Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 69.26 |
Liaison | Gioia Thompson |
Submission Date | March 1, 2017 |
Executive Letter | Download |
University of Vermont
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
7.17 / 10.00 |
Gioia
Thompson Sustainability Strategist UVM Office of Sustainability |
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 | Some |
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:
Campus Carbon 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:
UVM contracts with Sightlines, LLC to conduct the inventory and verify the data and compare with other institutions.
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 | 28,577 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 34,655 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,322.29 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,336.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 19,949 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 23,159 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Total | 49,848.29 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 61,150.50 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, 2014 | June 30, 2015 |
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):
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):
None
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 | 19,949 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-E certified Midwest wind power purchased through Renewable Choice Energy; and Cow Power, from local farm methane projects, also Green-E certified, purchased through the local electric utility Green Mountain Power
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 29,899.29 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 61,150.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of students resident on-site | 4,954 | 4,791 |
Number of employees resident on-site | 19 | 19 |
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 12,251 | 10,805 |
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 3,676 | 3,437 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 47 | 2 |
Weighted campus users | 13,153.25 | 11,882.50 |
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 | 2.27 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 5.15 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 | 445,164 Square feet |
Healthcare space | 9,106 Square feet |
Other energy intensive space | 86,074 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 | 9,490.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Commuting | 9,824.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Purchased goods and services | --- |
Capital goods | --- |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | --- |
Waste generated in operations | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Other categories | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
Energy infrastructure upgrades, LEED building policy, Energy Revolving Fund, solar study and installations, cleaner fuels, Active Transportation Plan, progressive parking fees, RECs purchase
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:
The University of Vermont has continued to work with the local electricity and natural gas utilities, as well as the statewide energy efficiency utility, to reduce energy use and peak demand by buildings, with an emphasis on new construction and major renovations. UVM contracts with Sightlines, LLC to analyze facilities needs and to find the most effective ways to invest in building improvements. The decision by the Board of Trustees has been to focus on removing buildings with the greatest need for repair, and replacing them with more efficient buildings that meet current programmatic needs. This strategic direction is supported by the $13M Energy Revolving Fund and the 2004 policy that all major construction and renovation projects be formally commissioned as well as certified at a minimum of LEED Silver level. UVM has also switched from using #6 fuel oil as a backup fuel for the central heating and cooling plant, to using #2 fuel oil, and has converted the boilers in small buildings that are not part of the central system from oil to natural gas.
Sightlines, LLC also conducts the institution's greenhouse gas inventory, which includes building energy use, commuting, business travel (ground and air), and study abroad travel. On the transportation front, UVM has continued to expand programs for commuters while further limiting the number of parking spaces on campus, requiring relatively high parking fees, and strictly enforcing policies. A new Active Transportation Plan provides guidance for how to make the campus safe and accessible without a car. Many of the vehicles in the campus fleet cannot easily be replaced with alternate fuel vehicles due to their function --- needing to be used for snowplows, for example, or 15-passenger vans -- but then again, many of these are not used very frequently. The decision has been to focus on the campus buses, which are in near-constant use, and which are responsible for most of the fleet's fuel use. These are now run on natural gas, which provides the benefit of not having the diesel or biodiesel emissions that used to be noticeable to the campus community as buses went by.
UVM’s 2010 Climate Action Plan set a goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2015. This goal has been met by purchasing Green-E certified RECs to cover all campus electricity. The decision to buy RECs was made despite the fact that the Burlington Electric Department buys 100% of its power from renewable sources; these sources are not necessarily Green-E certified, however. In addition, UVM has installed solar panels to the extent feasible, working with the Burlington Electric Department to hire a consultant to identify every possible space where solar could be installed at a reasonable price. Several solar projects are already providing power to campus buildings. The LEED Platinum Aiken Center, home of the Rubenstein School for Environment and Natural Resources, sources about 40% of its power from 17 solar trackers nearby.
The University of Vermont has continued to work with the local electricity and natural gas utilities, as well as the statewide energy efficiency utility, to reduce energy use and peak demand by buildings, with an emphasis on new construction and major renovations. UVM contracts with Sightlines, LLC to analyze facilities needs and to find the most effective ways to invest in building improvements. The decision by the Board of Trustees has been to focus on removing buildings with the greatest need for repair, and replacing them with more efficient buildings that meet current programmatic needs. This strategic direction is supported by the $13M Energy Revolving Fund and the 2004 policy that all major construction and renovation projects be formally commissioned as well as certified at a minimum of LEED Silver level. UVM has also switched from using #6 fuel oil as a backup fuel for the central heating and cooling plant, to using #2 fuel oil, and has converted the boilers in small buildings that are not part of the central system from oil to natural gas.
Sightlines, LLC also conducts the institution's greenhouse gas inventory, which includes building energy use, commuting, business travel (ground and air), and study abroad travel. On the transportation front, UVM has continued to expand programs for commuters while further limiting the number of parking spaces on campus, requiring relatively high parking fees, and strictly enforcing policies. A new Active Transportation Plan provides guidance for how to make the campus safe and accessible without a car. Many of the vehicles in the campus fleet cannot easily be replaced with alternate fuel vehicles due to their function --- needing to be used for snowplows, for example, or 15-passenger vans -- but then again, many of these are not used very frequently. The decision has been to focus on the campus buses, which are in near-constant use, and which are responsible for most of the fleet's fuel use. These are now run on natural gas, which provides the benefit of not having the diesel or biodiesel emissions that used to be noticeable to the campus community as buses went by.
UVM’s 2010 Climate Action Plan set a goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2015. This goal has been met by purchasing Green-E certified RECs to cover all campus electricity. The decision to buy RECs was made despite the fact that the Burlington Electric Department buys 100% of its power from renewable sources; these sources are not necessarily Green-E certified, however. In addition, UVM has installed solar panels to the extent feasible, working with the Burlington Electric Department to hire a consultant to identify every possible space where solar could be installed at a reasonable price. Several solar projects are already providing power to campus buildings. The LEED Platinum Aiken Center, home of the Rubenstein School for Environment and Natural Resources, sources about 40% of its power from 17 solar trackers nearby.
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.