Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
---|---|
Overall Score | 75.41 |
Liaison | Marianne Martin |
Submission Date | March 23, 2018 |
Executive Letter | Download |
University of Colorado Boulder
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
5.19 / 10.00 |
Dave
Newport Director Environmental Center |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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 | None |
Capital goods | None |
Waste generated in operations | All |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | None |
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:
Custom tool. Custom emissions factors from Xcel Energy, campus utility provider of purchased electricity for scope 1 and 2. Scope 3 sources determined by conversion of commuting VMT's derived from annual surveys and conversion of total business travel spend to GHG emissions via SIMAP. Waste materials/recycling emissions determined via EPA WARM model (mot recent data available).
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:
Emissions are compiled and calculated by the CU Environmental Center and then reviewed and verified by campus energy engineer and the campus utility director. Likewise, the GHG emissions factors supplied by Xcel Energy were reviewed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) for consistency with Xcel's PUC filings.
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
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 43,855 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 70,673 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 2,006 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1,381 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 90,269 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 63,625 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 | 136,130 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 135,679 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 | Jan. 1, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2016 |
Baseline Year | July 1, 2004 | June 30, 2005 |
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):
This baseline date (2005) was established consistent with the State baseline, ACUPCC, and Renewable Portfolio Standards.
Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased (exclude purchased RECs/GOs) | 12,092 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 | 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 | 12,092 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased are purchased annually from Native Energy. The specific project in this report is a methane capture of natural vents on Ute Nation lands in SW Colorado.
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:
CU does not purchase RECs of any kind.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 124,038 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 135,679 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
Number of students resident on-site | 8,040 | 6,451 |
Number of employees resident on-site | 15 | 11 |
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 26,124 | 25,978 |
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 6,212 | 5,534 |
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,450 | 5,503 |
Weighted campus users | 25,178.25 | 21,122.25 |
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 | 4.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 6.42 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
23.31
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
11,824,622
Gross square feet
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area | |
Laboratory space | 2,332,798 Square feet |
Healthcare space | 55,738 Square feet |
Other energy intensive space | 86,321 Square feet |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
16,688,015
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
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions | |
Business travel |
34,504
Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Date Revised: Aug. 15, 2022
|
Commuting | 2,618 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Purchased goods and services | --- |
Capital goods | --- |
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | --- |
Waste generated in operations | 1,609 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Other categories | --- |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
All construction now LEED Gold-plus plus 12 certified LEED Platinum. Extensive envelope enhancements based on whole campus aerial laser scoping, significant behavioral conservation campaigns. Campus footprint has expanded ~ 19% over the period, yet intensities such as GHG/sf and kwh/sf are declining.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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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.