| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 67.18 |
| Liaison | Weston Dripps |
| Submission Date | Aug. 19, 2024 |
Amherst College
OP-6: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.00 / 16.00 |
Weston
Dripps Director of Sustainability Sustainability |
6.1 Greenhouse gas emissions inventory and disclosure
Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions inventory
Copy of the institution’s GHG emissions inventory:
Online location of the institution’s GHG emissions inventory:
Performance year for scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Description of the methodology or calculator used to conduct the scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions inventory:
We calculated scope-1 and -2 carbon emissions using financial records on college-wide energy consumption starting from the 2016 fiscal year and ending in the 2023 fiscal year, obtained from the facilities team. Fiscal years are defined as starting in July the prior calendar year and ending in June the current calendar year. As such, data spans from July 2015 to June 2023. In this document, we refer to carbon dioxide as CO2, methane as CH4, nitrous oxide as N2O, and CO2-equivalent emissions factors as CO2e.
Our data includes monthly records for the following categories: natural gas purchasing for the main cogeneration plant and smaller side accounts, electricity purchased for the main line and smaller accounts, miscellaneous oil, diesel, and propane purchases for smaller sources around campus, and purchasing of gas from college-owned vehicles and usage of the on-campus diesel and gasoline tanks. We excluded the following properties that are in financial records but are, operationally, outside of the college’s control from emissions accounting: the Bunker, Woodside Day Care, Lincoln House, and Maud Minor House. We make the assumption that monthly purchasing records reflect trends in monthly energy consumption.
For Scope 1 emissions, we used the 2022 emissions factors published by the Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis Platform (SIMAP) to convert measures of consumption to kilograms of CO2, CH4, and N2O. Starting from 2020, the college began purchasing electricity through the provider Constellation. Specific CO2 emissions factors from this provider are available from calendar years 2020-2022. For CO2 in calendar years 2015-2019 and 2023, and for CH4 and N2O from all years, we use data on Massachusetts average emissions factor available from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s eGRID resource (EPA, 2024). Data in odd-numbered years are not published, so 2016, 2018, and 2022 are extrapolated to 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. In the fiscal year of 2021, the college began offsetting its electricity consumption through the main line by purchasing carbon credits — this accounts for the offsetting of the majority, but not all, of Scope 2 emissions.
All emissions factors are reported as CO2e emissions in metric tons. Methane and nitrous oxide emissions are converted to CO2e using IPCC standards (IPCC, 2013).
Scope 1 GHG emissions
If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required:
Scope 1 GHG emissions from mobile combustion:
Scope 1 GHG process emissions:
Scope 1 GHG fugitive emissions:
Scope 2 GHG emissions
If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required:
Scope 2 GHG emissions from off-site sources of electricity (market-based):
If using a location-based or dual reporting method, the following field is also required:
Scope 2 GHG emissions from off-site sources of heating and cooling:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
Biogenic emissions
If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required:
GHG emissions from biogenic sources:
Scope 3 GHG emissions
Scope 3 GHG emissions from business travel:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from commuting?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from commuting:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from capital goods?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from capital goods:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities not included in scope 1 or scope 2?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities not included in scope 1 or scope 2:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from upstream transportation and distribution?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from upstream transportation and distribution:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions from waste generated in operations?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from waste generated in operations:
Within the previous three years, to what extent has the institution quantified its scope 3 GHG emissions in all other applicable categories identified in the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard?:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from other applicable categories identified in the GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard:
If any scope 3 activities have been quantified, the following field is also required:
Scope 3 GHG emissions from business travel
We recently anayzed our athletic travel and flights for FY 2023:
- athletic travel, including air travel in 2023 = 765.9 MTCO2
- study abroad flights for 22-23 school year = 381.56 MTCO2
- total = 765.9 + 381.56 = 1147.46 MTCO2
Scope 3 GHG emissions from commuting
We based our estimates from data from our recent campus sustainability survey:
- 1304.158 MTCO2
Scope 3 GHG emissions from fuel- and energy-related activities not included in scope 1 or scope 2
Transmission and distribution (T&D) losses are calculated as all emissions associated with generation of electricity lost in a T&D system. In the United States, an average of 5.1% of electricity produced is lost in transmission and distribution (according to EPA's eGRiD resource).
T&D Loss = CO2 from purchased electricity * loss factor = 4498.72*0.051 = 229.43 MTCO2
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:
6.2 Greenhouse gas emissions per square meter
Gross floor area of building space:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following two figures:
Points earned for indicator OP 6.2:
6.3 Greenhouse gas emissions per person
Full-time equivalent of employees:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following three figures:
Annual scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per person:
Points earned for indicator OP 6.3:
6.4 Adjusted net greenhouse gas emissions
Carbon sinks
Report figures for the performance year. If claiming points for a scope 1 and scope 2 GHG inventory, the following information is required. Non-additional sequestration does not qualify as a carbon sink for scoring purposes, but may be reported in the optional field provided.
Description of the institution’s third party certified carbon offsets:
Carbon storage from on-site composting:
Description of the institution’s carbon storage from on-site composting:
Carbon sold or transferred:
Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration on institution-owned land:
Baseline emissions
Copy of the institution’s baseline GHG emissions inventory:
Online location of the institution’s baseline GHG emissions inventory:
Baseline year for scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Narrative outlining when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
We used 2018 as our baseline year because this was the first time we calculated and reported on GHG emissions for STARS.
Baseline scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following four figures:
Adjusted net scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Percentage reduction in scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from baseline:
Points earned for indicator OP 6.4:
Optional documentation
Attached the athletic travel summary report.
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.