| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.18 |
| Liaison | Weston Dripps |
| Submission Date | Aug. 19, 2024 |
Amherst College
OP-5: Energy Use
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.71 / 10.00 |
Weston
Dripps Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
5.1 Energy consumption per square meter
Convert site energy figures to megawatt-hours (MWh) using the STARS energy calculator or an equivalent resource.
Peer group:
Gross floor area of building space:
Electricity
Description of the on-site renewable systems:
We have a 100 kw solar array (294 panels altogether) on the top of the science center which generates roughly 3% of the Science Center's use. In 2023 it generated 99.6 mWh of renewable generated electricity.
On-site renewable electricity exported:
Electricity from off-site sources:
Stationary fuels
Include all liquid, solid, and gaseous fuel products sourced during the performance year for the purpose of producing electricity and/or thermal energy, irrespective of whether they were used or not. Transportation fuels are excluded.
Propane/LPG:
Heating oil:
Coal/coke:
Bioenergy products:
Other stationary fuels:
Heating and cooling from off-site sources
Include all district heating and cooling products sourced during the performance year from a utility or municipal facility.
Hot water from off-site sources:
Chilled water from off-site sources:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following six figures:
Total stationary fuel consumption:
Total heating and cooling from off-site sources:
Total annual energy consumption:
Annual energy consumption per unit of floor area:
Points earned for indicator OP 5.1:
5.2 Energy consumption per person
Full-time equivalent of employees:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following three figures:
Annual energy consumption per person:
Points earned for indicator OP 5.2:
5.3 Percentage of energy from renewable sources
Each MWh may only be counted once, i.e., in no more than one of the documentation fields provided. Note that electricity generated by on-site renewable systems is reported above for indicator 5.1. Energy attribute certificates (EACs) include RECs, GOs, and I-RECs.
Contractual instruments for renewable electricity
Electricity from certified off-site renewable sources:
Description of the certified off-site renewable sources of electricity:
Electricity from uncertified off-site renewable sources:
Description of the uncertified off-site renewable sources of electricity:
The compliance RECs from Constellation represent all of the renewable energy that Constellation retires on our behalf, and therefore can be claimed by Amherst. The percentage for Class I and CES compliance RECs was 24% in calendar year 2022 and 26% in calendar year 2023.
25% of 11,644 mwh (total purchased electricity) = 2,911 mwh
We used data provided by Constellation Energy to calculate the proportion of electricity sourced from renewable sources. From 7/1/2022 to 6/30/2023, 41.1% of energy supplied to customers came from renewable sources, but we are only claiming the Class I and CES complaince RECS in our reporting.
| source | percent | renewable |
| coal | 0.2 | |
| natural gas | 43.2 | |
| oil | 5.3 | |
| system mix | 10.1 | |
| hydro large | 13.7 | x |
| municipal trash | 3 | x |
| nuclear | 6.9 | x |
| other renewable | 2.8 | x |
| solar | 9 | x |
| wind | 5.7 | x |
Certified unbundled EACs:
Description of the certified unbundled EACs:
Amherst purchased 3,834 Green-e RECs from Sterling Planet the first half of FY23 and then purchased an additional 3,346 2023 Green-e RECs from 3 Degrees Group the second half of FY23. So 7,180 Green-e RECS total for FY23.
Renewable stationary fuels
Convert all units to MWh using the STARS energy calculator or an equivalent resource. Include products sourced during the performance year for the purpose of producing electricity and/or thermal energy, irrespective of whether they were used or not.
Description of the certified bioenergy products:
Uncertified biomethane from organic waste or landfill gas:
Description of the uncertified biomethane products:
Heating and cooling from off-site renewable sources
For example, district steam or hot water supplied by a municipal geothermal system. Convert all units to MWh using the STARS energy calculator or an equivalent resource.
Description of the certified off-site renewable sources of heating and cooling:
Heating and cooling from uncertified off-site renewable sources:
Description of the uncertified off-site renewable sources of heating and cooling:
Demand reduction
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following seven figures:
Electricity from renewable sources:
Renewable stationary fuels:
Heating and cooling from off-site renewable sources:
Annual renewable energy consumption:
Percentage of energy from renewable sources:
Points earned for indicator OP 5.3:
5.4 Percentage of electricity from on-site or certified renewable sources
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following three figures:
Percentage of electricity from on-site and/or third party certified renewable sources:
Points earned for indicator OP 5.4:
Optional documentation
Additional documentation for this credit:
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.