Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 26.10
Liaison Rachael Budowle
Submission Date April 29, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Wyoming
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.30 / 10.00 Rachael Budowle
Campus Sustainability Committee Chair
Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
Yes

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 All
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:

The University of Wyoming (UW) conducts n annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory.
The version 9.0 of the Campus Carbon Calculator developed by the Sustainability Institute at the University of New Hampshire was used for the GHG emissions inventory. This tool converts energy, vehicle fuel, and paper order data to tonnes of GHG emissions equivalents.

We conducted the FY 2016 GHG emissions inventory for UW with direction and oversight from the University’s Campus Sustainability Committee. We collected data from the main campus and off-campus properties and then entered it into version 9.0 of the University of New Hampshire Campus Carbon Calculator (CCC).

When collecting data, we verified with campus sources whether the data included or excluded properties outside of the main campus to avoid missing information or double counting. In the event the data provided did not include UW property outside of the main campus, we contacted satellite properties for the remaining data, which was then aggregated, with the main campus data before being entered into the CCC spreadsheet for calculation. The resulting data sets include on campus and off campus sources. For more information refer to the methodology of data collection described in the UW Green House Gas inventory.

The document uploaded above shows UW third-party verified Scope 1 & 2 emissions as reported. This information is also publicly available through the website https://www.uwyo.edu/sustainability/pcc/ where information about the initiatives is available.

Scope 3 emissions covered in UW GHG inventory includes commuting, business air travel, solid waste and offset. The commuting data are compiled internally by UW Parking & Transit Services.


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 internal and/or external verification process:

The University of Wyoming verifies its emissions inventory every year through an independent internal verification team not directly associated with GHG inventory reporting team. The description of the internal verification process(GHG Internal Validation Process.pdf) is uploaded below as required.


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):
Yes

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 61,753 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 60,444.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 2,723.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2,706.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 60,222.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 55,110.90 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 124,699.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 118,262.20 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 Jan. 1, 2017 Dec. 31, 2017
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2007 Dec. 31, 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):

On August 6, 2007, University of Wyoming (UW) president Tom Buchanan signed the American College and University (ACU) Presidents Climate Commitment (PCC). As part of PCC UW developed and published its Climate Action Plan (CAP) in FY2009 and established 2005 GHG emission as the baseline and a timeline for carbon neutrality by 2050. However, UW completed its first comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory for the year 2007 to establish its baseline. Hence, FY2007 is set as the baseline for STARS reporting.


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):

Not Applicable


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 0 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:

Not Applicable


Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 124,699.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 118,262.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,776 0
Number of employees resident on-site 5 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 9,803 8,659
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 2,711 2,865
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 796.30 0
Weighted campus users 9,483.53 8,643

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 13.15 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 13.68 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
3.90

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
7,812,616 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 612,381 Square feet
Healthcare space 72,013 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 79,701 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
9,261,105 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

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel 18,875 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 699.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Capital goods 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 3,683.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 2,432 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:

The Physical Plant and Facilities Planning have increased energy efficiency across campus by installing new and more efficient windows, heat recovery systems, control valves, motors, and lighting in many of the buildings on campus. Additional projects underway include steam trap upgrades, developing a metering program, installing misers on vending machines, and completing a campus-wide controls system upgrade.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.