Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.59
Liaison Victor Udo
Submission Date Sept. 23, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Bucknell University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.89 / 10.00
"---" 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 All
Commuting All
Purchased goods and services Some
Capital goods None
Waste generated in operations All
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 All
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:
SIMAP was used to calculate the carbon footprint. Data was uploaded using the Campus Carbon Calculator. Estimates were utilized to calculate scope 3 emissions. There are large variances from year to year. However, we were unable to locate the raw data or assumptions used in prior years. Therefore all scope 3 data is of low confidence.

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:
SIMAP has reviewed the information.

Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
---

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 29,168.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 30,785.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 884.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1,142.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 155.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1,658.30 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 30,208.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 33,586.30 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 July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2007 June 30, 2008

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):
The GHG emissions baseline of 2008 was adopted as part of Bucknell's Climate Action Plan (submitted to the ACUPCC in 2010). 2008 was the year Bucknell signed the Presidents Climate Commitment. Initial goals were 10% reduction by 2015, 20% by 2020 and neutrality by 2030. The neutrality goal and overall commitment to the Sustainability Plan as an institutional priority has been reaffirmed in the 2019 University Strategic Plan.

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):
---

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:
4,500 national wind RECs, 3degrees, Cimarron Wind Energy (KS), Green-e. These RECs are already factored into the scope 2 emissions.

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 30,208.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 33,586.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 3,353 3,039
Number of employees resident on-site 17 17
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 14 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 3,781 3,563
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,342 1,162
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 4,698.75 4,307.75

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 6.43 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 7.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
17.54

Part 3

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
2,989,249 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 127,500 Square feet
Healthcare space 4,900 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 90,300 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
3,344,349 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

Optional Fields 

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel 4,173.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 1,709.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 144.40 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 2 113.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories ---

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
All new construction has been certified LEED Silver or Gold with a primary emphasis on minimizing energy usage. One building (c2013) is in the process of LEED O&M v4.1 certification potentially at the Platinum level. Staff have actively managed building systems to minimize energy usage. Cogen plant operations focus on efficiency. All renovations are done in a way that minimizes energy usage. 100% of purchased electricity is offset with wind RECs. A large scale solar PV project is under development, but is not included in this report.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.