Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 68.42
Liaison Austin Sutherland
Submission Date Feb. 18, 2025

STARS v2.2

University of Pennsylvania
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.89 / 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 1,227 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1,621 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 7,585 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1,897 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 87,094 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 171,912 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy 92,078 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 89,950 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Total 187,984 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 49,638 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 49,638 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 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):

Steam Carbon Offsets
Carbon emissions from steam used during the May–September period are offset through a project that quantifies the GHG emissions reductions from Whirlpool Corporation's transition from high GWP blowing agents to low GWP blowing agents at the Amana, IA manufacturing facility (01/2019-12/2019). This project is registered with the American Carbon Registry (ACR) and the purchase was facilitiated by Vicinity Energy, the University's district steam provider.

  • Project ID: ACR656
  • Volume: 40,500 offsets
  • Vintage: 2019

Air Travel Carbon Offsets (CLIO Initiative)
For the second consecutive year, the Air Travel Working Group invested in the Ascend N2O Abatement Project at an adipic acid plant in Florida, managed by ClimeCo.

  • Project ID: CAR1480
  • Volume: 9,138 offsets
  • Vintage: 2022

Adjusted net GHG emissions

Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 138,346 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 265,380 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, 2022 July 1, 2008
End date June 30, 2023 June 30, 2009

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

The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007 lead to the development of our first climate action plan in 2009.


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 6,467 7,103
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 25,106 21,807
Full-time equivalent of employees 18,101 14,262
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,024 0
Weighted Campus Users 33,254 28,827.50

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 4.16 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 9.21 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
54.81

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
17,299,357 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 1,223,512 Square feet
Healthcare space 84,371 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 1,258,114 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
21,173,237 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 and air travel
- Waste diversion

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:

Stationary fuel is sourced with natural gas and is only used for emergency generators, pottery kilns, remaining gas fireplaces, and Bunsen burners and not to generate electricity and/or thermal energy


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.