| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.24 |
| Liaison | Paul Scanlon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 22, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Slippery Rock University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.52 / 10.00 |
Paul
Scanlon Special Assistant to the President President's Office/Sustainability |
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 | All |
| Commuting | All |
| Purchased goods and services | Some |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | All |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | All |
| Other categories | Some |
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 SRU GHG Inventory is completed annually, in-house, using the most current version of the Clean Air - Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator (v8) or (2016) the newer Carbon Map Calculator (as of 2017, the University of New Hampshire's SIMAP is the current version used).
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:
Most Scope 1 and Scope 2 data (fossil fuel use at the central plant, electrical use, wastewater use) is collected and verified by an independent third party (Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute).
The current GHG Inventory has not been verified in whole by an independent third party, but a third party (Sightlines) had completed previous years' inventories that we updated (where more accurate information was available) so we have the benefit of verifying each year's data against previous years' data.
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 | 12,159 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 20,403 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 842 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 444 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 7,330 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 23,457 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 | 20,331 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 44,304 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, 2017 | June 30, 2018 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
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 GHG emissions baseline was adopted after signing the Presidents Climate Action Commitment in 2009, and FY 2004-2005 was selected as the baseline period because that was the earliest year for which the most accurate information was available.
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 | 4.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 21 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 | 4.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 21 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 net carbon offsets are from the quantity of food waste from SRU's main dining hall that is composted at the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education & Research. This offset is lower than previous years because this year the leaves normally collected from the Borough of Slippery Rock were not provided for composting at the Macoskey Center.
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 | 20,326.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 44,283 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,740 | 2,881 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 9,062 | 7,704 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 889 | 826 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 700 | 141 |
| Weighted campus users | 7,623.25 | 7,012 |
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 | 2.67 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 6.32 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 | 159,806 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 2,990 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 248,239 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 | 534 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 5,031 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | 496 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 | 215 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories | 2,076 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
SRU's GHG emissions reduction initiatives are documented in detail in our AASHE Climate Action Plan (available at www.sru.edu/sustainability web page).
Continuing initiatives made during the past three years include physical upgrades to existing buildings (e.g., replacement of several sections of leaking underground steam and condensate piping).
In 2017 SRU awarded a 20-year Guaranteed Energy Savings Agreement (GESA) with an Energy Services Company, through which we are implementing $20 million of energy conservation and deferred maintenance projects over the next two years, greatly reducing our cumulative GHG emissions reductions.
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:
Number of employees resident on-site was corrected to "0" - no employees reside on campus.
Clarification of spaces considered "Other energy intensive spaces": Buildings expected to use > twice that of an office building include:
- Aebersold Rec Center 82,000 GSF (extended hrs. of operation)
- Smith Student Center 106,000 GSF incl. food services and bookstore, plus extended hours of operation
- Maltby 25,849 GSF with data center
- Boozel Dining Hall 34,393 GSF food service facility
Number of employees resident on-site was corrected to "0" - no employees reside on campus.
Clarification of spaces considered "Other energy intensive spaces": Buildings expected to use > twice that of an office building include:
- Aebersold Rec Center 82,000 GSF (extended hrs. of operation)
- Smith Student Center 106,000 GSF incl. food services and bookstore, plus extended hours of operation
- Maltby 25,849 GSF with data center
- Boozel Dining Hall 34,393 GSF food service facility
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.