Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.48
Liaison Amy Brunvand
Submission Date Oct. 21, 2020

STARS v2.2

University of Utah
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.61 / 8.00 William Leach
Sustainability Project Coordinator
Facilities Management
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 94,051.32 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 105,354.29 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 5,450.69 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 5,585.14 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 74,455.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 100,276.88 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 173,957.31 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 211,216.31 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):

Although not represented as an offset, the University of Utah participated in Rocky Mountain Power Blue Sky program during the performance period up to Nov 2018. This program allowed the University to buy clean energy, sourced from wind farms in Wyoming, at a supplemental rate. Commercial and industrial users, like the University, received a bulk discount for participation in this program making it a high-level program at the time. Since the performance period, the University has shifted its strategy to significant (over half of all electricity used) direct purchase of renewable energy, which will be reflected in the next reporting period.


Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 173,957.31 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 211,216.31 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Performance year Baseline year
Start date July 1, 2018 Jan. 1, 2010
End date June 30, 2019 Dec. 31, 2010

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

2010 was selected as baseline year, it was the performance year from our 2011 STARS report and the baseline year from the 2017 STARS report.

We considered using the original baseline year from our first STARS submittal (2005), but those figures had been established by trend-line from 2007-2009 data (as was required in STARS 1.0). We did not feel the information was accurate enough to be used moving forward. All future STARS reporting will use 2010 baseline information.


Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance year Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site 4,785 3,558
Number of employees resident on-site 255 156
Number of other individuals resident on-site 286 2,222
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 30,693 29,456
Full-time equivalent of employees 22,611 15,319
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 1,566 355
Weighted Campus Users 40,349.50 36,465.50

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 4.31 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 5.79 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
25.57

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
16,812,339 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 2,003,447 Square feet
Healthcare space 1,627,537 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 617,290 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
24,691,597 Gross square feet

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 Facilities Sustainability & Energy staff and partners are continuously working to analyze and reduce energy use and accompanying emissions on campus. Total energy consumption and costs are the lowest they’ve been since 2011, despite a 23% growth in total building area over the same time span.

Energy use intensity savings have been realized with a focus on operational efficiency, source energy management, and use of increasingly-efficient infrastructure in construction and renovation projects. Zone scheduling, controls optimization, lighting and HVAC system upgrades, the use of analytics to identify and validate failed equipment, and thermostat usage guidelines have all contributed heavily to increased operational efficiency.

Building energy standards for new construction have minimized the impact of new construction by requiring a minimum 35% reduction from code. All remodeling and modernization projects are reviewed by energy management staff to look for opportunities to reduce emissions and energy use beyond typical scope.

Commuting has been reduced through raising parking permit pricing, as well as opportunities to improve bicycle infrastructure in, and around campus. Shuttle fleet is being transitioned from diesel to NG and electric - new through campus routes will significantly reduce miles traveled to provide the same service.


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:

BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE
Data about campus facilities comes from Space Planning master building list and filtered for performance year and building type. Buildings not included were unconditioned (parking structures, etc.)

SCOPE 3 GHG EMISSIONS:
"Business Travel" field includes emissions from Directly Financed Air Travel through the university Travel Office. "Fuel- and energy-related activities" field includes Scope 2 Transportation & Distribution Losses.

NUMBER OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS
Includes hospital beds + family members in Administrative Services Apartments.


BUILDING SQUARE FOOTAGE
Data about campus facilities comes from Space Planning master building list and filtered for performance year and building type. Buildings not included were unconditioned (parking structures, etc.)

SCOPE 3 GHG EMISSIONS:
"Business Travel" field includes emissions from Directly Financed Air Travel through the university Travel Office. "Fuel- and energy-related activities" field includes Scope 2 Transportation & Distribution Losses.

NUMBER OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS
Includes hospital beds + family members in Administrative Services Apartments.

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.