Overall Rating	Silver - expired
Overall Score	60.54
Liaison	Sarah Fortner
Submission Date	March 6, 2020
Executive Letter	Download

STARS v2.1

Carleton College
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	6.90 / 10.00	Alexandra Miller Sustainability Program Coordinator Energy and Sustainability

"---" 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	Some
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	None

A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:

Carleton_FY19_Sustainability_Solutions_Source_Summary.xlsx

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:

Carleton uses the Clean Air - Cool Planet methodology This tool is used by Sightlines as part of the Sustainability Solutions service. Sightlines annually works with Carleton College Facilities staff to collect data to compile, calculate and analyze institutional GHG data.

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:

Carleton hires Sightlines, a facilities benchmarking and analysis firm, to assist with and verify our annual greenhouse gas emissions data. This information is reviewed twice with Facilities staff to confirm accuracy and explain major changes.

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	8,189 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	8,482 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources	328 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	155 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity	2,888 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	11,205 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	11,405 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	19,842 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, 2018	June 30, 2019
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 was adopted because 2008 is the first year in which we have comprehensive GHG data validated by Sightlines.

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	932 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	728 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	932 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	728 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 carbon sequestration from is from our Arboretum, which was calculated by an Ecosystems Ecology class on campus and this number has stayed constant. Renewable Energy Credits, RECs, are purchased through the Renewable Connect Program offered by our utility provider, Xcel Energy. We purchased RECs in an amount that is approximately equivalent to the generation from our first wind turbine which serves the public grid. RECs are included directly into our Scope 2 emissions, so that figure shows net emissions, not gross.

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:

Renewable Energy Credits, RECs, are purchased through the Renewable Connect Program offered by our utility provider, Xcel Energy. We purchased RECs in an amount that is approximately equivalent to the generation from our first wind turbine which serves the public grid. The RECs are Green-E certified, information can be found here: https://www.xcelenergy.com/programs_and_rebates/residential_programs_and_rebates/renewable_energy_options_residential/renewable_connect_for_residences/renewable_connect_product_content_label

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions	10,473 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	19,114 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:

	Performance Year	Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site	1,790	2,000
Number of employees resident on-site	26	40
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds	0	0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment	2,097	1,975
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty)	712	664
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education	0	0
Weighted campus users	2,560.75	2,489.25

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	4.09 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent	7.68 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

46.74

Part 3

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:

1,950,164 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:

	Floor Area
Laboratory space	170,985 Square feet
Healthcare space	550 Square feet
Other energy intensive space	79,965 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:

2,373,199 Gross square feet

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

0.00 MtCO2e per square foot

Optional Fields

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:

	Emissions
Business travel	2,951 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting	1,045 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services	65 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	839 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories	2,888 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 summer 2017 Carleton began a five-year transformation of its district heating system from steam to hot water tied to a geothermal heat pump system. This will reduce both plant operating costs and Scope 1 and 2 emissions. In fall 2019, Carleton will open its new science facility which adds net 50,000 square feet to the science complex without add to the energy footprint. Carleton engaged in the Energy Design Assist, EDA, program offered through our utility provider, Xcel Energy, to develop an energy model based on the design and select energy efficiency measures that will lower the energy intensity compared to a typical science building. The building is currently tracking toward LEED Platinum. Renewable Energy Credits, RECs, are purchased through the Renewable Connect Program offered by our utility provider, Xcel Energy. We purchased RECs in an amount that is approximately equivalent to the generation from our first wind turbine which serves the public grid. Ongoing efforts to manage energy data and track energy use have led to numerous energy conservation projects across campus. An "Energy Management Team" consisting of sustainability staff, maintenance staff, the campus energy manager, and students meets weekly to review current project opportunities and log progress. In fall 2011, Carleton installed its a 1.68 MW wind turbine, which currently produces about 30% of campus electricity. Solar arrays were also installed on Cassat and James residence halls. In terms of future planning, Carleton recently reviewed and modified its architectural master plan, which greatly reduced projections for increased floor space, by renovating or replacing existing structures.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:

https://apps.carleton.edu/sustainability/

Additional documentation to support the submission:

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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Baseline year for Carleton College's GHG inventory is fiscal year 2008, performance year is fiscal year 2019. This encompasses the period of years when Carleton worked with Sightlines, so data and comparisons should be consistent. Our Scope 3 measurements have increased in accuracy since 2008 (air travel and waste data tracking has improved) resulting in a general increase to these values. "other Scope 3" includes T&D losses, wastewater treatment, and study-abroad air travel. Our Scope 1 & 2 emissions have improved in purchased electricity, despite adding two residence halls and a large academic building since 2008. This is primarily due to the addition of a 1.68 MW wind turbine in fall 2011.

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.