Overall Rating	Gold - expired
Overall Score	69.54
Liaison	Mike Versteege
Submission Date	June 30, 2017
Executive Letter	Download

STARS v2.1

University of Alberta
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	3.29 / 10.00	Michael Versteege Manager, Energy Management & Sustainable Operations Facilities & Operations

"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1

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	None
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	All
Other categories	None

A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:

UofA_GHG_UpdateReportAndSummary_January2017.pdf

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 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory was compiled and reported by Energy Management and Sustainable Operations (EMSO) in Facilities & Operations (F&O). The university's GHG emissions are tracked and analyzed using a spreadsheet by Clean Air Cool Planet (CA-CP). Using emission factors, the spreadsheet calculates GHG emissions from data collected from Utilities, F&O, Finance and other relevant departments. Because several departments are contacted to collect the immense amount of information required to complete the inventory, EMSO has created a Standard Operating Procedure outlying all the contacts and steps to gather, calculate, and analyse all necessary information needed to create an annual, complete GHG emissions inventory. The GHG emissions inventory follows the "operational control" approach to define its organizational boundary. Operational control is defined as having full authority to introduce and implement the university’s operating policies. As a result, Enterprise Square, the Jubilee Auditorium and properties operated by Alberta Health Services and Canadian Blood Services are not included in our inventory because the university does not have operational control of these buildings. Data for Scope 3 emissions are also collected by EMSO from the appropriate department: waste and wastewater emissions are compiled by Buildings and Grounds Servicse; additional transmission and distribution losses are compiled from Utilities. These Scope 3 emissions are also analyzed using the CA-CP spreadsheet.

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?:

Yes

A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:

The university's most recent GHG emissions inventory has been reviewed and validated internally by Utilities staff. Blue Source Canada has reviewed and approved the methodology, as well as the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan and the quantified emissions reductions of individual efficiency projects.

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

Part 2

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion	156,030.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	112,598.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources	6,674.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	4,747.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity	123,110.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	94,844.70 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	285,815 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	212,190.20 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	April 1, 2015	March 31, 2016
Baseline Year	April 1, 2005	March 31, 2006

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 2005 baseline year was adopted to align with the university's GHG emissions reduction goal. At the time that the university's goal was set, the Government of Canada was also using 2005 for its own baseline measurements.

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	55 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	55 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	55 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	55 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

If total performance year carbon offsets are greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):

The University of Alberta has reserved approximately 8 hectares of land on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan River adjacent to North Campus. This land is set aside and will not be developed. The GHG emissions sink resulting from this forest reserve is approximately 55 tonnes per year. In addition, reserving this land maintains an unbroken length of the river valley, helping to preserve wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

The reporting fields in the table below are reserved for institutions that have NOT already accounted for renewable energy purchases (including RECs and GOs) in their Scope 2 GHG emissions calculations. Other institutions - including all SIMAP users - should report zero ('0') to avoid double-counting.

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:

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Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions	285,760 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	212,135.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site	4,678	3,952
Number of employees resident on-site	14	0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds	519	615
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment	34,693	32,125
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty)	9,604	8,147
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education	0	0
Weighted campus users	34,914.75	31,807

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	8.18 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	6.67 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

Part 3

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:

1,562,125.43 Gross square meters

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:

	Floor Area
Laboratory space	225,232.97 Square meters
Healthcare space	0 Square meters
Other energy intensive space	224,435.65 Square meters

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:

24,079,158.44 Gross square meters

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:

0.01 MtCO2e per square meter

Optional Fields

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:

	Emissions
Business travel	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services	0 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	4,057 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories	16,539.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

The University of Alberta has released detailed GHG emissions inventory reports for 2005-06 and 2012-13, and has produced a simplified inventory for 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16. Another detailed report will be published in 2020. The inventory allows Facilities and Operations to better plan for reductions, manage sustainability data, and support sustainability reporting. The urgency and scale of the challenge of global climate change is a call to action for all. Leaders like the University of Alberta have a special role to play in modeling the way to a sustainable future. In 2014, the university set a goal to reduce emissions 17 per cent below 2005 levels by the year 2020, matching the Government of Canada's goal set under the Copenhagen Accord. As a globally recognized leader in post-secondary education and research, and a leader in sustainability, the University of Alberta plans to align future reductions plans with changing government commitments. The university has made considerable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions over the years due to past energy management projects and the efficiencies of operating a district energy system. Together, these initiatives help the university avoid about 77,000 tonnes annually. As emissions reduction goals and strategies are set, it is essential to recognize and celebrate these past successes, and consider the future goals and strategies with these achievements in mind. The university's many energy efficiency projects will help meet this emissions reduction goal. Examples of actions taken to reduce GHG emissions over the previous three years include: - Retrofitting lighting - Installing occupancy sensors across North Campus - Running a pilot project that used people counters to calibrate the building automation system so that it doesn't provide excess heat/electricity to underused spaces - Educating to close unused fume hoods - Ensuring new and renovated buildings meet LEED or Green Globes standards. - Working to certify all buildings under BOMA BEST

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:

http://sustainability.ualberta.ca/CampusInitiatives/Energy/Greenhouse%20Gas%20Emissions.aspx

Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE PARTY Lauren Hall Sustainability Coordinator Energy Management and Sustainable Operations