Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 49.23 |
Liaison | Maria Dahmus |
Submission Date | June 21, 2018 |
Executive Letter | Download |
University of St. Thomas
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
4.70 / 10.00 |
Colin
Brownlow Director of Environmental Health and Safety Facilities Management |
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 | Some |
Commuting | All |
Purchased goods and services | None |
Capital goods | None |
Waste generated in operations | All |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | Some |
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:
2017 version of Carbon Map/SIMAP. Directly purchased air miles were supplied by the university's travel agent. Study abroad air miles were calculated from data supplied by our International Education Office.
Commuting data was estimated based on data for employees and student residence locations. Transmission losses were built into e-grid defaults in CarbonMap/SIMAP. Solid waste data was supplied by our waste hauler and recycling contractor.
Waste water was based upon purchased municipal water - minus evaporative loss from cooling towers.
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 | 7,953.47 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 9,529.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 560.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 142.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 20,533.36 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 31,071.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,510.68 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1,981.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total | 30,557.71 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 42,725 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, 2016 | June 30, 2017 |
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):
2007 was chosen as baseline for the university's original climate action plan. The university's president signed the Climate Leadership Carbon Commitment in 2008.
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):
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 | 30,557.71 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 42,725 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of students resident on-site | 2,532 | 2,566 |
Number of employees resident on-site | 17 | 40 |
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 9 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 8,566 | 8,514 |
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,513 | 1,531 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 77.20 | 0 |
Weighted campus users | 8,147.60 | 8,185.25 |
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 | 3.75 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 5.22 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 | 97,754 Square feet |
Healthcare space | 3,050 Square feet |
Other energy intensive space | 89,256 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 | 3,885.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Commuting | 661.52 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Purchased goods and services | --- |
Capital goods | --- |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 1,072.07 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Waste generated in operations | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Other categories | 5,047.85 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
The university has made improvements to heating distribution and control systems, and lighting systems and controls. Enhanced recycling of waste. Switched to energy recovery incineration of non-recyclable waste.
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:
Additional information about the university's actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is available in the Carbon Neutrality Plan Progress Report.
"Weighted Campus Users" data in this credit differ slighted from the data reported in IC-3: Academics and Demographics. IC-3 contains the most recent data available (Fall 2017 census), whereas this credit uses Fall 2016 census data to align more closely with the timing of the greenhouse gas performance year.
Additional information about the university's actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is available in the Carbon Neutrality Plan Progress Report.
"Weighted Campus Users" data in this credit differ slighted from the data reported in IC-3: Academics and Demographics. IC-3 contains the most recent data available (Fall 2017 census), whereas this credit uses Fall 2016 census data to align more closely with the timing of the greenhouse gas performance year.
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.