| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 30.46 |
| Liaison | Jesse Carswell |
| Submission Date | Oct. 11, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Southern New Hampshire University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.42 / 10.00 |
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 | None |
| Commuting | None |
| Purchased goods and services | None |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | None |
| 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:
The emissions inventory was conducted using the UNH SIMAP tool. Data sources included: Utility bills for electricity, natural gas, and other fuels. Vendor bills were used for fertilizer and refrigerants.
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:
The emissions inventory was conducted by GreenerU, an external third party. The results were internally validated by Scott Greeb, Senior Director, Facilities Management to ensure that the input data aligned with the designated campus boundaries under the operational control approach.
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 | 2,750.36 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 2,840 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 183.35 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 181 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 8,167.03 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,693 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 | 11,100.74 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 6,714 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 | Jan. 1, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017 |
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 to get an emissions report and set clear goals to measure the changes in our university output.
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 | 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 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 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):
N/A
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 | 3,693 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,693 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:
"REC's are retired from purchases through Iberdrola Renewables from Maple Ridge in NY and Klondike III in OR.
The RECs from the Maple Ridge project are tracked by the New York Generation Attribute Tracking System (NYGATS), which is run by the NY state government. This is a database that can be used to check who is registered as the owner of the RECs from this project. Every REC has a unique serial number that can be referenced. This project was built in 2006, so as a source of power, it is less than 15 years old.
The RECs from the Klondike III wind farm in Oregon are tracked by the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS), a non-profit that covers most of the western US. It is similarly a database that can be used to check the ownership of the RECs. This project was built in 2007, and so as a source of power, it is less than 15 years old."
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 7,407.74 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,021 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,021 | 1,779 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 8 | 9 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 3 | 7 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 68,000 | 68,155 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 2,749 | 9,223 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 63,000 | 62,663 |
| Weighted campus users | 6,322 | 11,490.25 |
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 | 1.17 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0.26 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 | 10,000 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 3,800 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 25,000 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 | --- |
| Commuting | --- |
| Purchased goods and services | --- |
| Capital goods | --- |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | --- |
| Waste generated in operations | --- |
| Other categories | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
SNHU continues to replace both fluorescent and compact fluorescent lights with LEDs and add lighting control systems to buildings that do not have them. In result, the Univeristy experiences savings through reduced energy usage of LEDs and lighting controls allow the Univeristy to introduce occupancy schedules, daylight harvesting routines, and special event lighting intensities. SNHU's Building Automation System allows them to program occupancy schedules for various HVAC equipment and also allows them to implement nighttime setbacks. Programmed routines for occupancy sensors also allow for energy savings. All ventilation equipment on new buildings utilize and energy recovery wheel or tube pack for recovering energy in exhaust air streams. Variable Frequency Drives have been systematically added to hydronic pumping systems, ventilation supply and return fans, and refrigeration compressors to allow for energy savings through equipment turn down, modulation, and load matching.
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:
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.