Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 73.19
Liaison Ryan Todd
Submission Date April 30, 2024

STARS v2.2

California State University, Sacramento
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.74 / 8.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions

Gross GHG emissions

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 8,145.92 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 7,398 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 125.79 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 898.89 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 9,740.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 12,260 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 18,012.64 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 20,556.89 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Carbon sinks

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 11.61 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration 96.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1.47 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon sold or transferred 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Net carbon sinks 11.61 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

If total performance year carbon sinks are greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
The university has three sources of carbon sinks associated with campus. The primary source is a large arboretum as well as over 4,000 mature trees. The latter is a wetland restoration project known as Bushy Lake that is a research based wetland focused on preservation with efforts led by Environmental Studies professor Dr. Michelle Stevens and countless students. Our on-site composting systems also act as a carbon sink.

Adjusted net GHG emissions

Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 18,001.03 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 20,556.89 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Performance and baseline periods

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Performance year Baseline year
Start date July 1, 2022 July 1, 2013
End date June 30, 2023 June 30, 2014

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
The performance year was chosen based on the most recent 12 month fiscal period prior to starting work on the STARS report. The baseline year was determined by choosing the 12 month period prior to completing the first STARS assessment.

Part 1. Reduction in GHG emissions per person

Weighted campus users

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance year Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site 2,200 1,700
Number of employees resident on-site 7 49
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 26,261 24,237
Full-time equivalent of employees 3,332 1,801
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 2,581 12,372
Weighted Campus Users 20,810.75 10,686.75

Metrics used in scoring for Part 1

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 0.86 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1.92 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
55.03

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
6,100,509 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 262,270 Square feet
Healthcare space 156,843 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 947,445 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
7,886,180 Gross square feet

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

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

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
- carbon commitment signed in 2015 with second nature declaring a 2040 carbon neutrality goal
- a refined focus on integrating GHG emission reduction goals into sustainability staff's position description
- IPM strategic goals include increasing carbon sequestration through planting more trees and using campus generated compost
- Investment in a campus wide strategic energy plan to help outline future energy reduction projects

Examples of projects supported by above initiatives include:
- onsite composting of campus organic waste that includes both green and food waste
- lighting retrofit to LED and occupancy controlled buildings
- Integrating two and a half megawatts more of photovoltaic solar production for a total of 3 megawatts on campus of onsite generation
- a $700,000 grant funded project through the Department of Water Resources focused on reducing water energy and GHG emissions included replacement of such items as restroom faucets, kitchen faucets, shower heads, and various commercial kitchen appliances

Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.