Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 74.85
Liaison Andrea Trimble
Submission Date Feb. 8, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of Virginia
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.84 / 8.00 Elizabeth Dukes
Sustainability Analyst
Office for Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions

Gross GHG emissions

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 75,499.55 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 109,886.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 3,478.76 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 4,593.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 82,205.01 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 176,643.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported thermal energy 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Total 161,183.32 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 291,123.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Carbon sinks

Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
Performance year Baseline year
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 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 storage from on-site composting 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Carbon sold or transferred 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Net carbon sinks 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

If total performance year carbon sinks are greater than zero, provide:

A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
N/A

Adjusted net GHG emissions

Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance year Baseline year
Adjusted net GHG emissions 161,183.32 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 291,123.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Performance and baseline periods

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Performance year Baseline year
Start date Jan. 1, 2022 Jan. 1, 2010
End date Dec. 31, 2022 Dec. 31, 2010

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
In 2019, the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors committed to including several new sustainability goals in the University's 2020-2030 Sustainability Plan, including being carbon neutral by 2030 and achieving several "30 by 30" goals by 2030 relative to 2010 levels. While achieving carbon neutrality does not necessitate a baseline, 2010 is being used for this GHG baseline for the purposes of aligning with the "30 by 30" goals' baselines.

Part 1. Reduction in GHG emissions per person

Weighted campus users

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance year Baseline year
Number of students resident on-site 7,143 6,623
Number of employees resident on-site 69 69
Number of other individuals resident on-site 670 566
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 24,579 20,449
Full-time equivalent of employees 16,432 13,295
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted Campus Users 33,231.25 27,547

Metrics used in scoring for Part 1

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 4.85 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 10.57 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
54.10

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
18,918,835 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 1,092,720 Square feet
Healthcare space 1,453,847 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 272,321 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
24,284,290 Gross square feet

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
0.01 MtCO2e per square foot

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
Emissions reductions since 2010 can be attributed to the following initiatives:
• Energy efficiency requirements for all new buildings as part of UVA’s comprehensive Green Building Standards;
• Energy efficiency upgrades for existing buildings, such as the Building Efficiency Program and Smart Labs programs;
• District energy system optimization, which includes fuel switching, equipment upgrades, and connecting more facilities to UVA’s centralized electricity, heating, and cooling systems;
• Renewable energy procurement, including six rooftop solar installations on Grounds and two off-site solar facilities that combined account for approximately 15% of the University’s electricity consumption;
• Continuing to transition fleet vehicles to electric and hybrid models;
• Improvements to the electric grid, which have reduced the carbon intensity of UVA’s electricity consumption; and
• Promoting more sustainable commuting practices and coordinating with regional transit partners which reduces scope 3 emissions.

Website URL where information about the institution's GHG emissions is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---

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.