| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.76 |
| Liaison | Aurora Sharrard |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Pittsburgh
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.29 / 10.00 |
Melissa
Bilec Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering |
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 | None |
| Waste generated in operations | All |
| 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:
The inventory was completed through a partnership with Pitt's Facilities Management Division and the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Initiatives (part of the Swanson School of Engineering). The inventory was quantified via the Clean Air/Cool Planet Calculator.
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:
The inventory was completed through a partnership with Pitt's Facilities Management Division and the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Initiatives (part of the Swanson School of Engineering). Information was gathered from many functional areas of the University and checked for validity by the Mascaro Center team.
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 | 39,367 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 9,200 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 3,467 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1,300 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 115,341 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 138,700 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 23,404 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 55,100 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Total | 181,579 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 204,300 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, 2007 | June 30, 2008 |
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 University's first comprehensive GHG inventory was completed in FY2008. This year was selected as the University wanted to capture baseline data prior to operation of a new state-of-the-art natural gas-fired steam plant. Prior to the plant's construction, the majority of Pitt's steam supply was generated by a much older plant that burned primarily coal. In 2009, the new plant came on line, and the older plant switched all operations to natural gas.
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 | 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 | 0 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):
N/A
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 | 2,198 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:
Green Mountain - Wind energy, 468 MWh for 2013 & 468 MWh for 2014. Contract awarded May 8, 2013
Green Mountain - Wind energy, 856 MWh for 2013 & 856 MWh for 2014. Contract awarded December 13, 2013
Renewable Choice - 2-year purchase, contract awarded August 12, 2013
Green Mountain - Wind energy, 530 MWh for 2013 & 530 MWh for 2014. Contract awarded Feb. 12, 2014
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 179,381 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 204,300 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 7,745 | 7,200 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 15 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 26,935 | 24,301 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 12,224 | 11,214 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 156 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 31,192.25 | 28,436.25 |
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 | 5.75 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 7.18 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 | 2,536,066 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 0 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 19,355 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 | 24,907 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 15,909 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | 1,949 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 | 7,596 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 1,573 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:
Many energy and water saving initiatives have been implemented during the past three years, including lighting upgrades, efficiency upgrades at our central chilled water plants, refinements on building occupancy schedules for more efficient HVAC operation, installation of water-saving devices, retro-commissioning, etc.
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:
We reported "Yes" for purchased goods and services because our inventory includes purchased paper. We did not include other purchased goods or services in our inventory.
We reported "Yes" for purchased goods and services because our inventory includes purchased paper. We did not include other purchased goods or services in our inventory.
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.