| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.69 |
| Liaison | Trevor Ledbetter |
| Submission Date | Jan. 6, 2025 |
University of Arizona
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.46 / 3.00 |
Trevor
Ledbetter Director Office of Sustainability |
Part 1. Greenhouse gas emissions inventory
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 University of Arizona works closely with a third-party, Gordian, to collect, analyze, and submit greenhouse gas emissions data to the SIMAP carbon-accounting platform.
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:
Our annual greenhouse gas inventory is third-party verified by Gordian. This data is also reviewed continuously during the inventory process by the Senior Director for the Office of Sustainability and the Energy Manager within University Facilities Services to ensure that the data represents an accurate and complete inventory of the University of Arizona's greenhouse emissions.
During this process, data sources, notable year-to-year changes, and potential missing information is addressed. The University of Arizona submits data to the SIMAP carbon accounting platform. Additionally, a part of the annual reports uses peers as a benchmark and comparison to see where we stand in comparison. This includes things such as energy used compared to the amount of space used.
Additionally, the University tracks sources of emissions from all three scops. Scope 1 includes emissions from natural gas, vehicle fleets, refrigerants, and fertilizer. Scope 2 includes emissions from electricity use. Scope 3 includes emissions from commuting, study abroad, solid waste, paper purchasing, wastewater, and electricity transmission or distribution losses. By tracking these over time, the University is able to verify areas that are improving and areas of need.
Documentation to support the GHG inventory verification process:
Scope 1 GHG emissions
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Stationary combustion | 81,153.31 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources (mobile combustion, process emissions, fugitive emissions) | 3,159.28 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
Scope 2 GHG emissions
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Imported electricity | 2,678.01 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Imported thermal energy | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year:
GHG emissions from biomass combustion
Scope 3 GHG emissions
| Yes or No | Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Business travel | Yes | 32,923.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | Yes | 16,461.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| 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 | Yes | 4,938.57 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources | Yes | 548.73 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:
The University of Arizona currently tracks emissions associated with student and employee commuting, directly financed and study abroad air travel, waste, wastewater, and transmission and distribution losses.
Commuting emissions from employees are calculated using survey results provided by the Pima Association of Governments, which conducts a Travel Reduction Survey each year, requiring a response rate of 50% or more of University employees. Commuting emissions from students are calculated using survey results from an internally conducted survey issued once every 2-4 years.
Directly financed air travel is calculated using data pulled from financial transactions, both purchasing card and reimbursed transactions, which provide departure and destination airports. Study abroad air travel is calculated using departure and destination locations associated with participant itineraries provided by Arizona International.
Waste emissions are calculated from the total weight of landfill, hazardous, recyclable, and compostable materials that leave campus.
Wastewater emissions are calculated based on total water use, less water used in irrigation and for cooling needs (evaporation).
T&D emissions are calculated based on non-renewable energy purchased for our main campus.
Part 2. Air pollutant emissions inventory
Annual weight of emissions for::
| Weight of Emissions | |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) | 51.88 Tons |
| Sulfur oxides (SOx) | 2.98 Tons |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 36.21 Tons |
| Particulate matter (PM) | 12.42 Tons |
| Ozone (O3) | --- |
| Lead (Pb) | --- |
| Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) | 1.27 Tons |
| Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) | --- |
| Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations | 3.28 Tons |
Do the air pollutant emissions figures provided include the following sources?:
| Yes or No | |
| Major stationary sources | Yes |
| Area sources | No |
| Mobile sources | No |
| Commuting | No |
| Off-site electricity production | No |
The University of Arizona uses the mass balance methodology to report its yearly Facility Level GHG emissions to the EPA. The University reports carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions.
Optional Fields
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:
Additional information: http://ghgdata.epa.gov/ghgp/main.do
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.