| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.42 |
| Liaison | Andrew D'Amico |
| Submission Date | Aug. 25, 2021 |
Princeton University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.13 / 8.00 |
Thomas
Nyquist Executive Director Engineering and Campus Energy |
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 |
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 |
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 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 |
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.
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 |
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:
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
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:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
Princeton's pathway to carbon neutrality 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, as well as the potential purchase of green electricity, and changes in everyday behavior across the campus community.
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 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.