| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.01 |
| Liaison | Rebecca Walker |
| Submission Date | April 13, 2022 |
Southern Oregon University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.43 / 8.00 |
Rebecca
Walker Sustainability Manager Facilities, Management, Sustainability and Planning |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 2,920.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 4,264 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 63.55 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 207 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 2,614.94 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,865 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 | 5,599.42 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 8,336 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 | 3,904.90 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 | 0 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 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,904.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 5,599.42 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 4,431.10 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, 2020 | July 1, 2007 |
| End date | June 30, 2021 | June 30, 2008 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
The GHG emissions baseline of Fiscal Year 2008 was adopted in 2010 as a baseline to measure our interim targets against. FY08 is the first year the university has a fairly dependable GHG inventory. The prior inventory for FY1990 was based on many assumptions and estimates since data were not available for many of the emissions sources.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 779 | 1,008 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 2 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 115 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 3,500.70 | 3,764.50 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 568.30 | 596.50 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 788 | 203 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 2,771 | 3,370.50 |
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 | 2.02 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1.31 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 | 27,717 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 11,016 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 0 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:
Southern Oregon University is working to reduce GHG emissions in each scope.
Scope 1
SOU has upgraded the mechanical equipment at the Central Plant Building on campus. Boilers 1 and 2 were replaced with high-efficiency Hurst boilers with high-efficiency Riello Burners. Boilers 3 and 4 had the burners replaced with the same high-efficiency Riello Burners. A new Riello control system was installed to operate the boilers more efficiently. A new water softener system was installed to help reduce chemical usage. The existing 800 ton and 500-ton centrifugal chillers were replaced with two 800 ton higher efficiency centrifugal chillers. The roof-mounted three-cell cooling tower was replaced with a larger capacity high efficient two-cell cooling tower. One of the two existing condenser water pumps was replaced with a larger capacity pump.
The campus fleet is managed under the Sustainability and Equity in Purchasing Policy: Preference shall be given to electrical powered motorized vehicles and tools. Where vehicles and tools are not electrical, preference will be given to less-polluting alternatives to gas and diesel, such as compressed natural gas, bio-based fuels, hybrids, electric batteries, and fuel cells, as available. Where alternative fuel options are not feasible, preference shall be given to models with the best fuel economy (highest fuel efficiency).
Solar has continued to increase on-campus with 5 new solar arrays installed on campus in the last 3 years (since SOU’s last submission) bringing the total to 11 array installations reducing the amount of purchased electricity.
Scope 2
City of Ashland’s contracted and owned electricity generation supply is low carbon. Contracted Bonneville Power Administration makes up 98% of Ashland’s supply and is low carbon.
All new construction projects bring energy efficiency measures and lighting improvements are identified and implemented across campus on an ongoing basis to reduce purchased electricity.
Scope 3
Commuting - The university has a partnership with the local transit district to greatly improve outreach to students about their transportation options.
Waste – outreach through social media and articles regularly takes place to address the quality and quantity of landfill diversion. The is a waste management system across campus and an on-campus recycling center. SOU recycles a range of materials to divert from landfills.
Business travel – there is an air fund fee to put towards sustainability projects and to highlight the environmental cost of air travel.
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:
Second Nature Reporting Platform Dashboard: http://reporting.secondnature.org/dashboard/dashboard/##3222
SIMAP Greenhouse gas calculations https://unhsimap.org/home
Second Nature Reporting Platform Dashboard: http://reporting.secondnature.org/dashboard/dashboard/##3222
SIMAP Greenhouse gas calculations https://unhsimap.org/home
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.