Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 61.15
Liaison Ashley Woolman
Submission Date April 8, 2022

STARS v2.2

Western Colorado University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.40 / 8.00 Ashley Woolman
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities Services
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 3,863 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 4,951 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 267 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 117 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 5,169 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 5,924 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 9,299 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 10,992 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 1 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 1 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):

We compost food waste from our dining hall in an industrial composter.


Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 9,298 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 10,992 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, 2020 July 1, 2006
End date June 30, 2021 June 30, 2007

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:

Students lobbied the President to become an ACUPCC signatory, at which time he signed, created the Sustainability Action Committee, which has cross-campus membership, and charged us with conducting a baseline survey. Now we have a director of sustainability who leads the Sustainable Action Committee in performing the GHG inventory.


Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance year Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site 1,026 906
Number of employees resident on-site 5 24
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 3
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 2,315 1,914
Full-time equivalent of employees 350 303
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 238 0
Weighted Campus Users 2,078 1,898.25

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 4.47 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 5.79 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
22.73

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
1,110,685 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 39,400 Square feet
Healthcare space 1,250 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 42,500 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
1,234,485 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

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:

Increased building performance including insulation projects and LEED renovations. In 2020, Western entered into a partnership with the city of Gunnison to install a large solar array at the Gunnison airport. The parking lot will have a solar array installed as covered parking, and Western will receive a third of the 900-kW system to support our energy needs.


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:
---

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.