| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 46.80 |
| Liaison | Paul Scanlon |
| Submission Date | Feb. 28, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Slippery Rock University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.96 / 10.00 |
Paul
Scanlon Special Assistant to the President President's Office/Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Yes
None
Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 3 GHG emissions from any of the following categories?:
| Yes or No | |
| Business travel | Yes |
| Commuting | Yes |
| Purchased goods and services | No |
| Capital goods | No |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | Yes |
| Waste generated in operations | Yes |
None
Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from other categories?:
Yes
None
A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:
The SRU GHG Inventory was completed in-house using the Clean Air - Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator, v6.9.
None
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
None
A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
Most Scope 1 and Scope 2 data (fossil fuel use at the central plant, electrical use, wastewater use) is collected and verified by an independent third party (Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute).
The current GHG Inventory has not been verified in whole by an independent thrid party, but a third party (Sightlines) had completed previous years' inventories that we updated (where more accurate information was available) so we had the benefit of verifying this year's data against previous years' data.
None
Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 20,265 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 20,402 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 466 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 444 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 20,265 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 23,457 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources | 2,004 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 2,320 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
None
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| 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 | 21 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 21 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
None
A brief description of the institution-catalyzed carbon offsets program:
NA
None
A brief description of the carbon sequestration program and reporting protocol used:
NA
None
A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:
Approximately 328 CY (38 tons) of leaves are collected annually from the Borough of Slippery Rock and composted in a large windrow composting system at the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Education and Research. An additional 5,100 gallons (16 tons) of pre-consumer food scraps from the University Dining halls is also composted at the same location, along with a small amount of compost generated from a Clivus Multrum composting toilet located at the Harmony House.
None
A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:
NA
None
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 2,984 | 2,881 |
| Number of residential employees | 0 | 0 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 8,642 | 7,704 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 879 | 826 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 757 | 141 |
None
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Performance Year | Sept. 1, 2012 | Aug. 30, 2013 |
| Baseline Year | Sept. 1, 2004 | Aug. 30, 2005 |
None
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
The GHG emissions baseline was adopted after signing the Presidents Climate Action Commitment in 2009, and FY 2004-2005 was selected as the baseline period because that was the earliest year for which the most accurate information was available.
None
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
2,511,667
Square feet
None
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 26,759 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 6,114 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 0 Square feet |
None
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
| Emissions | |
| Business travel | 377.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 3,902 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | 135 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 | 2,145 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 196.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories (please specify below) | 31.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
None
A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":
Wastewater
None
A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
---
None
The website URL where the GHG emissions inventory is posted:
None
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
SRU's GHG emissions reduction initiatives are documented in detail in our AASHE Climate Action Plan (available at www.sru.edu/sustainability web page) and include continuous efforts to improve energy efficiency as well as major future initiatives, including conversion to a biomass-fired central heating plant with CHP to provide a minimum of 5% of the university's electrical needs, plus several large scale photovoltaic system installations.
Continuing initiatives made during the past three years include physical upgrades to existing buildings (e.g., completion of the new Smith Student Center, installation of attic insulation at several buildings, replacement of several sections of underground steam and condensate piping, an energy audit and follow-up energy-conserving measures at Morrow Field House, and the installation of energy dashboards at 5 major Residence Halls that will be used within the context of our energy action campaign to support energy competitions among the residence halls).
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Greenhouse gas inventories were first performed in-house for FY 2004-2005, after which a third party(Sightlines) was contracted to perform inventories for FY05-FY11. In FY 2012-2013, SRU decided to perform the GHG inventory in-house, partly in order to better understand the process and how it can be used to further reduce our emissions.
Green electricity (Scope 2 offsets) were collectively purchased through the state system (PASSHE) through 2011. In FY 2011-2012 and FY 2012-2013, SRU purchased renewable energy RECs directly from Renewable Energy Choice.
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.