| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 71.75 |
| Liaison | Cindy Shea |
| Submission Date | July 24, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.58 / 10.00 |
Phil
Barner Director Energy Services |
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 | Some |
| Capital goods | Some |
| Waste generated in operations | All |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | All |
| 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:
The leading methodology was developed in 2004 as a partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The success and usefulness of their Greenhouse Gas Protocol is evidenced by its adaptation to protocols employed by the US Environmental Protection, the International Standards Organization (ISO), and others with minor modifications.
In an effort to comply with the industry’s best practices, and to prepare for state or federal regulation, we have adhered to this WRI/WBCSD standard as closely as possible,
taking guidance from EPA, ISO, and Climate Registry documentation where appropriate. In some cases, the established protocols did not fit our process or infrastructure. Where possible, we developed emission models to improve upon the recommended methodology.
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 | 274,613 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 280,392 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 5,546 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 7,230 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 129,131 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 163,788 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 | 409,290 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 451,410 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, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2015 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2007 | Dec. 31, 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):
The first comprehensive GHG emissions inventory, including steam and electricity produced for and sold to the hospital and a full range of scope 3 emissions, was completed in calendar year 2007.
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased (exclude purchased RECs/GOs) | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Institution-catalyzed carbon offsets generated | 40,409 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 | 417 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 511 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 | 40,826 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 511 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):
The University's landfill gas (LFG) project captures methane from the Orange County, NC landfill. The methane is then either destroyed by a flare or piped to an electric generating engine on the University's Carolina North campus. The engine creates electricity that is sold to Duke Energy. Carbon offsets are registered with the Climate Action Reserve and verified by a third party.
University composted yard waste (1637.2 tons) and food waste (679.4 tons) are equivalent to 297.7 Composted MTCO2e and 122.29 MTCO2e respectively using the EPA's WARM model. This results in a total of 417 MTCO2e that is offset due to composting and would not otherwise have been captured preventing release to the atmosphere.
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 | 368,464 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 450,899 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 8,498 | 8,541 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 17 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 27,518 | 25,895.25 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 12,213.24 | 11,295.23 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,887 | 1,164.25 |
| Weighted campus users | 30,511.93 | 29,154.92 |
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 | 12.08 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 15.47 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 | 2,768,221 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 262,750 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 1,360,748 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 | 71,259 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 27,181 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | 36,282 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 8,533 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
"Annual energy intensity (Btu/Gross Square Foot) has declined, pointing to the immense success of the Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) Program. Energy Services’ Cogeneration Systems continues to replace aged thermal piping systems in its network. This has led to, and will continue to result in, increased thermal efficiency. Chilled Water Systems continues to lower its emissions factor through an ongoing chiller update program. Aside from curbing energy demand on campus, fuel-switching has also played a notable role in reduced emissions over the last several years.
A comprehensive indoor and outdoor recycling and composting program captured 47% of campus discards in FY 2016. Food waste from UNC dining halls, catering, and several high volume Green Events venues is routinely recovered. "
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 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.