Overall Rating Reporter - expired
Overall Score
Liaison Michelle Patterson
Submission Date March 6, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Washington University in St. Louis
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Phil Valko
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1 

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 Some
Capital goods None
Waste generated in operations All
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 All
Other categories Some

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:
Washington University contracted with Burns and McDonnell in 2009 to develop the university's first GHG inventory, which included a full inventory of scope 1 and 2 emissions and a partial inventory of scope 3 emissions. The methodology for the inventory, including the approach to Scope 3 emissions is included in the attached 2009 inventory. University staff updates scope 1 & 2 emissions annually to monitor progress towards our 2020 carbon reduction goal. In 2014, Washington University worked with AEI, McClure, and 8760 Engineering to update the scope 1 & 2 inventory and identify opportunities for accelerating carbon reduction efforts through 2020. This effort resulted in the creation of a report titled "2014 Energy and Emissions Study." Appendix D of the report outlines the GHG protocol that was used. In 2017 and again in 2019, Washington University updated emissions projections through 2020 and refined the list of strategies needed to meet/exceed our 2020 emissions reduction goal. Both the 2009 inventory and the 2014 study are available online: https://sustainability.wustl.edu/vision-progress/energy-emissions/

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:
Washington University convened an energy and emissions working group that guided the development of the 2014 Energy and Emissions Study. Internal stakeholders included the two major facilities departments, the financial planning department, the Office of the Provost, the Office of the EVC for Administration, and the Office of Sustainability. The university has also engaged third party consultants Burns and McDonnell for the 2009 inventory and AEI, McClure Engineering, and 8760 Engineering for the 2014 inventory update and study.

Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
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Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 and Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions):
Yes

Part 2 

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 52,393 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 67,349 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 330 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 376 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 220,049 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 260,476 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 272,772 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 328,201 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, 2018 June 30, 2019
Baseline Year July 1, 2009 June 30, 2010

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):
Washington University completed its first GHG inventory in early 2009 and established it's first GHG reduction goal in spring of 2010.

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

If total performance year carbon offsets are greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
---

The reporting fields in the table below are reserved for institutions that have NOT already accounted for renewable energy purchases (including RECs and GOs) in their Scope 2 GHG emissions calculations. Other institutions - including all SIMAP users - should report zero ('0') to avoid double-counting. 

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:
---

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 272,772 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 328,201 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 4,902 3,998
Number of employees resident on-site 22 20
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 1,365 1,124
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 16,323 11,943
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 15,923 11,501
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 190 0
Weighted campus users 26,638 19,711.50

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 10.24 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 16.65 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
38.50

Part 3

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
11,002,076 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 1,360,236 Square feet
Healthcare space 685,273 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 2,179,201 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
17,272,295 Gross square feet

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
0.02 MtCO2e per square foot

Optional Fields 

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel ---
Commuting ---
Purchased goods and services ---
Capital goods ---
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 ---
Waste generated in operations ---
Other categories ---

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
-Significant retrocommissioning initiatives for existing buildings, targeting the most energy intensive spaces -Lighting retrofits to LEDs -Upgrades to utility systems, including addition of heat recovery chillers, variable speed drives, pipe insulation, system optimization, "free cooling"

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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.