| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.37 |
| Liaison | Grace Afflerbach |
| Submission Date | Oct. 31, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Purchase College - State University of New York
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.07 / 10.00 |
Angie
Kim Sustainability Coordinator Facilities 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 | None |
| Purchased goods and services | None |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | All |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | None |
| 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 GHG emissions inventory was completed using SIMAP. The data was collected using utility bills from the 2017-2018 fiscal year, and old Second Nature GHG inventories to capture data from 2010-2014. The business travel portion of Scope 3 emissions was acquired from the mileage use of campus vehicles. The waste data was provided by our refuse hauler. The campus vehicles are utilized by employees and they are required to fill out a physical mileage log at check-out and check-in.
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:
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 | 8,730.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 8,873.75 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 70.08 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 55.31 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 5,353.69 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 9,520.47 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 | 14,154.37 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 18,449.53 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, 2011 | June 30, 2012 |
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):
This baseline was adopted because it was one of the final years without a full-time Energy Manager on campus to implement and track the campus energy usage. An Energy Manager was hired in 2012. In 2010, EO88 became in effect, a state order which mandates a 20 percent improvement (over 2010 levels) in the energy performance of State government buildings by April 2020. By 2013, Purchase was initiating projects and programs to drastically reduce energy usage per EO88.
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):
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 | 14,154.37 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 18,449.53 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,689 | 2,593 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 24 | 20 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 14 | 10 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 4,228 | 4,264 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 683 | 709 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 4,375.50 | 4,393 |
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 | 3.23 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 4.20 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 | 15,149 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 3,078 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 34,725 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 | 6.21 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | --- |
| Purchased goods and services | --- |
| Capital goods | --- |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | --- |
| Waste generated in operations | 4,068.84 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories | 279.99 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
Many energy reduction initiatives were established between 2011 and the performance year, 2017, to account for the GHG reductions. The college's first Senior Energy Manager was hired in 2012 to drastically improve energy efficiency. With the addition of a full-time, on-site, energy manager, the College implemented an energy management program to monitor energy use. The energy management program proved many inefficiencies related to personal temperature and lighting controls. The Energy Manager took those as an opportunity to standardize and limit personal controls to 2-3 degrees for temperature and install automatic sensors for lighting. Energy efficient retrofits became an important task to the college including lighting retrofits to LEDs, updating HVAC equipment, and implementing other green technologies, especially related to LEED building standards. Sustainability became an important aspect to the college as it was included in the Strategic Plan and an important task for Administration. A lot of engagement and education took place with a focus on residential students and coursework. The College is actively working to incorporate renewable energy and CHP projects for further reduction.
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.