollutant emissions inventory attributes

Points earned

Air pollutant emissions from:

  • Major stationary sources

  • Area sources

  • Mobile sources

  • Commuting

  • Off-site electricity production

0.167 for each source

Total points earned for Part 2 →

Up to 0.5

 


Measurement

Timeframe

Report inventories of annual emissions completed or updated within the three years prior to the anticipated date of submission.

Sampling and Data Standards

Part 1

To conduct a GHG emissions inventory, campuses may use the The Climate Registry, the Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform (SIMAP), the Scope 3 Evaluator tool, and/or any methodology or calculator that is consistent with the World Resources Institute (WRI) Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard and the Scope 3 calculation guidance provided by WRI.

This credit is based on GHG emissions calculated using a market-based method that reflects emissions from electricity that the institution has purposefully chosen, including contractual instruments such as RECs, GOs, and I-RECs. An institution that wishes to disclose its Scope 2 GHG emissions calculated using a location-based method that does not consider such contractual arrangements may do so in the optional reporting fields provided. Note that GHG emissions calculated using a market-based method may be the same as GHG emissions calculated using a location-based method, e.g., when an institution does not have supplier-specific emissions factors.

Part 2

There are a number of methodologies for measuring air emissions, including direct measurement, calculation based on site-specific data and/or published criteria, and estimation (see for example, U.S. EPA document AP-42 and associated tools). If data for all sources and/or an entire year are not available, an institution may use representative samples.

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.