Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 68.42
Liaison Andrew D'Amico
Submission Date Aug. 25, 2021

STARS v2.2

Princeton University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.13 / 8.00 Thomas Nyquist
Executive Director
Engineering and Campus Energy
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions

Gross GHG emissions

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 64,155 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 78,893 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 897 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 965 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 37,746 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 42,034 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 102,798 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 121,892 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Carbon sinks

Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
Performance year Baseline year
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 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 storage from on-site composting 31.04 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent ---
Carbon sold or transferred 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Net carbon sinks 31.04 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

If total performance year carbon sinks are greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Carbon sinks include food scraps and leaves and trimmings composted on site.

Adjusted net GHG emissions

Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 102,766.96 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 121,892 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Performance and baseline periods

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Performance year Baseline year
Start date July 1, 2019 July 1, 2005
End date June 30, 2020 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 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.

Part 1. Reduction in GHG emissions per person

Weighted campus users

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance year Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site 6,767 6,111
Number of employees resident on-site 332 474
Number of other individuals resident on-site 483 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 8,441 6,935
Full-time equivalent of employees 6,897 5,400
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted Campus Users 13,761.25 10,897.50

Metrics used in scoring for Part 1

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 7.47 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:
33.24

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
9,628,405 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 2,844,871 Square feet
Healthcare space 35,211 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 1,803,516 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
17,192,085 Gross square feet

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
0.01 MtCO2e per square foot

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
Princeton's pathway to net zero relies on both known and unknown strategies, spanning new on-site energy infrastructure, including the conversion of steam to heating hot water and geo-exchange, onsite solar, as well as the potential purchase of green electricity and biofuels, and changes in everyday behavior across the campus community.
+ Date Revised: Sept. 27, 2024

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:
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 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.