Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 75.40
Liaison Mary-Lee Townsend
Submission Date Jan. 16, 2025

STARS v3.0

Western University
OP-6: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 9.07 / 16.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

6.1 Greenhouse gas emissions inventory and disclosure

Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions inventory
Has the institution completed an inventory within the previous three years to quantify its scope 1 and scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Yes

Copy of the institution’s GHG emissions inventory:
---

Online location of the institution’s GHG emissions inventory:
https://sustainability.uwo.ca/Campus/energy_carbon/ghg_emissions.html

Performance year for scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
2023

Description of the methodology or calculator used to conduct the scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions inventory:

GHG Emissions reported per the requirements of Canada's Output-Based Pricing System regulations.


Scope 1 GHG emissions

If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required:

Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion:
40,731 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Scope 1 GHG emissions from mobile combustion:
381 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Scope 1 GHG process emissions:
0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Scope 1 GHG fugitive emissions:
0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Scope 2 GHG emissions

If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required:

Which of the following methods were used to quantify the institution’s scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Location-based

Scope 2 GHG emissions from off-site sources of electricity (market-based):
0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

If using a location-based or dual reporting method, the following field is also required:

Scope 2 GHG emissions from off-site sources of electricity (location-based):
5,915 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Scope 2 GHG emissions from off-site sources of heating and cooling:
0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:

Annual scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
47,027 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Biogenic emissions 

If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required: 

Does the institution’s GHG emissions accounting method separate out biogenic emissions for disclosure purposes?:
Yes

GHG emissions from biogenic sources:
0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Scope 3 GHG emissions
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from business travel?:
Partial accounting

Scope 3 GHG emissions from business travel:
2,526 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from commuting?:
Not at all

Scope 3 GHG emissions from commuting:
---

Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services?:
Not at all

Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services:
---

Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from capital goods?:
Not at all

Scope 3 GHG emissions from capital goods:
---

Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities not included in scope 1 or scope 2?:
Partial accounting

Scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities not included in scope 1 or scope 2:
7,827.89 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from upstream transportation and distribution?:
Not at all

Scope 3 GHG emissions from upstream transportation and distribution:
---

Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from waste generated in operations?:
Not at all

Scope 3 GHG emissions from waste generated in operations:
---

Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions in all other applicable categories identified in the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard?:
Not at all

Scope 3 GHG emissions from other applicable categories identified in the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard:
---

If any scope 3 activities have been quantified, the following field is also required:

Description of the methodologies used to identify and account for the institution’s relevant scope 3 activities:

Partial accounting of business travel encompasses directly financed air travel and car rentals. Emissions are provided by travel management company.

Directly financed air travel: 2,033 MtCO2e

Methodology provided by travel management compay for directly fincance air travel:

Air travel CO2 emissions are estimated based on the number and distance of flights. To calculate, we first find the distance between each flight"s origin and destination (based on latitude and longitude). Next, we use that distance to categorize flights as a short, medium, or long-haul. Finally, we select the factor for the carbon emissions based on the class category of the flight and multiply it by the distance. The calculations are as follows:

[Flight Distance] x [Air CO2 Index] = kg of CO2

Flight Type

Cabin

kg of CO2 per km

Short Haul up to 1,000 km

All

0.26605

Medium Haul up to 3,700 km

Economy / Premium Economy

0.15765

Business / First Class

0.23648

Long Haul over 3,700 km

Economy / Premium Economy

0.24068

Business Class

0.43624

First Class

0.60171


Car rentals: 493 MtCO2e

Methodology provided by rental agency:

The methodology for calculating total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in metric tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalents (MT CO2e) reporting is summarized as follows – (1) Calculate the average combined fuel economy for each car class driven. (1b) Note: miles per gallon and litres/100km figures provided in this report are an aggregate based the U.S. EPA combined MPG on all makes and models that make up the car classifications as defined by the Association of Car Rental Industry System Standards (ACRISS) within the fleet of vehicles operated by the Enterprise Holdings brands, and may not reflect the exact EPA figures for a particular make and model, the driving conditions encountered during a particular rental, nor the driving style of the renter. (2) Calculate the amount of fuel consumed by dividing the total distance driven in the car class by the average combined fuel economy for that car class. (3a) Calculate total Carbon Dioxide (CO2) by multiplying the quantity of fuel consumed for each vehicle by the EPA emissions factor for each car class (0.00878 metric tonnes CO2 per gallon). (3b) Calculate total Methane (CH4) by multiplying the miles driven by 5.0e-09 metric tonnes CH4 per mile.  The metric tonnes of CH4 are then converted to MT CO2e by multiplying by 28 - the GP for CH4. (3c) Calculate total Nitrous Oxide (N2O) by multiplying the miles driven by 1.4e-09 metric tonnes N2O per mile. The metric tonnes of N2O are then converted to MT CO2e by multiplying by 265 - the GWP for N2O(4) Total GHG emissions in MT CO2e is the sum of the metrics tonnes of CO2 + metric tonnes of CO2e for CH4 + metric tonnes of CO2e for N2O. Add CO2e emissions for each vehicle class together to obtain total CO2e emissions. Note: Global Warming Potential (GWP) values used in calculations are as reported within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report. Emission factors are from EPA Emission Factors for GHG Inventories (March 16, 2023), Table 2 - Mobile Combustions for CO2 and Table 3 -  Mobile Combustion CH4 and N2O for On-Road Gasoline Vehicles.

Partial accounting of Scope 3 emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities encompasses emissions from district steam sold to University Hospital. Emissions calculated at 99,676,000 lbs at 0.0785 kgCO2e/lb.


The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:

Points earned for indicator OP 6.1:
1.63

6.2 Greenhouse gas emissions per square meter

Peer group:
Doctoral universities and research institutions

Gross floor area of building space:
862,112 Square meters

The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following two figures:

Annual scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of floor area:
54.55 Kilograms per square meter

Points earned for indicator OP 6.2:
2.90

6.3 Greenhouse gas emissions per person

Full-time equivalent student enrollment:
36,205

Full-time equivalent of employees:
4,132

The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following three figures:

Full-time equivalent students and employees:
40,337

Annual scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per person:
1,165.85 Kilograms of CO2 equivalent

Points earned for indicator OP 6.3:
3.43

6.4 Adjusted net greenhouse gas emissions

Carbon sinks

Report figures for the performance year. If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required. Non-additional sequestration does not qualify as a carbon sink for scoring purposes, but may be reported in the optional field provided. 

Third party certified carbon offsets:
0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Description of the institution’s third party certified carbon offsets:
---

Carbon storage from on-site composting:
0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Description of the institution’s carbon storage from on-site composting:
---

Carbon sold or transferred:
0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration on institution-owned land:
---

Baseline emissions
Does the institution have baseline scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions data?:
Yes

Copy of the institution’s baseline GHG emissions inventory:
---

Online location of the institution’s baseline GHG emissions inventory:
https://sustainability.uwo.ca/Campus/energy_carbon/ghg_emissions.html

Baseline year for scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
2005

Narrative outlining when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:

TO match Federal GHG reduction commitments.


Baseline scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
65,209 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following four figures:

Net carbon sinks:
0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Adjusted net scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
47,027 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from baseline:
27.88

Points earned for indicator OP 6.4:
1.12

Optional documentation

Notes about the information provided for this credit:
---

Additional documentation for this credit:
---

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.