Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.76
Liaison Richard Johnson
Submission Date Oct. 13, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Rice University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 6.46 / 10.00 Richard Johnson
Director of Sustainability
Facilities Engineering and Planning
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
Yes

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 All
Commuting All
Purchased goods and services None
Capital goods None
Waste generated in operations Some
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:

Emissions calculation tool: The Campus Carbon Calculator, version 9.1 was used to calculate Scope 1 and 2 emissions for the performance and baseline years. Scope 1 emissions were calculated using a “custom tool” developed in a Rice chemical engineering class CHBE 281 “Engineering Solutions for Sustainable Communities” to complete its GHG emissions inventory.

Scope 3 emissions estimates were developed primarily in cooperation with CHBE 281 Engineering Solutions for Sustainable Communities.


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

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

The baseline inventory has been reviewed both by a chemical engineering professor as well as a consultant who was hired by the university to develop a climate and energy master plan. The baseline year set by the consultant was FY2012, which is the period from July 1, 2011 thru June 30, 2012.


Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
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Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 and Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions):
Yes

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 24,433 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 31,249 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 595 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 595 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 53,301 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 52,957 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 78,329 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 84,801 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 Jan. 1, 2016 Dec. 31, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2011 June 30, 2012

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 year was adopted by our consultant in the development of RICEMaP, the Rice Integrated Climate and Energy Master Plan. RICEMaP contains multiple reports: the report containing the carbon footprint and key elements of the climate action plan was submitted in the fall of 2013.


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 57,640 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 57,640 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 57,640 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 57,640 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):

The carbon offset value is for property managed by the Rice Land Lumber Company. The estimate provides was generated during the process for the Rice Integrated Climate and Energy Master Plan process, and comes from consultation with forest managers and Rice's climate action plan consultant.


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 20,689 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 27,161 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,852 2,824
Number of employees resident on-site 36 71
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 35 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 6,554.33 6,071.33
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 3,026.67 2,842
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 7,942.75 7,408.75

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 2.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 3.67 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
28.95

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
5,658,493 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 1,677,607.19 Square feet
Healthcare space 13,352 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 309,587 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
9,349,998.38 Gross square feet

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

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel 4,070 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 5,783 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services ---
Capital goods ---
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 ---
Waste generated in operations 372 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories ---

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

Strong focus on reduction of total energy consumption reductions. Significant improvements documented in plant operations. Direct solar-sourced electricity procured for calendar years 2015 and 2016.


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:

Prior STARS and similar reporting used a custom tool, which yielded very minor variations in Scope 1 but larger variations in Scope 2.


Prior STARS and similar reporting used a custom tool, which yielded very minor variations in Scope 1 but larger variations in Scope 2.

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.