| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 76.20 |
| Liaison | Tori Grant |
| Submission Date | Dec. 21, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Calgary
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.02 / 10.00 |
Adam
Stoker Sustainability Consultant Office of Sustainability |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
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 | None |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | None |
| Other categories | None |
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:
The university's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are quantified under the operational control approach. This means that emissions from all operations are reported if the UCalgary has the authority to introduce and implement policies at those operations. Emissions are presented in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent. Emission factors were primarily formulated using information from Environment Canada's National Inventory Report (NIR). Where the NIR lacked required data, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and Transport Canada were also used as sources of information in deriving emission factors
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 internal and/or external verification process:
The University of Calgary's Director of Energy & Utilities performed an internal audit of the 2014/2015 Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 and Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions):
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 85,922 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 49,468.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 639 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 664.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 76,718 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 158,777.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 22,200 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 31,044.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Total | 185,479 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 239,954.60 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, 2014 | March 31, 2015 |
| Baseline Year | April 1, 2008 | March 31, 2009 |
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 University's 2008/2009 Fiscal Year was chosen as the baseline year, as it was the first year that the University published a greenhouse gas inventory following the university’s signing of the University and College Climate Change Statement of Action for Canada.
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 | 3.80 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 | 3.80 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):
During the baseline year, the university composted all of the leaf and yard waste from its grounds. An estimated 25 cubic meters were composted. Using a volume to weight conversion of 600lbs/cubic yard for finished compost the university composted roughly 8.9 tonnes of material. This data was then entered into the Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator to obtain 3.8 metric tonnes CO2e offset. The University of Calgary does not currently track on-site composting.
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 | 133.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:
146 MWh of Renewable Energy Credits (REC) were purchased in the 2008/09 baseline year. This data was then entered into the Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator to obtain an offset of 133.3 metric tonnes CO2e in the STARS baseline year.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 185,479 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 239,817.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,493 | 2,111 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 28,134 | 24,650 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 4,964 | 4,831 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 901 | 312 |
| Weighted campus users | 24,771 | 22,404.50 |
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 | 7.49 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 10.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 110,493 Square meters |
| Healthcare space | 5,126 Square meters |
| Other energy intensive space | 59,982 Square meters |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
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 | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Please note that the University's 2014/2015 Fiscal Year was chosen as the performance year, based on the availability of complete greenhouse gas emissions data. As such, the weight campus user information and building area figures used in the calculation of this credit is slightly different that that used elsewhere in the submission. The floor area of energy intensive building space values are consistent with the remainder of the submission as there were no significant changes in these areas between 2014/15 and 2015/16.
Please note that the University's 2014/2015 Fiscal Year was chosen as the performance year, based on the availability of complete greenhouse gas emissions data. As such, the weight campus user information and building area figures used in the calculation of this credit is slightly different that that used elsewhere in the submission. The floor area of energy intensive building space values are consistent with the remainder of the submission as there were no significant changes in these areas between 2014/15 and 2015/16.
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.