Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.59
Liaison Chris Bond
Submission Date Oct. 30, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Unity Environmental University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.16 / 10.00 Steve Kahl
Director of Sustainability
Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Yes

Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 3 GHG emissions from any of the following categories?:
Yes or No
Business travel No
Commuting No
Purchased goods and services No
Capital goods No
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 No
Waste generated in operations No

Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from other categories?:
No

A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:

The actual data on total kWh and oil and gas purchased in the performance year and baseline year (as reported on the 2011 STARS report) were used to calculate carbon emissions using standard emission factors. The report is attached in ACUPCC format.


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:

The data have been reviewed by staff in the Executive Vice President's Office.


Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 662 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 574 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 636 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 551 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Institution-catalyzed carbon offsets generated 8.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 8.70 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
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 507 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 416 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the institution-catalyzed carbon offsets program:

The college has two solar arrays that generate 48,000 kWh/year for an offset of 62,000 lbs of CO2. The 5.4 KW array on Unity House is owned by the college and therefore we own the RECs. The 34.5 KW array on the library is a Power Purchase Agreement. We do NOT own the RECs and have not claimed them here. In addition, we purchase wind RECs for 1 million kWh/Yr (equivalent of 508 metric tons) while we are implementing our plan of generating 100% of our power on campus from solar PV and local wind. A third solar array that is coming on-line on our new residence hall (Unity 1) for an estimated 68 KW is not counted here. This array is expected to be a PPA for which we would not own the RECs and could not include them in campus generated offsets until we purchase the array.


A brief description of the carbon sequestration program and reporting protocol used:

The college controls 170 forested acres on the main campus and numerous forested or wetland parcels in the region. A forest management plan could be developed for carbon sequestration to formalize the carbon sequestration capacity of these lands and to earn future points in STARS.


A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:

The composte program presently only collects food waste from three buildings, generating an estimated 200 lbs per year of total compost. We have not estimated the carbon content of this small amount of potential carbon storage. If the program is expanded, it may be quantitative for our total carbon offsets compared to food procurement. The campus composts food waste from both dining halls which is fed to pigs on campus and in the region. This compost is not quantified.


A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:

The college purchased 1 million kWh (508 metric tones) from Renewable Choice Energy (www.renewablechoice.com) to bring our offset program to 99% of our electrical use. These 1,000 RECs were from western wind sources.


Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 431 361
Number of residential employees 2 2
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 589 584
Full-time equivalent of employees 144 121
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 0 0

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year July 1, 2013 June 30, 2014
Baseline Year July 1, 2010 June 30, 2011

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:

Baseline emissions were based on the previous performance year from the Unity College 2011 STARS report.


Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
248,000 Square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 5,000 Square feet
Healthcare space 2,500 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 0 Square feet

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
Emissions
Business travel ---
Commuting ---
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 (please specify below) ---

A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":
---

A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
The website URL where the GHG emissions inventory is posted:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:

In the past three years, the college has brought on-line a passive solar 10 student residence hall with minimal GHG emissions and a zero carbon 70 student residence hall. In addition, we have added a solar array (35 KW) on the library and have installed 6 pellet boilers to replace fossil fuel heat.


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

In the past three years, the college has brought on-line a passive solar 10 student residence hall with minimal GHG emissions and a zero carbon emissions 70 student residence hall that will have solar panels in late 2014 and uses pellet heat. We have installed 6 pellet boilers and added a 35 KW solar array on the library. We offset 99% of the remaining electric use through purchased RECs.


In the past three years, the college has brought on-line a passive solar 10 student residence hall with minimal GHG emissions and a zero carbon emissions 70 student residence hall that will have solar panels in late 2014 and uses pellet heat. We have installed 6 pellet boilers and added a 35 KW solar array on the library. We offset 99% of the remaining electric use through purchased RECs.

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.