University of Massachusetts Amherst
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.20 / 8.00 |
Ezra
Small Sustainability Manager Physical Plant |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 104,940 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 111,482 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,339.78 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1,916 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 9,460 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 63,513 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 | 115,739.78 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 176,911 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 0 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 | 0 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 | 0 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):
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 115,739.78 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 176,911 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 | July 1, 2021 | July 1, 2003 |
| End date | June 30, 2022 | June 30, 2004 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
FY2004 was selected as the baseline year because UMass reports annually to the MA DOER Leading by Example Program which uses Executive Order 484 (updated to EO 594 in 2022) goals and 2004 baseline year as a benchmark for tracking progress.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 13,390 | 11,539 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 83 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 29,863.80 | 22,498 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 7,265.10 | 5,838 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 4,525.50 | 388 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 27,820.80 | 23,845.75 |
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 | 4.16 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 7.42 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 | 506,661.75 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 62,057.71 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 486,316.45 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:
UMass Carbon Zero: UMass Amherst launched a very ambitious carbon neutrality plan and goal of zero carbon by 2032, announced by the Chancellor on Earth Day of 2022. The plan relies on multiple strategies but focuses on two main strategies including geo-exchange heating and cooling systems, and conversion from steam production and distribution to low temperature hot water distribution, resulting in full electrification of the campus energy system. More information on this plan visit www.umass.edu/carbon-neutrality.
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:
Explanation for why Scope 2 emissions have dropped substantially from performance over baseline years:
Scope 2 emissions are directly calculated from imported grid electricity so large reductions of scope 2 from performance year over baseline year are two fold:
1. As reported in OP5: imported grid electricity for performance year (FY22): ~34M kwh vs baseline year (FY04): ~113M kwh, so we just now import far less grid electricity due to our ability to generate electricity at our CHP since 2008-2009.
2. The ISO-NE grid has also become much greener over the last 20 years due to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requiring grid operators to supply the grid with certain percentages of renewables escalating annually, this law did not exist in 2004.
Explanation for why Scope 2 emissions have dropped substantially from performance over baseline years:
Scope 2 emissions are directly calculated from imported grid electricity so large reductions of scope 2 from performance year over baseline year are two fold:
1. As reported in OP5: imported grid electricity for performance year (FY22): ~34M kwh vs baseline year (FY04): ~113M kwh, so we just now import far less grid electricity due to our ability to generate electricity at our CHP since 2008-2009.
2. The ISO-NE grid has also become much greener over the last 20 years due to the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requiring grid operators to supply the grid with certain percentages of renewables escalating annually, this law did not exist in 2004.
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.