| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 61.63 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2024 |
Western Kentucky University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.85 / 8.00 |
Madeline
Petty Graduate Assistant Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 10,837.54 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 13,276 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 2,016.47 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1,671 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 22,829.37 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 26,471 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Total | 35,683.38 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 41,418 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 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 storage from on-site composting | 38 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | --- |
| Carbon sold or transferred | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Net carbon sinks | 38 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
In 2017, WKU began a collaborative effort with WKU Dining Services to compost food scraps from campus. This program allows us to reduce WKU's footprint at the landfill as part of a campus sustainability initiative.
Carbon is sequestered through our food waste composting operations. WKU also manages a 1,500 acre nature preserve that serves as a natural sequestration space, but the trees on that land have not been formally inventoried for their sequestration potential.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 35,645.38 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 41,418 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Start date | July 1, 2022 | July 1, 2008 |
| End date | June 30, 2023 | June 30, 2009 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
A limited inventory was conducted in 2008/2009. However, a more comprehensive inventory (current baseline) began in 2010/2011. A full inventory was created in 2014/2015, which allowed for tracking of progress and informed action. We have maintained new inventories since fall 2019.
Due to the limited inventory available from 2008-09, the GHG inventory per person may be perceived to have increased in the performance year 2022-23, when this may not be the case.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 4,417 | 4,393 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 21 | 30 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 12,256 | 15,951 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,991.33 | 2,453 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,638.70 | 500 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 10,565.97 | 14,533.75 |
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 | 3.37 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 2.85 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 | 171,264 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 23,153 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 70,598 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:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
WKU generates its own steam and chilled water using natural gas and purchased electricity, thus there are no emissions from imported thermal energy.
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.