Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.65
Liaison Austin Sutherland
Submission Date Aug. 9, 2021

STARS v2.2

University of Pennsylvania
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.39 / 8.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions

Gross GHG emissions

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 1,620.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1,621 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 1,593.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1,897 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 96,268.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 171,912 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy 90,020 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 89,950 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Total 189,502.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 265,380 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Carbon sinks

Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
Performance year Baseline year
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 33,369 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 80,733 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 33,369 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 80,733 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

If total performance year carbon sinks are greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Carbon from steam used in May-September is offset through the provider using a landfill gas reclamation project on the Carbon Registry.

Adjusted net GHG emissions

Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 156,133.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 184,647 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Performance and baseline periods

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Performance year Baseline year
Start date July 1, 2019 July 1, 2008
End date June 30, 2020 June 30, 2009

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
---

Part 1. Reduction in GHG emissions per person

Weighted campus users

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance year Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site 4,386 6,310
Number of employees resident on-site 259 244
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 23,770 21,454
Full-time equivalent of employees 18,367 14,415
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 378 0
Weighted Campus Users 32,480.50 28,540.25

Metrics used in scoring for Part 1

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 4.81 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 6.47 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
25.70

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
16,164,770 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 1,202,870 Square feet
Healthcare space 61,612 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 398,471 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
19,092,205 Gross square feet

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
0.01 MtCO2e per square foot

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
The main reduction initiatives are:
- Vigorous recommissioning and renovation programs
- Solar Power Purchase Agreement to provide 75% of electric
- Offsets of summer steam

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:
The University of Pennsylvania is a major research institution, with over 3,000 degrees granted annually from twelve professional and academic schools at the Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate levels. Penn is committed to reducing emissions and energy use, as stated in the 2019 "Climate and Sustainability Action Plan 3.0." This submission documents Penn's efforts during the FY20 year and compares them to the FY09 baseline year which corresponds with the University's "Climate and Sustainability Action Plan. 3.0." The submission relies on information related to the main, academic, West Philadelphia campus, but to more fully document efforts across the Penn system, information related to the Morris Arboretum and New Bolton Center has also been referenced and noted as outside the boundary in descriptions. The information is used to enrich examples of University efforts and is not intended to be the primary justification for credits. The responses for each of the questions and sub-questions are drawn from University materials, both internal and public documents. Each section notes the website where the information can be found.

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.