| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.52 |
| Liaison | Andrew D'Amico |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Princeton University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.23 / 10.00 |
Thomas
Nyquist Executive Director Engineering and Campus Energy |
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 | None |
| Commuting | None |
| Purchased goods and services | None |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | None |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | None |
| Other categories | None |
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 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?:
A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
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 | 66,418 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 78,893 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,008 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 965 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 30,345 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 42,034 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 | 97,771 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 121,892 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 | July 1, 2016 | June 30, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2005 | June 30, 2006 |
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):
The baseline was adopted because this timeframe was prior to the inception of the University’s first Sustainability Plan (2007-2008). It is also used to maintain consistency throughout the University’s earlier STARS submissions.
Princeton is currently working toward the goal set under the first Sustainability Plan to reduce absolute campus greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
As mentioned in the new 2026 Campus Plan, the University plans to significantly decrease annual GHG emissions, notwithstanding campus expansion, to set the University on a course for net neutral CO2-eq emissions by 2046.
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:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 97,771 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 121,892 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 7,093 | 6,111 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 557 | 474 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 504 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 8,032 | 6,935 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 6,468 | 5,400 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 13,291.50 | 10,897.50 |
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 | 7.36 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 11.19 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 | 3,123,383 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 0 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 1,736,429 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 | --- |
| 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 | --- |
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, and photovoltaics.
Specifically within the past three years, the University continued a multi-year effort to upgrade campus lighting to LEDs, installed ground-coupled heat pumps for heating and cooling in the new Arts & Transit Neighborhood, and implemented other energy conservation measures such as steam trap replacements, pump upgrades, air compressor upgrades, variable speed drive installations, and the addition of a booster chiller in the engineering building which received a 2017 Innovation Award from the International District Energy Association (IDEA).
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:
Additional Links:
https://campusplan.princeton.edu/
The reported greenhouse gas emissions 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 fuel pumps), and building services. As such, the reported gross floor area of building space reflects the buildings included in the GHG emissions inventory.
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 504 “other individuals resident on site” represents family members of University employees (faculty and staff) who live in University rental housing including Merwick Stanworth (Merwick Stanworth is owned and operated by American Campus Communities on Princeton University-owned land. All market rate units are currently occupied by Princeton affiliates (faculty and staff) and are included in the count). Some of the 557 resident employees are also family members within the same household.
Additional Links:
https://campusplan.princeton.edu/
The reported greenhouse gas emissions 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 fuel pumps), and building services. As such, the reported gross floor area of building space reflects the buildings included in the GHG emissions inventory.
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 504 “other individuals resident on site” represents family members of University employees (faculty and staff) who live in University rental housing including Merwick Stanworth (Merwick Stanworth is owned and operated by American Campus Communities on Princeton University-owned land. All market rate units are currently occupied by Princeton affiliates (faculty and staff) and are included in the count). Some of the 557 resident employees are also family members within the same household.
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.