Cornell University
OP-5: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction

Institution reduced its net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user compared to a 2005 baseline.  

For this credit, off-site, institution-catalyzed carbon offsets (i.e. those popularly known as “local offsets”) count in full.  Purchased carbon offsets that have been verified by a third party may count towards a portion of the reduction.  Purchased offsets that have not been third-party verified do not count. 

To conduct a GHG emissions inventory, campuses may use any methodology and/or calculator that is consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards.

The baseline GHG emissions inventory should include the same emissions sources as the performance year emissions inventory. 

This credit applies to all institutions.

Institutions earn the maximum of 14 points available for this credit by achieving climate neutrality (i.e. zero net GHG emissions).  Incremental points are awarded for reducing GHG emissions compared to the 2005 baseline.  For example, an institution that reduced its emissions by 50 percent would earn 7 points (half of the points available for this credit). 

STARS awards only positive points; points will not be deducted if greenhouse gas emissions per weighted campus user increased rather than decreased during the time period.

Points earned are calculated according to the formula below.  Please note that users do not have to calculate the number of points earned themselves; points will be calculated automatically when the data listed under Section 5: Reporting Fields is entered in the online reporting tool.  

Points Earned = 14 × { [ (A/B) - (C/D) ] / (A/B) }

A = Adjusted net greenhouse gas emissions in 2005 baseline year

B = Weighted campus users in 2005 baseline year

C= Adjusted net greenhouse gas emissions in the performance year (most recent year for which data are available)

D= Weighted campus users in the performance year (most recent year for which data are available)

Timeframe

Performance Period

Report the most recent annual GHG emissions data available.  Institutions may choose the annual start and end dates that work best with the data they have (e.g. fiscal or calendar year), as long as data are reported from a consecutive 12-month period. 

Report population figures from the same time period as the GHG emissions data.  Institutions may use an annual average for each population group or the fall figures reported to IPEDS. 

Baseline Year

Report data from the 2005 baseline year.  Institutions may choose the start and end dates that work best with the data they have (e.g. fiscal or calendar year), as long as data are reported from a consecutive 12-month period that includes at least one month in 2005.  

Report population figures from the same time period as the GHG emissions data.  Institutions may use an annual average for each population group or the fall figures reported to IPEDS. 

If an institution does not have 2005 data, it may either:

a)      Estimate 2005 data using a trend line based on at least three years worth of data,

or

b)     Estimate conservatively (i.e. estimate that performance has not changed between the baseline and performance year).  Following this approach, an institution would not be able to claim points during its first STARS submission, but would be able to use its previously estimated baseline for subsequent submissions. 

If an institution has data for some, but not all, of the components of the baseline figure, it may follow either of the approaches above to estimate the missing data and then combine it with the available data. 

Sampling and Data Standards

To conduct a GHG emissions inventory, campuses may use any methodology and/or calculator, including Clean Air-Cool Planet’s Campus Carbon Calculator, that adheres to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards (see Section G in OP Credit 4: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory above).