| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.92 |
| Liaison | Katie Maynard |
| Submission Date | Aug. 19, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of California, Santa Barbara
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.11 / 10.00 |
Jewel
Snavely Campus Sustainability Coordinator, TGIF Grants Manager Office of Sustainability |
Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 3 GHG emissions from any of the following categories?:
| Yes or No | |
| Business travel | Yes |
| Commuting | Yes |
| 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?:
A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:
The Climate Registry Information System (CRIS) tool is used to complete the GHG emissions inventory of the University of California, Santa Barbara. CRIS is The Climate Registry’s online greenhouse gas (GHG) calculation, reporting, and verification tool. CRIS also provides public access to The Registry’s verified emission reports.
http://www.theclimateregistry.org/climate-registry-information-system-cris/
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:
Our GHG emissions inventory is validated through The Climate Registry, a nonprofit collaboration among North American states, provinces, territories, and Native Sovereign Nations that sets consistent and transparent standards to calculate, verify, and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions in a single registry.
http://www.theclimateregistry.org/
Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 21,204.32 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 17,893 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,421.84 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1,091 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 28,746.27 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 39,581.47 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 | 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 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 902 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution-catalyzed carbon offsets program:
The University of California, Santa Barbara strives to offset greenhouse gas emissions through various activities and programs within UCSB and the greater Santa Barbara area. The University has a Greenhouse and Garden Project that promotes the growth of pesticide-free, organic produce that can be utilized by community members. UCSB also partners with local environmental education groups in order to promote greenhouse gas reduction strategies to the public. Another source is The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) which funds projects that show GHG reductions.
A brief description of the carbon sequestration program and reporting protocol used:
A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:
A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:
These offsets were purchased for achievement of LEED certification for two Existing Buildings projects, Ellison Hall and Santa Rosa Hall. Green-e certified Renewable Energy Certificates were purchased from Renewable Choice Energy for this project.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 8,101 | 4,048 |
| Number of residential employees | 87 | 0 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 20,562 | 19,962 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 4,267 | 4,341 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 387 | 390 |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Jan. 1, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2000 | Dec. 31, 2000 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
The GHG Baseline was selected to align with our Climate Action Plan and existing UC policy which set a goal of all campuses reducing their emissions to 2000 levels by 2014.. In March 2007, University of California (UC) President Robert C. Dynes signed the American College and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) on behalf of all UC Chancellors. ACUPCC membership requires development of a Climate Action Plan to establish strategic Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction measures, as well as to set a target date for climate neutrality.
The UC Policy on Sustainable Practices sets system-wide policy guidelines and implementation procedures for environmental impact minimization and operational sustainability, including the following provisions regarding Climate Protection Practices:
• With an overall goal of reducing GHG emissions while maintaining enrollment accessibility for every eligible student, enhancing research, promoting community service, and operating campus facilities more efficiently, the University will develop a long term strategy for voluntarily meeting the State of California’s goal, pursuant to California Assembly Bill 32 (AB32), The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, that is, by 2020, to reduce GHG emissions to 1990 levels.
• The University will pursue the goal of reducing GHG emissions to 2000 levels by 2014.
• The University will develop an action plan for becoming climate neutral which will include a feasibility study for meeting the 2014 and 2020 goals (and) a target date for achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible while maintaining the University’s overall mission.
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 763,324 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 14,532 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 4,746 Square feet |
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
| Emissions | |
| Business travel | 27,684 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 12,801 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| 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":
Only Air travel and Commuter emissions were included under scope 3 emissions
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:
UC Santa Barbara has pursued aggressive energy efficiency and conservation efforts over the last few years which have allowed the campus to achieved the 2014 reduction target of 2000 emissions levels two years early.
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.