Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 42.13 |
Liaison | Eva Rocke |
Submission Date | June 30, 2017 |
Executive Letter | Download |
University of Montana
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
4.27 / 10.00 |
Madeleine
Jones ASUM Sustainability Coordinator ASUM |
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 | All |
Commuting | All |
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 | None |
Other categories | None |
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:
UM used the Clean Air Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator administered by the University of New Hampshire. The completed inventory we are sharing in this STARS report is version 7.0, but as of summer 2017, we are completing our 4th inventory to include FY15/16.
To account for commuting-related emissions, we used commuter survey data from a 2015 campus survey. To determine university subsidized air travel, UM's business services office compiles air fare expenditures for the years requested. Using best practices for converting expenditures to air miles (varies for each fiscal year), we estimated annual air miles traveled by university employees. Currently, UM subsidizes very little airfare for study abroad participants, so air travel numbers are primarily from research, professional development, university business, and recruitment travel.
All of the university's solid waste, aside from what is diverted through reuse and recycling, is managed by a single local waste disposal entity in Missoula. The landfill does not currently burn methane to generate energy, but does burn it off. We receive monthly solid waste volume records from our waste hauler and estimate pounds of waste generated by using assumptions for campus waste weight-to-volume conversions. Just this year we have begun to weigh our dumpsters around campus each quarter in order to have more accurate measurements of waste generation on campus.
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:
When we have completed our next emissions inventory (FY 15 and 16), we will have the inventory reviewed by one of our faculty in the School of Business and the campus sustainability committee. The sustainability committee is not responsible for generating any of the data that is included in the inventory and the diverse expertise of the group will be valuable as we work to educate and engage campus community members on emissions sources and reduction efforts.
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 | 14,266.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 16,763.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,284.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 14,294.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 15,739.50 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 | 29,845.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 32,502.70 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 | July 1, 2013 | June 30, 2014 |
Baseline Year | July 1, 2006 | June 30, 2007 |
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):
UM's baseline emissions year was adopted in 2010 when our first GHG emissions inventory was conducted and we developed our climate action plan. Retired university president George Dennison signed the ACUPCC in 2006, making UM one of the charter signatories. Upon initial data collection, it quickly became clear that finding sufficient data from earlier than FY 2007 would be too difficult and inaccurate.
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased (exclude purchased RECs/GOs) | 69.45 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 | 0 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 | 69.45 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 spring 2015, UM spent $6,341 on one-time, third-party verified carbon offsets to help us meet our 2015 emissions target. We purchased offsets from the following vendors:
1. NativeEnergy's methane capture project in Colorado
2. Bonneville Environmental Foundation's waste heat project in Culbertson, MT
3. Sterling Planet's Flathead Valley landfill methane project
All three of the projects we supported are certified by Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).
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:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 29,775.75 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 32,502.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of students resident on-site | 2,679 | 2,744 |
Number of employees resident on-site | 12 | 4 |
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 11,651 | 11,698 |
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 2,238 | 1,772 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
Weighted campus users | 11,089.50 | 10,789.50 |
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 | 2.69 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3.01 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 | 329,008 Square feet |
Healthcare space | 1,666 Square feet |
Other energy intensive space | 0 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 | 8,281.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Commuting | 3,891.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Purchased goods and services | --- |
Capital goods | --- |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | --- |
Waste generated in operations | 1,740 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Other categories | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
UM continues to pursue energy conservation projects in its buildings across campus when funding and time allow. In the last year, in partnership with the City of Missoula, we completed our first campus transportation study and plan, a document that clearly describes our reliance on SOV commuting to campus and identifies strategies to reduce our commute-related emissions footprint. We will continue to implement those TDM strategies as funding allows. In terms of renewable energy, UM is undergoing a study to determine the efficacy of a large combined heat and power facility for campus that would reduce our reliance on grid electricity and would move a greater portion of our energy source to natural gas. The final piece of emissions reduction efforts that are strongest on campus are our efforts at education and behavior change. The Office of Sustainability and the ASUM Sustainability Center continue to offer internships, green office pilots, and campus events that encourage engagement in UM's emissions reduction goals.
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:
The data (FTEs and floor space) in IC-3 and OP-1 do not match because the OP-1 data reflect UM demographics as of fall 2014, while IC-3 demographics are from fall 2016. Our most recent greenhouse gas emissions inventory includes FYs 2013 and 2014 (we're wrapping up our 2015 and 2016 inventory this summer), but the rest of our data and institutional characteristics are more current and reflect 2016 headcounts and FTEs. The same is true of the discrepancy between OP-1 and IC-2; the OP-1 credit includes data from 2014, our performance year, rather than the most current year's data, which is reflected in IC-2.
The data (FTEs and floor space) in IC-3 and OP-1 do not match because the OP-1 data reflect UM demographics as of fall 2014, while IC-3 demographics are from fall 2016. Our most recent greenhouse gas emissions inventory includes FYs 2013 and 2014 (we're wrapping up our 2015 and 2016 inventory this summer), but the rest of our data and institutional characteristics are more current and reflect 2016 headcounts and FTEs. The same is true of the discrepancy between OP-1 and IC-2; the OP-1 credit includes data from 2014, our performance year, rather than the most current year's data, which is reflected in IC-2.
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.