Overall Rating	Gold
Overall Score	82.88
Liaison	Patrick McKee
Submission Date	Nov. 16, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of Connecticut
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	3.45 / 8.00	Patrick McKee Senior Sustainability Program Manager Office of Sustainability

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

Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions

Gross GHG emissions

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:

	Performance year	Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion	100,947.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	108,925.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources	2,891.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	7,953.53 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity	4,372.02 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	14,738.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Total	108,211.42 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	131,617.73 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Carbon sinks

Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:

	Performance year	Baseline year
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	5 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Institution-catalyzed carbon offsets generated	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon storage from on-site composting	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	3.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration	5,398.53 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	---
Carbon sold or transferred	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Net carbon sinks	0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	8.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):

For Carbon storage from on-site composting, an on-campus composting facility began operation in August 2010. It processes up to 800 tons per year of animal manure, but is sold to the community and therefore not used as a soil amendment on campus. 5,398.53 metric tons of CO2 equivalent is offset via carbon sequestration from forested land that is specifically managed by the University’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment for four reasons, including carbon sequestration, forest health and biodiversity, forest management practice demonstration, and outdoor research for natural resource conservation, as outlined in UConn’s Climate Action Plan. Carbon offset through sequestration is calculated under the assumption that every acre of sequestered forested land is equal to 2.56 metric tons of CO2 equivalent offset. This calculation comes from: Birdsey, Richard “Forest and Global Change Vol. 2”. UConn also has the Hillside Environmental Education Park (HEEP) which is managed by the UConn Office of Sustainability. The HEEP comprises of 165 acres of forested land in a land trust ensuring the area is preserved in perpetuity.

Adjusted net GHG emissions

Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:

	Performance year	Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions	108,211.42 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	131,609.23 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Performance and baseline periods

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):

	Performance year	Baseline year
Start date	Jan. 1, 2022	Jan. 1, 2007
End date	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2007

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:

Prior to 2007, inventory numbers are inconsistent. Data consistent with the calculator dates back most accurately from 2007 onwards. We use precise actual fuel consumption numbers and emissions data for all scope 1 and scope 2 emissions sources. At the time, 2007 was also the recommended baseline year for signatories to the ACUPCC (including UConn's President in 2008).

Part 1. Reduction in GHG emissions per person

Weighted campus users

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:

	Performance year	Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site	11,921	11,307
Number of employees resident on-site	19	26
Number of other individuals resident on-site	0	8
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment	21,410	18,602
Full-time equivalent of employees	4,340	4,604.70
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education	636	395
Weighted Campus Users	21,820.50	19,950.03

Metrics used in scoring for Part 1

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	4.96 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	6.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

24.83

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:

11,988,536.31 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:

	Floor area
Laboratory space	824,103.74 Square feet
Healthcare space	15,647.51 Square feet
Other energy intensive space	323,460.84 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:

13,991,499.65 Gross square feet

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

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

0.01 MtCO2e per square foot

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:

• Class III Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) generated by UConn’s Co-Generation Facility, sold to finance energy efficiency projects across campus generates approximately $2M annually
• 312 re-lamping projects completed for almost $1.5 per year savings in energy costs and 11,500 metric tons eCO2 avoided (ongoing)
• 23 retro-commissioning projects completed for $1.6 million per year savings in energy costs and almost 12,000 metric tons eCO2 avoided
• LEED Gold certification requirement for all new building and renovations over $5 million
• Several other Energy Conservation Measure (ECM) projects optimizing heating and cooling in buildings for over $700,000 in annual cost savings and around 5,400 metric tons eCO2 avoided
• Long-term electricity purchasing agreement with ConEd Solutions and Direct Energy for 100% of purchased electricity comprised of renewable energy
• Replacement of leaking steam system sections of distribution and condensate return pipes (approx. 5,000 linear ft. per summer since 2016), has reduced fuel consumption and GHG emissions from generating steam
• Agricultural/organic waste composting facility operating at maximum load of 800 metric tons per year
• 460 kW fuel cell and a total of approximately 45 kW in four separate rooftop solar arrays, three providing electricity (PV) and one providing thermal energy for hot water
• Department of Energy’s Workplace Charging Challenge pledge signed: 54 active EV charging ports at 11 separate locations on the Storrs Campus with an expanding EV fleet
• Hybrids and EVs are purchased to replace gasoline light duty vehicles whenever they are retired.
• Annual EcoMadness energy and water use reduction competition in residence halls

Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available:

https://sustainability.uconn.edu/what-is-uconn-greenhouse-gas-inventory/

Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

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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.