Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 34.87
Liaison DeLayne Miller
Submission Date June 30, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Tennessee Technological University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.33 / 10.00 DeLayne Miller
Sustainability Manager
Facilities:Office of Sustainability
"---" 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 Some
Commuting None
Purchased goods and services Some
Capital goods Some
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:

UNH's Campus Carbon Calculator. Each category was accounted for by Tennessee Tech's Business and Facilities Office and Office of Sustainability.


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 11,451.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 17,516.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 22,466.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 20,632.70 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 33,917.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 38,148.80 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, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2010 June 30, 2011

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):
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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):

On-site composting was adopted three years ago. However, no third-party verification was performed.


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 379.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 379.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:

Our primary REC is TVA's Green Power Switch program. Green Power Switch and Green Power Switch SE RECs are Green-e Energy certified products, and meet the environmental and consumer-protected standards set forth by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. https://www.tva.com/Energy/Valley-Renewable-Energy/Green-Power-Switch/Green-Power-Switch-for-Business


Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 33,538.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 37,769.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,252 2,200
Number of employees resident on-site 75 70
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 9,125 8,562
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,150 1,100
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 352.18 250
Weighted campus users 8,023.87 7,626.50

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 4.18 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 4.95 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
15.60

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
3,086,199 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 298,994 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 63,990 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
3,748,177 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 555.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 68.60 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 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 8,761.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

Tennessee Tech has a Zero Emissions week in which students and faculty are encouraged to use alternate methods of transportation. Tennessee Tech hosts sustainability centered Think Tanks each semester to promote environmental awareness. The university has setup water-fill stations to cut down on plastic waste. Each dorm room is now equipped with a medium size recycling bin for plastics and paper. The university has solar-powered charging tables throughout campus. Our bus stop lighting is powered by solar panels. The university has partaken in a campus wide tree planting event through multiple parties. Tennessee Tech is currently working to expand the composting program to help reduce waste.


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.