Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 51.85 |
Liaison | Karen Eckert, Ph.D. |
Submission Date | Nov. 30, 2015 |
Executive Letter | Download |
Principia College
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
5.15 / 10.00 |
Adam
Eckert Sustainability Student Center for Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Yes
None
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 | Yes |
Purchased goods and services | Yes |
Capital goods | Yes |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | Yes |
Waste generated in operations | Yes |
None
Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from other categories?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:
We conducted our GHG emissions inventory using Clean Air-Cool Planet’s Campus Carbon Calculator; specifically, v 1.0 of the UNH Sustainability Institute's online calculator and v 6.5 of the accompanying Handbook.
None
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?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
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None
Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 2,718,385.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 2,816,849.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 214,741.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 233,977.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 10,981,292.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
None
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 | 809 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 809 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 |
None
A brief description of the institution-catalyzed carbon offsets program:
Principia has not yet implemented a program to offset GHG emissions by implementing projects that reduce GHG in the local community (e.g., students volunteering to weatherize nearby homes whereby, in agreement with the homeowner, the college would “own” the emissions reductions that result).
None
A brief description of the carbon sequestration program and reporting protocol used:
Principia actively manages a 2000-acre, FSC-certified forest as part of its campus holdings. The average age of our forest is ca. 100 yr; using a conservative carbon sequestration rate of ca. 1 metric tonne of carbon per ha of forest at this mature age, the forest sequesters ca. 809 metric tonnes of carbon/yr. There is no formal reporting protocol.
Note: "Institutions may use any commonly accepted forest sector protocol to report carbon sequestration, for example Climate Action Reserve’s Forest Project Protocol, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers’ Framework for Forest Management Offset Protocols, or the Compliance Offset Protocols (COP) adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). On and off-campus projects may be counted."
None
A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:
Principia does not have on-site composting, but was recognized by the IFSC during the performance year (2014) as one of 8 institutions in Illinois that could demonstrate 100% pre- and post-consumer composting of food waste in our Dining Services (http://illinoiscomposts.org/we-compost/institutions). In addition, all disposable plates, glasses, lids, straws, silverware and to-go containers are compostable. The material is collected weekly by St Louis Composting (http://stlcompost.com/).
None
A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:
The college receives ca. 9200 RECs with its 100% renewable power purchases each year, but not does sell or otherwise financially benefit from these RECs.
None
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of residential students | 503 | 503 |
Number of residential employees | 105 | 105 |
Number of in-patient hospital beds | 13 | 13 |
Full-time equivalent enrollment | 503 | 503 |
Full-time equivalent of employees | 323 | 341 |
Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 0 | 0 |
None
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date | End Date | |
Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2014 |
Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2008 | Dec. 31, 2008 |
None
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
We've used a 3-yr period (2011, 2014) for other STARS categories, but in this case we completed a 3-scope GHG inventory using the Clean Air-Cool Planet’s Campus Carbon Calculator to span 10 years (2005-2014) in order to capture major efficiency upgrades and our transition from 100% traditional electrical power to sourcing 100% renewable power in 2009.
None
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
1,077,376
Square feet
None
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area | |
Laboratory space | 49,003 Square feet |
Healthcare space | 11,092 Square feet |
Other energy intensive space | 0 Square feet |
None
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
Emissions | |
Business travel | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Commuting | 435,434.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Purchased goods and services | 85.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Capital goods | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Waste generated in operations | 33.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Other categories (please specify below) | 394,555.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
None
A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":
"Other" = Student travel to/from home
Note to self:
"Commuting" = Faculty, Staff and Student (the latter 100% carbon-free)
"Purchased goods and services" = Paper, Wastewater (septic and central), Landscaping
"Waste generated" = Landfill (w/wo CH4 recovery)
None
A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
None
The website URL where the GHG emissions inventory is posted:
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None
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
1. Principia continues its commitment to sourcing 100% power (electric)
2. Old (30-45 yr) boilers and air-cooled chillers have been replaced with a constant volume piping/ pumping system that relies on two water-cooled chillers and two condensing boilers. All pumps are variable flow controlled by VFD. The new system is designed to operate using 140°F or below heating water temperature (vs. the old 180°F) to take full advantage of the condensing boilers.
3. Flex Crew vehicles (Department of Facilities) are being replaced with electric vehicles (7 to date), which has resulted in the availability of Level 1 charging stations on campus.
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.