| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.38 |
| Liaison | Olivia Shehan |
| Submission Date | Nov. 13, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Wellesley College
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.23 / 10.00 |
Dorothea
Von Herder Sustainability Coordinator Facilties |
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 | None |
| Commuting | None |
| Purchased goods and services | None |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | None |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | All |
| 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 college hires a third party, verified independent contractor to track annual Scope 1 and GHG emissions and verify them as required by the State of Massachusetts. As the State of Massachusetts is transitioning between GHG reporting systems, the 2016 and 2017 reports cannot be filed yet. However, all emissions reported above (Scope 1 and Scope 2) were calculated for 2017 by SIMAP. Scope 2 is calculated on all electricity that the college purchases. SIMAP calculated Scope 3 emissions (112.46 MTCDE) from Transmission and Distribution losses related to fuels combusted under Scope 1 and 2.
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:
Third party reporting data is verified internally by the Office of Environmental Health and Safety and the director of the Wellesley College Office of Sustainability. In the documents attached, we provide information on combustion data for FY 2017 and FY 2018.
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 | 25,485.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 30,035 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 1,840.58 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 359 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 | 27,325.78 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 30,394 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, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2011 |
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):
Baseline was established for the AASHE report submission in 2012.
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):
NA
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:
Wellesley College purchases RECs from the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant. The College has agreed to purchase 5% of our electricity needs annually from the Light Plant, half of which is wind power and half of which is hydropower.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 27,325.78 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 30,394 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,069 | 2,112 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 15 | 15 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 2,419 | 2,190 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 1,141 | 1,120 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 3,191 | 3,014.25 |
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 | 8.56 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 10.08 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 | 69,206 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 4,900 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 47,434 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 | --- |
| Commuting | --- |
| Purchased goods and services | --- |
| Capital goods | --- |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 112.46 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| 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:
We are routinely replacing inefficient lights on campus with much more efficient light fixtures, including led street lights. Many lines, valves, etc have been insulated in our power plant. We have been downsizing the motor pool fleet in favor of smaller, more efficient vehicles. Mechanical systems are being replaced with more efficient mechanical systems, especially during major renovations.
The college has also established a Green Revolving Fund, which has allowed the college to complete several projects, including, the installation of LED lights installed in five buildings and improvements to insulation in two buildings for an annual total of 269 MTCO2E abated.
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 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.