| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.92 |
| Liaison | Amy Brunvand |
| Submission Date | Sept. 12, 2023 |
University of Utah
OP-1: Emissions Inventory and Disclosure
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.35 / 3.00 |
Emerson
Andrews Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund Manager Sustainability Office |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Greenhouse gas emissions inventory
Yes
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:
The University of Utah uses the UNH Sustainability Institute SIMAP Campus Carbon Calculator and follows ACUPCC guidelines to complete its GHG emissions inventory.
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?:
Yes
A brief description of the GHG inventory verification process:
Internal QA/QC - The GHG emissions report is updated and maintained by the Facilities Management Sustainability & Energy division, in conjunction with the university's Sustainability Office. Most data is compiled by a Technical Support Analyst and reviewed for accuracy each month through statistical models, and an annual manual verification by the Associate Director of Sustainability and Energy. The University reports energy data into Energy Star Portfolio Manager.
Documentation to support the GHG inventory verification process:
Scope 1 GHG emissions
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Stationary combustion | 89,628.79 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources (mobile combustion, process emissions, fugitive emissions) | 7,791.49 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 1 GHG emissions, performance year:
97,420.28
Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions
| Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Imported electricity | 32,458.74 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Imported thermal energy | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total gross Scope 2 GHG emissions, performance year:
32,458.74
Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
GHG emissions from biomass combustion
0
Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 3 GHG emissions
| Yes or No | Weight in MTCO2e | |
| Business travel | Yes | 17,485.71 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | Yes | 69,574.24 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | No | 36,310.71 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | No | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other sources | Yes | 4,068.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
127,439.16
Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
A brief description of how the institution accounted for its Scope 3 emissions:
The University accounts for commuting and transportation & distribution losses. The commuter survey accounts for faculty, staff, and student commuting related emissions. The institution uses the calculation from UNH Sustainability Institute SIMAP Campus Carbon Calculator to account for Transportation and Distribution Losses from Purchased Energy lost while transporting purchased electricity.
Part 2. Air pollutant emissions inventory
Yes
Annual weight of emissions for::
| Weight of Emissions | |
| Nitrogen oxides (NOx) | 31.43 Tons |
| Sulfur oxides (SOx) | 0.55 Tons |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | 40.74 Tons |
| Particulate matter (PM) | 9.39 Tons |
| Ozone (O3) | 0 Tons |
| Lead (Pb) | 0.00 Tons |
| Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) | 0.64 Tons |
| Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) | 0 Tons |
| Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations | 0 Tons |
Do the air pollutant emissions figures provided include the following sources?:
| Yes or No | |
| Major stationary sources | Yes |
| Area sources | No |
| Mobile sources | No |
| Commuting | No |
| Off-site electricity production | No |
None
A brief description of the methodology(ies) the institution used to complete its air emissions inventory:
The University of Utah is subject to Annual Emissions Reporting submitted to the Utah Department of Air Quality (UDAQ) in the state emissions platform, SLEIS. Emissions from the University are primarily due to the operation of: boilers, emergency generators, and other miscellaneous sources that contribute to overall emissions. The usage of this equipment and associated products are continuously tracked and used to generate emissions calculations which are then reported to the State or UDAQ on an annual basis.
Boilers located throughout the campus are covered by "Standards of Performance for Small Industrial Commercial Institutional Steam Generating Units" found in 40 CFR Part 60 Subpart Dc. Two large boilers located in Building 303 predate those regulations.
Some emergency generators located on campus are subject to "Standards of Performance for Stationary Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Engines" found in 40 CFR part 60, subpart IIII and the "National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Stationary Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines" found in 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart ZZZZ.
Other miscellaneous emissions contributing sources on campus include:
• Woodshop Baghouse
• Ethylene Oxide Sterilizer (currently in the process of being decommissioned and removed)
• Solvent based Parts Washer
• Several diesel storage tanks and one jet fuel storage tank
• Paint Booth
• University Mobile Sources including one wheeled tractor and one wheeled loader.
None of these sources directly emit ozone, but produce NOx, VOC, and CO which are all precursors of ozone.
Applicable Regulations:
U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Sub. C -Part 50 et al, Air Programs; Ambient AQ Standards, Particulate Matter
U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Subchapter C -61, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Subchapter C - 60, New Source Perf. Strds. for Recip. Internal Comb. Eng. (RICE)
U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Subchapter U -Air Pollution Controls
Boilers located throughout the campus are covered by "Standards of Performance for Small Industrial Commercial Institutional Steam Generating Units" found in 40 CFR Part 60 Subpart Dc. Two large boilers located in Building 303 predate those regulations.
Some emergency generators located on campus are subject to "Standards of Performance for Stationary Compression Ignition Internal Combustion Engines" found in 40 CFR part 60, subpart IIII and the "National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Stationary Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines" found in 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart ZZZZ.
Other miscellaneous emissions contributing sources on campus include:
• Woodshop Baghouse
• Ethylene Oxide Sterilizer (currently in the process of being decommissioned and removed)
• Solvent based Parts Washer
• Several diesel storage tanks and one jet fuel storage tank
• Paint Booth
• University Mobile Sources including one wheeled tractor and one wheeled loader.
None of these sources directly emit ozone, but produce NOx, VOC, and CO which are all precursors of ozone.
Applicable Regulations:
U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Sub. C -Part 50 et al, Air Programs; Ambient AQ Standards, Particulate Matter
U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Subchapter C -61, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Subchapter C - 60, New Source Perf. Strds. for Recip. Internal Comb. Eng. (RICE)
U.S. EPA, 40 CFR Subchapter U -Air Pollution Controls
Optional Fields
---
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy (location-based) :
---
Website URL where information about the institution’s emissions inventories is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
NOTES
In 2022, Salt Lake County was an EPA non-attainment area for PM 10, PM 2.5, SOx, and 8 hour o-zone.
In 2018, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert recommended Salt Lake County for 8-hour ozone non-attainment. The Northern Wasatch Front area has been in non-attainment since then.
SOURCES
https://deq.utah.gov/division-air-quality
Utah Division of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality. University of Utah, Title V Operating Permit Permit Number:3500063003, May 20, 2015.
URL: http://www.deq.utah.gov/NewsNotices/notices/air/docs/2015/PM10TSD/Appendix/M-university-of-Utah-appendix.pdf
Improving the Air We Breathe: Emission Mitigation Strategies for the University of Utah. University of Utah Air Quality Task Force, (2015)
"Since the 1990s the University of Utah, spearheaded by Environmental Health and Safety and Facilities Management, has been working to reduce its permitted air emissions." [p. 3]
URL: http://sustainability.utah.edu/_documents/2015-UofU-Air-Quality-Task-Force-
U of U Air Quality Mitigation Plan
http://sustainability.utah.edu/airquality/UniversityofUtah-HB168plan.pdf
In 2022, Salt Lake County was an EPA non-attainment area for PM 10, PM 2.5, SOx, and 8 hour o-zone.
In 2018, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert recommended Salt Lake County for 8-hour ozone non-attainment. The Northern Wasatch Front area has been in non-attainment since then.
SOURCES
https://deq.utah.gov/division-air-quality
Utah Division of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality. University of Utah, Title V Operating Permit Permit Number:3500063003, May 20, 2015.
URL: http://www.deq.utah.gov/NewsNotices/notices/air/docs/2015/PM10TSD/Appendix/M-university-of-Utah-appendix.pdf
Improving the Air We Breathe: Emission Mitigation Strategies for the University of Utah. University of Utah Air Quality Task Force, (2015)
"Since the 1990s the University of Utah, spearheaded by Environmental Health and Safety and Facilities Management, has been working to reduce its permitted air emissions." [p. 3]
URL: http://sustainability.utah.edu/_documents/2015-UofU-Air-Quality-Task-Force-
U of U Air Quality Mitigation Plan
http://sustainability.utah.edu/airquality/UniversityofUtah-HB168plan.pdf
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.