| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 63.89 |
| Liaison | Christa Rieck |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2022 |
University of Houston
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.67 / 3.00 |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory within the previous three years that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
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 Houston utilized the Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform (SIMAP) from the UNH Sustainability Institute tool to calculate greenhouse gas emissions. The platform was based on the workbooks provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for national-level inventories, and it incorporates data from the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC. SIMAP has adapted this IPCC data for use at institutions like a college or university, but follows the same protocols.
Scope 3 emissions data was collected through different departments on campus:
-Commuting through Parking and Transportation (collected number of parking permits and by survey results estimated average distance).
-Air travel through Study Abroad Office (collected number of students who traveled abroad and their locations).
-Waste and water through UH Facilities
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:
After the greenhouse gas data collection process, the team reviewed the report with faculty within the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department who are specialized in climate modeling and greenhouse gas inventory. The faculty verified the collection process and scrutinized data inconsistencies. The data attached from SIMAP was cross-referenced against data gathered from the greater Houston area within the faculty's research database. Comments and suggestions were then incorporated into the SIMAP data. Their review served as an independent verification of the data collection process by Sustainability staff.
Documentation to support the GHG inventory verification process:
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Stationary combustion | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources (mobile combustion, process emissions, fugitive emissions) | 521.12 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year (market-based):
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Imported electricity | 109,564.52 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Imported thermal energy | 192.29 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year:
Gross GHG emissions from biogenic sources, performance year:
Does the GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from the following sources?:
| Yes or No | Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Business travel | Yes | 57.85 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | Yes | 102,946.66 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | Yes | 2,657.83 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources | Yes | 5,610.23 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:
Data was collected directly from Parking and Transportation, study abroad, and facilities services and then entered into the SIMAP Carbon Calculation tool. These MTCDE are very effected by COVID transit restrictions and as such do not represent a usual emissions year.
Has the institution completed an inventory within the previous three years to quantify its air pollutant emissions?:
Annual weight of emissions for::
| Weight of Emissions | |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) | --- |
| Sulfur oxides (SOx) | --- |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | --- |
| Particulate matter (PM) | --- |
| Ozone (O3) | --- |
| Lead (Pb) | --- |
| Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) | --- |
| Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) | --- |
| Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations | --- |
Do the air pollutant emissions figures provided include the following sources?:
| Yes or No | |
| Major stationary sources | --- |
| Area sources | --- |
| Mobile sources | --- |
| Commuting | --- |
| Off-site electricity production | --- |
A brief description of the methodology(ies) the institution used to complete its air emissions inventory:
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity (location-based):
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:
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.