Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 78.59
Liaison Beverley Ayeni
Submission Date March 1, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of Toronto Mississauga
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.54 / 8.00 Minali Giani
Sustainability Intern
Facilities Management and Planning
"---" 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 10,461.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 8,558.16 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 28.77 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 270.13 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 1,233.13 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 7,766.44 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Total 11,723.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 16,594.73 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Carbon sinks

Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
Performance year Baseline year
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 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 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 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 0 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):
N/A

Adjusted net GHG emissions

Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 11,723.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 16,594.73 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 Jan. 1, 2022 Jan. 1, 2005
End date Dec. 31, 2022 Dec. 31, 2005

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
2005 was selected as the GHG emissions baseline year as this is the earliest year for which reliable data is available.

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 1,686 819
Number of employees resident on-site 10 3
Number of other individuals resident on-site 58 135
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 14,515 7,752
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,292 583.41
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,094 0
Weighted Campus Users 11,516.75 6,592.06

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 1.02 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2.52 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
59.56

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
219,056.15 Gross square meters

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 17,737.74 Square meters
Healthcare space 422.27 Square meters
Other energy intensive space 3,797.94 Square meters

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
259,174 Gross square meters

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

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

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
The significant reduction in emissions are due in large part to a nearly 60% reduction in carbon emissions intensity for Ontario between 2005 and 2018. Ontario phased out the usage of coal for electricity production during this time.

In addition, UTM has taken on multiple large projects over this timeframe to improve energy efficiency. These include lighting retrofits, cooling tower replacement, boiler replacement, chiller replacements, and efficiency upgrades to HVAC systems throughout campus.

UTM has continued to implement GHG reduction projects that work towards achieving UTM’s climate goals. In recent years, while UTM has significantly expanded to accommodate for the increase in students, resulting in more buildings, energy use, and GHGs, the campus has seen a reduction of 28 per cent in GHGs emissions compared to 1990 levels. This is the equivalent of taking approximately 14,000 cars off the road. In March 2023, UTM wrapped up its campus wide energy audits on all UTM buildings, taking one year to complete 30 building audits, including 27 ASHRAE level II and 3 ASHRAE level III audits. The results from the audits gave UTM a comprehensive look at the systems in the buildings (i.e. lighting, heating and air-conditioning, building envelope) to assess energy consumption and reduce GHG emissions. Moreover, almost 240 energy conservation measures (ECMs) have been recommended for the campus to help achieve the 2030 (37 per cent from 1990 levels) and 2050 (net zero) climate targets. However, following suit with the UTSG campus, UTM has now committed to achieving a climate positive campus as well, and has released a standalone Climate Change Mitigation Strategy.

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:
Other energy intensive space
1. Research Greenhouse = 365.11sqm
2. William G Davis 5th Floor Greenhouse = 270.76sqm
3. Central Utilities Plant = 3,162.07sqm

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.