| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.47 |
| Liaison | Sally DeLeon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2019 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Maryland, College Park
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
7.16 / 10.00 |
Sally
DeLeon Acting Manager Environmental Safety, Sustainability and Risk |
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 | Some |
| Commuting | Some |
| Purchased goods and services | None |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | Some |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | Some |
| Other categories | Some |
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:
Staff in the Office of Sustainability collect data from all relevant departments each year. For 2017 data the staff used the Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform (SIMAP) to calculate Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. Before 2017 staff used the most recent version of the Campus Carbon Calculator to complete a campus-wide greenhouse gas inventory (this calculator is owned and maintained by the Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire, but was replaced with SIMAP in 2018). Results are reported through UMD's annual Sustainability Progress Report and the Reporting System of the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
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:
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 | 110,830.09 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 128,274.19 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 11,846.54 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 18,841.69 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 10,544.59 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 78,028.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Total | 133,221.22 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 225,144.38 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 | Jan. 1, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
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 GHG emissions baseline was adopted in 2009 as part of UMD's first Climate Action Plan. FY 2005 was chosen because prior State of Maryland energy reduction requirements used FY 2005 as a baseline year.
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased (exclude purchased RECs/GOs) | 47,847 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 | 680.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 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 | 48,527.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 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):
In Calendar Year 2017, the university purchased verified carbon offsets to make 100% of air travel for university business, athletics and education abroad carbon neutral, and address a small portion of faculty and staff commuting. All offsets were third-party verified using Verra (formerly Verified Carbon Standard/VCS) standards or Climate Action Reserve (CAR) standards. Verified offsets were sourced through a contract with WGL from projects capturing methane at landfills in the Chesapeake Bay region, and were bundled with financial and volunteer support for tree planting projects throughout Maryland managed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Carbon storage from on-site composting is done in partnership with Prince George's county and the final product is returned to the university for use on its farm and grounds.
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 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:
735 RECs are from a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a Constellation Energy solar farm at Mt. Saint Mary's University and are verified to comply with the State of Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard; 4,200 RECs are from a PPA with Edison Mission Energy's Pinnacle wind farm in West Virginia and are verified to comply with the State of Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard; 2,470 RECs are from a PPA with Elawan Energy's Roth Rock wind farm in Western Maryland and are verified to comply with the State of Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard.
2,622 RECs were procured through WGL Energy from renewable energy projects that deliver electricity to the PJM region and are verified to comply with the State of Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard; 5,923 RECs were procured from Ingenco from renewable energy projects in the PJM region and are verified to comply with the State of Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard; 78,547 RECs are National Green-e certified from renewable energy projects around the US and were also procured through WGL Energy; 2,422 RECs were retired by WGL Energy from renewable energy projects in the region on UMD's behalf and are verified to comply with the State of Maryland's Renewable Portfolio Standard.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 84,693.29 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 225,144.38 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 12,065 | 10,623 |
| 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 | 37,383.67 | 31,170 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 9,397.34 | 7,471 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 837.90 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 37,473.58 | 31,636.50 |
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 | 2.26 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 7.12 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 | 828,856 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 0 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 350,470 Square feet |
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 | 34,381.89 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 33,016.46 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | --- |
| Capital goods | --- |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 4,157.05 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 2,224.59 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories | 13,418.53 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
The University of Maryland has already achieved many of its original CAP goals. Notable accomplishments include:
Reducing its net carbon footprint 49% from 2005 to 2017 despite growing campus facilities by 11% during that period;
Getting 86% of its purchased electricity from renewable sources in 2017;
Implementing several performance contracts, reducing energy consumption 20% or more in select buildings;
Increasing the percentage of commuters who choose alternative transportation for daily commuting;
Cutting emissions associated with solid waste by 99%;
Creating a Sustainability Studies Minor - now the largest minor at UMD;
Educating more than 11,000 students in their first semester at UMD about sustainability challenges and opportunities;
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:
Refrigerants inputs are included for the performance year in the uploaded greenhouse gas inventory but not for prior years. On the eCO2 summary tab, refrigerant emissions for prior years have been added to the scope 1 totals.
Scope 3 emissions reported as "Other categories" includes estimated GHG emissions from Study Abroad Air Travel.
Estimated emissions from Transmission and Distribution Losses from upstream electricity are included in Scope 3 emissions.
Refrigerants inputs are included for the performance year in the uploaded greenhouse gas inventory but not for prior years. On the eCO2 summary tab, refrigerant emissions for prior years have been added to the scope 1 totals.
Scope 3 emissions reported as "Other categories" includes estimated GHG emissions from Study Abroad Air Travel.
Estimated emissions from Transmission and Distribution Losses from upstream electricity are included in Scope 3 emissions.
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.