| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.91 |
| Liaison | Elizabeth MacKenzie |
| Submission Date | June 25, 2024 |
University of Iowa
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.04 / 3.00 |
Brinda
Shetty Program Manager Office of Sustainability and the Environment |
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 inventory is conducted by EPA reporting standards - EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) using EPA's electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool (e-GGRT). The attached file is the data reported to the EPA in 2023.
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:
Scope 1 emissions are accounted for by EPA standards and Scope 2 are verified by University billing. Imported electricity converted to MTCO2e using EPA's Center for Corporate Climate Ledership, Scope 2 Emissions from Puchase Electricity GHG Caluclator Tool. Documentation for purchased electricity attached.
Documentation to support the GHG inventory verification process:
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Stationary combustion | 148,015.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources (mobile combustion, process emissions, fugitive emissions) | 0 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 | 85,261.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Imported thermal energy | 0 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 | --- | --- |
| 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 sources | --- | --- |
Total Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
A brief description of how the institution accounted for its Scope 3 emissions:
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) | 172.39 Tons |
| Sulfur oxides (SOx) | 55.96 Tons |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 125.70 Tons |
| Particulate matter (PM) | 53.74 Tons |
| Ozone (O3) | 0 Tons |
| Lead (Pb) | 0.01 Tons |
| Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) | 12.14 Tons |
| Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) | 0 Tons |
| Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations | 0 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 |
A brief description of the methodology(ies) the institution used to complete its air emissions inventory:
Emisions calulations use a standardized process to report actual facility wide emissions for each calendar year, as required by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). The unviersity records monthly, calculates the annual calendar year throughput, and multiplies each total by an IDNR accepted emission factor (EF) that is derived from emission point specific testing, manufacturer's data, AP-42, or other determination.
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:
As the university shifts away from coal as the primary fuel in the power plant, reportable air emissions from the power plant are decreasing. Comparing emissions from the years 2020 and 2023 show significant decreases in criteria pollutant emissions including SO2, NOx, VOC, CO, PM, PM10, and PM 2.5. Reportable emissions in 2023 were almost 300 tons less than reported emissions in 2020.
https://ghgdata.epa.gov/ghgp/service/facilityDetail/2022?id=1004790&ds=E&et=&popup=true
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.