Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 53.23
Liaison Michael Iversen
Submission Date Dec. 14, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

St. Lawrence University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.26 / 10.00
"---" 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 None
Purchased goods and services Some
Capital goods All
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 University utilized the UNH Campus Carbon Calculator v9 to complete the GHG emissions inventory for the 2016-17 year (Reporting Year 2016).


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?:
No

A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
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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 9,361.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 8,522 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 181.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 770 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 3,187.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 3,616 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 3,187.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2,177 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Total 15,918.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 15,085 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, 2016 June 30, 2017
Baseline Year July 1, 2006 June 30, 2007

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 baseline was adopted in 2007 as part of the University's climate action plan.


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 26.50 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 26.50 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):

The University maintains on-site composting of yard waste, pre-, and post-consumer waste. From 2016-17 the University composted 90 tons of organic waste on location. The University does not sell or trade these offsets.


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 926.10 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:

The RECS included in this report include green-e certified wind power RECs (3.5 million KWh) from renewable choice energy.

Additionally, St. Lawrence University is engaged in a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a NY-based renewable energies company to procure renewable energy products. This aggrement allows the University to receive hydro-power and to have the rights and interest in any Renewable Energy Credits (REC) associated with the project. The project became operational in the Fall of 2016 and provides the University with approximately 4.3 million kwh of renewable energy derived power annually. As per the agreeme nt, the power must meet all applicable standards.
In March 2017 the University was accepted as a USEPA Green Power Partnership partner based on the hydro-agrrement. The GPP defines “green power” as a subset of renewable energy that encompasses those renewable resources and technologies that provide the highest environmental benefit. Green power facilities must generate electricity with zero anthropogenic (i.e., human- caused) emissions and have an environmental profile superior to conventional power generation. EPA requires that a Partner’s green power use be supplied from U.S. based facilities. And, to support developing more renewable energy capacity nationwide, EPA requires that Partners use green power from “new” renewable energy facilities. EPA defines “new” as those facilities put into service within the last 15 years (on or after January 1 of the year 15 years prior to the current date). https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/green-power-partner-list


Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 14,966.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 15,085 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,364 2,182
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 2,415.30 2,232
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 838 931.70
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 3,030.98 2,918.28

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 4.94 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 5.17 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
4.48

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
1,870,870 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 114,000 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 11,500 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
2,110,370 Gross square feet

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

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel 232.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 0 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 1,695 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 186.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories 321.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

St. Lawrence finalized a long-term operating agreement for clean hydroelectric power with NY- based company in 2015. The University will benefit from power generated at the Kings Falls small hydro facility in Lewis County, New York. The facility, which is expected to provide the campus with the equivalent of 4.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, became operational in late 2016.

The University has also entered into a long-term agreement with a global renewable energy development company, which is planning to construct a greenfield solar array in Jefferson County, New York. The facility, expected to become operational during the spring of 2018, would provide the campus with the equivalent of 3.35 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year.

Operationally, both clean energy facilities will provide their electricity directly to the grid. Through a process known as monetary remote net metering, or MRNM, the economic benefits of the transactions are transferred back to St. Lawrence via its utility bill. The annual savings is expected to average one-fifth of the University’s current electrical utility expense.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.