Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.76
Liaison Eric Meliton
Submission Date Jan. 16, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Wilfrid Laurier University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 6.27 / 10.00 Eric Meliton
Manager: Sustainability Office
Facilities and Asset Management
"---" 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 Some
Commuting None
Purchased goods and services None
Capital goods None
Waste generated in operations All
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 None
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:
Laurier uses the accounting tool through our partnership with Sustainable Waterloo Region and also does its own calculation using online accounting tools and our utility summaries, procurement tracking, and annual waste audits. We are also about to launch our new energy management system using RETScreen and PME which will track all of this.

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:
Each year we report our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions data to the Regional Sustainability Initiative. It is an independent 3rd party tasked with verifying our GHG emissions inventory to track our progress towards the emissions reduction goals we have set publicly with their organization. Their Energy and Sustainability System measures our selected target areas; greenhouse gas footprint, and waste diversion to provide both numerical and graphic-intensive data to show the progress our organization has made and highlights areas of opportunity for further impact and action.

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 9,065 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 7,200.64 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 15.96 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 16.39 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 821 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 3,658.58 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 9,901.96 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 10,875.61 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, 2018 Dec. 31, 2018
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2009 Dec. 31, 2009

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):
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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):
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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:
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Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 9,901.96 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 10,875.61 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,700 1,933
Number of employees resident on-site 12 12
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 16,422 14,026
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 2,013.40 1,577.60
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 14,754.55 12,188.95

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 0.67 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0.89 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
24.78

Part 3

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
380,382.37 Gross square meters

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 5,555 Square meters
Healthcare space 0 Square meters
Other energy intensive space 2,980 Square meters

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
4,246,065.23 Gross square meters

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

Optional Fields 

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel 145.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 0 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 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 164.67 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories 5.04 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
In 2016, Laurier implemented the Laurier Energy Efficiency Program (LEEP) to help reduce energy consumption and costs while also mitigating GHG emissions at our Waterloo and Brantford campuses. Phase 1 of LEEP focused on the Library, Bricker Residence and Grand River Hall and was completed in 2017. It included standard and deep energy retrofits such as the installation of solar thermal walls to harness thermal energy from the sun, LED lighting upgrades, low flow water fixtures, submetering, and demand control ventilation (DCV). The implementation of Phase 2 began in 2017, energy conservation and GHG reduction initiatives were expanded to an additional 35 buildings, which started in 2017 and will continue into 2018. Phase 3 also kicked off in 2017. This phase includes the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays on six buildings on the Waterloo and Brantford campuses and significant battery storage. Laurier's newest building, Lazaridis Hall, was completed in 2016. The building achieved LEED Gold certification and boasts high-efficiency boilers and chillers; an abundance of natural light; solar panels; measures to ensure indoor air quality; rainwater capture and use; green-roof areas; energy-efficient lighting systems; an electric vehicle charging station; indoor secured bicycle parking and showers; and other green features. Laurier’s annual Move Out Program is held each spring. Through this program we typically divert 4-5 tonnes of e-waste, clothing, books and non-perishable food from the landfill by collecting and donating to community partners for beneficial reuse.

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:
*Baseline is 2009 and performance year for this credit is 2018. Note, square footage included in this report for our campuses did not change from 2017 to 2018.

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.