| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.02 |
| Liaison | Beth Klein |
| Submission Date | Feb. 25, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
State University of New York at Cortland
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.46 / 10.00 |
Matt
Brubaker Energy Manager Facilites Management |
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 | Some |
| Commuting | Some |
| Purchased goods and services | Some |
| Capital goods | Some |
| Waste generated in operations | Some |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | All |
| 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:
Every year, campus does an entire inventory of Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG. This is based on utility usage. Scope 3 GHG emissions are based on survey information in three general categories, commuting distances, travel obligations for work related activities, and a general account purchased goods and services. The accounting for purchased goods and services is based on budget related expenditures as they relate to specific categories of expenses.
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 GHG emissions inventory is compiled by a group of individuals on the Climate Action Planning Committee. Once the GHG emissions inventory is completed, the entire CAPC reviews the inventory for completeness.
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 | 7,861 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 8,714 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 633 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 723 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 3,662.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,816 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 | 12,156.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 13,253 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, 2013 | June 30, 2014 |
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 inventory was established in 2010. In 2007 SUNY Cortland signed the President's Climate Commitment which initiated a wide variety of sustainability and energy related investigations related to Climate Change. Part of these investigations included an investigation and assessment of GHG.
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 | 7,115 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 7,115 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon storage from on-site composting | 3 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3 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 | 7,118 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 7,118 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):
SUNY Cortland owns a significant amount of land that is utilized for satellite campus experiential learning. Of the total campus land that is dedicated to satellite campus learning environments we have 597 acres that can be attributed to preserved forest land. We have established this property as preserved forest. For protection purposes, unforeseen losses and other criteria for establishing forest preserves, we have recognized ~10% of these areas as forest preserve dedicated to carbon sequestration. This is equivalent to 7,115 Metric Ton Equivalent CO2 sequester by the forest based on the EPA criteria for forest land carbon assessment. Nothing has changed from our baseline reporting year to our current reporting year, so the equivalent amount of carbon has been sequestered for the baseline year when compared to the reporting year. On-site composting practices are ad-hoc in nature, but are incorporated into our grounds and food service programming.
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:
The RECs for electricity offsets are purchased from Sterling Planet, project source Buffalo Gap Wind Farm number 3 and Turkey Track Wind Energy Center, verified by Green-E, and the contract timeframe is July 2017 - June 2020. The are included in the GHG calculations in Part 2 above which has lowered the GHG emissions from our purchased electricity. Therefore, the contracts with Sterling Planet are documented here, but the GHG reduction is noted in the Scope 2 emissions documented.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 5,038.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 6,135 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,404 | 3,182 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 23 | 16 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 57 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 6,564.60 | 6,652 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,569.30 | 1,443 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 7,014.18 | 6,870.75 |
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 | 0.72 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0.89 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 | 145,797 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 2,500 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 202,900 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 | 1,200 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 3,464 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 | --- |
| Other categories | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
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.