Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 58.08
Liaison Andrew D'Amico
Submission Date March 13, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Princeton University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.25 / 10.00 Thomas Nyquist
Executive Director
Engineering and Campus Energy
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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

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

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

A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:

The University uses its own internal GHG accounting system, which uses campus utilities data and emissions factors determined by the Environmental Protection Agency.


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?:
No

A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
---

Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 77,100 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 79,900 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 32,900 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 42,000 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets::
Performance Year Baseline Year
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
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the institution-catalyzed carbon offsets program:
---

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

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

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

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 6,836 6,111
Number of residential employees 241 474
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 7,910 6,935
Full-time equivalent of employees 6,323 5,400
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 0 0

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2011 June 30, 2014
Baseline Year July 1, 2005 June 30, 2006

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:

The baseline was adopted because this timeframe was prior to the inception of the University’s Sustainability Plan in 2007-2008.

While internally Princeton is currently working toward a goal to reduce absolute campus greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, the 2006 baseline was selected to maintain consistency throughout the University’s STARS 2.0 and 1.2 submissions.


Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
8,912,800 Square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 2,897,700 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 1,728,600 Square feet

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) ---

A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":
---

A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
The website URL where the GHG emissions inventory is posted:
---

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:

Starting in 2007, Princeton began a multi-step plan to reduce campus carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. These reductions are being completed through: distribution system improvements, lighting improvement projects (including an LED retrofit program), building HVAC replacements, control system optimization, HVAC improvement projects, making the Central Plant more efficient, photovoltaics, and more to be determined.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

-The greenhouse gas emissions reported include emissions from all buildings that are connected to the main campus utility systems, and more specifically, those that get electricity, steam or chilled water from the central energy plant, as well as those that are fed power from Elm Drive and Charlton Street substations. Also included are emissions from buildings that house significant campus energy-consuming programs that were once fed by these systems but have been moved off the main campus since 1990, including 701 Carnegie Center, as well as emissions from fleet vehicle fuel that is purchased by athletics, the business office (MacMillan pumps), and building services.

-The 2006 emissions data reflects an updated utility emissions factor, unlike the emissions data reported in the University’s annual Sustainability Report. The 2006 number has not been updated in the annual report for the sake of consistency; the original numbers continue to be used to track the University’s progress toward reaching its greenhouse gas emissions goal, which was established prior to the utility emissions factor being updated.


-The greenhouse gas emissions reported include emissions from all buildings that are connected to the main campus utility systems, and more specifically, those that get electricity, steam or chilled water from the central energy plant, as well as those that are fed power from Elm Drive and Charlton Street substations. Also included are emissions from buildings that house significant campus energy-consuming programs that were once fed by these systems but have been moved off the main campus since 1990, including 701 Carnegie Center, as well as emissions from fleet vehicle fuel that is purchased by athletics, the business office (MacMillan pumps), and building services.

-The 2006 emissions data reflects an updated utility emissions factor, unlike the emissions data reported in the University’s annual Sustainability Report. The 2006 number has not been updated in the annual report for the sake of consistency; the original numbers continue to be used to track the University’s progress toward reaching its greenhouse gas emissions goal, which was established prior to the utility emissions factor being updated.

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.