| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 77.34 |
| Liaison | Sally DeLeon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2022 |
University of Maryland, College Park
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.68 / 8.00 |
Emily
Hightower Sustainability Coordinator Environmental Safety, Sustainability, and Risk |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 103,197.33 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 128,274.19 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 7,132.43 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 18,841.69 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 78,028.50 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 | 110,329.76 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 225,144.38 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 21,772 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 storage from on-site composting | 680.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | --- |
| Carbon sold or transferred | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Net carbon sinks | 22,452.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
The university purchases verified carbon offsets to make 100% of air travel for university business, athletics and education abroad carbon neutral (as of 2017); to offset undergraduate student commuting (as of 2018); and to implement the carbon neutral new development initiative (as of 2015). 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 contracts with Native Energy and WGL. Projects include international wind farms, local methane capture at landfills in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and other clean energy and water projects. WGL offsets are 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.
UMD is also exploring opportunities to track and report on carbon sequestered by campus forest and above-ground biomass. This project is a partnership between research, academics, and operations at UMD.
The University has also significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with purchased power. In addition to meeting the requirements of the State of Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, UMD has also committed to purchasing 100% of grid purchased electricity from renewable energy sources.
To meet RPS requirements in 2020, UMD used a combination of renewable energy credits (RECs) from Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and the renewable energy market. All projects were verified to comply with the State of Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. Non-PPA RECs are from renewable energy projects that deliver electricity to the PJM region. The following RECs were retired to meet State of Maryland RPS requirements:
-- 2,898 RECs were retired from a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a Constellation Energy solar farm at Mt. Saint Mary's University
-- 17,356 RECs were retired from a PPA with Edison Mission Energy's Pinnacle wind farm in West Virginia
-- 2,406 RECs were retired from a PPA with Elawan Energy's Roth Rock wind farm in Western Maryland
-- 23,232 RECs were procured through WGL Energy to meet additional Tier 1 and 2 requirements
-- 3,082 RECs were retired by WGL Energy from renewable energy projects in the region on UMD’s behalf
To meet voluntary commitments, UMD retired more than 120,000 National Green-e RECs in 2020.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 87,876.83 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):
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Start date | Jan. 1, 2020 | July 1, 2004 |
| End date | Dec. 31, 2020 | June 30, 2005 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
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 “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 11,776 | 10,623 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 37,316 | 31,170 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 9,277.30 | 7,471 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 988 | 0 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 37,147.98 | 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 | 2.37 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 | 954,238 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 15,817 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 517,264 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:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
The University of Maryland has already achieved many of its original CAP goals. Notable accomplishments include:
-- Reducing the campus net carbon footprint 62% from 2005 to 2020 despite growing campus facilities by 15% during that period
-- Procuring 100% of its purchased electricity from renewable sources in 2020
-- 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 - one of the largest minors at UMD
-- Educating more than 16,000 students in their first semester at UMD about sustainability challenges and opportunities
The University has also significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with purchased power. In addition to meeting the requirements of The State of Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, UMD has also committed to purchasing 100% of grid purchased electricity from renewable energy sources.
Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions 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.
UMD's Climate Action Plan: https://sustainingprogress.umd.edu/progress-commitments/climate-action-plan
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.
UMD's Climate Action Plan: https://sustainingprogress.umd.edu/progress-commitments/climate-action-plan
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.