Overall Rating Platinum - expired
Overall Score 85.56
Liaison Tonie Miyamoto
Submission Date Feb. 7, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Colorado State University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.24 / 10.00 Carol Dollard
Energy Engineer
Facilities Management
"---" 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 None
Capital goods None
Waste generated in operations Some
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 Some
Other categories None

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:
CACP was used as the tool. Data was calculated through a variety of means including: - records (utility bills, ariline expenses, etc.) - internal surveys of departments (agriculture, refrigerants, etc.) - a commuter survey

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:
The university utilizes the Brendle Group (a local consulting firm) to provide our annual GHG inventory review.

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 54,073.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 60,594 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 12,003.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 6,937.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 106,952.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 109,511.90 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 173,029.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 177,043.50 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, 2015 June 30, 2016
Baseline Year July 1, 2009 June 30, 2010

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):
FY10 was the year that CSU developed their first Climate Action Plan (CAP) and established a timeline for carbon neutrality.

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 1,417.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 123.10 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 1,417.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 123.10 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):
Food and animal waste composted in an in-vessel composter has been growing substantially since the performance year. Additional windrow composting being constructed will increase this number substantially in future years.

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 2,909.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 3,915.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:
Green e-certified RECs purchased for LEED building projects & common areas in Housing and Dining services.

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 168,702.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 173,004.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 7,504 5,343
Number of employees resident on-site 148 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 25,373 24,304.90
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 6,522 3,672
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 3,012 2,879
Weighted campus users 23,575.25 20,159.18

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 7.16 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 8.58 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
16.62

Part 3

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
10,823,908 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 1,395,105 Square feet
Healthcare space 148,822 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 1,057,102 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
14,968,864 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 18,484 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 15,244.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 0 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 5,428 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 944.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
CSU established a CAP in FY10. Since that time total GHG emissions have been reduced by 10%. GHG emissions per GSF are down 21% and GHG emissions per student are down 17%.

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.