| Overall Rating | Platinum |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 92.73 |
| Liaison | Emmanuelle Jodoin |
| Submission Date | Oct. 24, 2022 |
Université de Sherbrooke
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.00 / 3.00 |
Patrice
Cordeau Assistant Vice-President, Sustainable Development Office of the Vice-President, Administration and Sustainable Development |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory within the previous three years that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
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:
The Université de Sherbrooke conducts an annual inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the specifications and guidelines of the ISO 14064-1. The GHG inventory includes:
• Direct sources of emissions, related to fixed and mobile equipment, from combustion and fugitive emissions, which are directly related to the Université de Sherbrooke's activities (Scope 1)
• Indirect sources of emissions, related to hydroelectricity consumption and steam purchased at the health campus, which are generated from imported energy (Scope 2)
• Indirect sources of emissions due to the transport of people (Scope 3), namely
o Emissions related to commuting
o Emissions related to business travel
• Indirect sources of GHG emissions due to the products used (Scope 3), namely
o Emissions related to the management of residual materials (recycling, recovery, landfill, and transport)
o Emissions due to the production and transport of office paper
o Emissions from the treatment of drinking water and wastewater
o Emissions from the production and transport of fossil fuels
• Indirect GHG emissions from other sources (Scope 3) are also presented, namely
o Emissions related to spaces owned by the University and rented to third parties
o Emissions related to spaces rented by the University for its activities
The quantification methodology for the inventory calculations is based on activity data multiplied by emission factors. For Scope 3 emissions, which are by definition emissions that are not directly under the control of the Université de Sherbrooke, the activity data was determined from secondary sources of information. Overall, these emissions are subject to a higher level of uncertainty. Section 4 of the 2020-2021 GHG emissions report presents the methods and factors used in more detail.
In the Stratégie de carboneutralité [EN: Carbon Neutrality Strategy] published in spring 2019, the Université de Sherbrooke committed to being carbon neutral for its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. However, at the L’UdeS, en vert et contre les changements climatiques [EN : UdeS, in green and against climate change] day held on June 16, 2022, the university committed to achieving this goal eight years earlier than planned, i.e., as early as its 2021-2022 budget year.
https://www.usherbrooke.ca/actualites/relations-medias/communiques/2022/juin/communiques-detail/47918
For other indirect emissions (Scope 3), programs are in place to enable members of the university community to reduce emissions. Examples of such measures are the open access public transport programs for students and employees.
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 GHG inventory verification process:
In 2022, the 2020-2021 emission inventory was reviewed and audited by independent environmental services firm Enviro-Accès, which is an independent validation and verification body from the Standards Council of Canada and a technical assistance provider.
Documentation to support the GHG inventory verification process:
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Stationary combustion | 5,136 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources (mobile combustion, process emissions, fugitive emissions) | 365 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year (market-based):
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Imported electricity | 88 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Imported thermal energy | 275 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year:
Gross GHG emissions from biogenic sources, performance year:
Does the GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from the following sources?:
| Yes or No | Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Business travel | Yes | 230 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | Yes | 5,132 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | Yes | 199 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | Yes | 5,832 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | Yes | 515 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources | Yes | 1,659 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
A brief description of how the institution accounted for its Scope 3 emissions:
GHG emissions from business travel are calculated from ground travel (km or gasoline reimbursed for business travel or number of trips in the intercity transportation program between the Sherbrooke and Longueuil campuses).
GHG emissions from commuting are calculated from a survey that was conducted in 2018. This questionnaire was redistributed to the entire university community on all campuses in the winter of 2022 and will be used to update the data in the next inventory.
GHG emissions from purchased goods and services refer to emissions related to the production and transport of paper consumed and are calculated from purchase reports. This category also includes emissions from the treatment of drinking water consumed and wastewater treatment.
GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 estimate emissions related to fuel production from the quantities of fuel consumed calculated in all other reported emissions categories (direct and indirect due to imported energy, transport of people and goods and services).
GHG emissions from waste generated in operations refer to emissions related to the transport and processing of reused materials, recycled materials, composted materials, and landfilled residual materials.
GHG emissions from other sources concern emissions related to other energy consumption that are from fixed equipment and are in either spaces rented to third parties belonging to the University or spaces occupied by the University, but that are not under its control.
Section 4 of the 2020-2021 GHG emissions report presents the methods and factors used in greater detail.
Has the institution completed an inventory within the previous three years to quantify its air pollutant emissions?:
Annual weight of emissions for::
| Weight of Emissions | |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) | 4,409 Metric tons |
| Sulfur oxides (SOx) | 0.49 Metric tons |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 3,582 Metric tons |
| Particulate matter (PM) | 0.28 Metric tons |
| Ozone (O3) | 0 Metric tons |
| Lead (Pb) | 0 Metric tons |
| Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) | 0 Metric tons |
| Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) | 0 Metric tons |
| Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations | 0.23 Metric tons |
Do the air pollutant emissions figures provided include the following sources?:
| Yes or No | |
| Major stationary sources | Yes |
| Area sources | No |
| Mobile sources | Yes |
| Commuting | Yes |
| Off-site electricity production | No |
A brief description of the methodology(ies) the institution used to complete its air emissions inventory:
An air pollutant inventory was produced based on the Université de Sherbrooke's 2020-2021 greenhouse gas inventory.
The air pollutant inventory presents the quantities of various relevant air pollutants in consideration of STARS parameters; nevertheless, the university's air pollutant releases are significantly below the national thresholds considered for reporting requirements.
In order to carry out this inventory, the calculation methods used for this inventory are consistent with the National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) reporting methods for the combustion of natural gas and fuel oil (major stationary sources) and diesel (mobile sources and commuting) on campus. The emission factors used are those from EPA AP-42.
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity (location-based):
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy (location-based) :
Website URL where information about the institution’s emissions inventories 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.