| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 45.51 |
| Liaison | Mat Thijssen |
| Submission Date | Nov. 6, 2018 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Waterloo
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.07 / 10.00 |
Mat
Thijssen Sustainability Manager Sustainability Office |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1
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 | Some |
| Commuting | None |
| 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 | All |
| 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:
The University of Waterloo uses the following methodology to develop its emissions inventory:
Scope 1:
o Natural Gas: Waterloo calculates natural gas emissions by summing all monthly consumption from invoices for all campuses from fuel service providers, and multiplying the number of total metres cubed of natural gas by the emissions factors listed for Ontario as part of Canada’s annual National Inventory Report to the UNFCCC (1.898311 kgCO2-e per cubic metre of natural gas)
o Fleet fuel: Waterloo calculates fleet fuel use using a total volume of all delivered fuel to the campus from fuel service providers, and multiplying the total number of litres by emissions factors listed as part of Canada’s annual National Inventory Report to the UNFCCC based on fuel type (Diesel = 2.740728 kgCO2-e per liter; Gasoline = 2.316750 kgCO2-e per liter)
Scope 2:
o Electricity: Waterloo calculates electricity emissions by summing all monthly consumption data from invoices for all campuses from local electricity distributors, and multiplying the total electricity consumption by emission factors as listed for Ontario as part of Canada’s annual National Inventory Report to the UNFCCC (0.036 kgCO2-e per kWh). It should be noted that Ontario reports trued emission factors for the period three years previous, and an estimate for the period two years previous. Waterloo extrapolates the estimate (in this case for 2016) onto its annual reporting for the previous year and adjusts as necessary in future years.
Scope 3:
o Business travel: Waterloo includes mileage claims paid out for University employees within its emissions calculations. These are calculated using the data collected through Waterloo’s expense claim system and dividing by the designated mileage claim of $0.45 per kilometer. The total annual kilometer rate is then multiplied by emissions factors provided by Sustainable Waterloo Region for an unknown vehicle type (0.21378kgCO2-e per km).
o Transmission and Distribution Emissions: Waterloo calculates emissions from transmission and distribution losses by taking the difference between consumption and generation emission factors and multiplying it by total annual energy consumption. As with electricity emissions, Ontario provides an estimate for two years previous, which Waterloo extrapolates onto its performance year (0.004 kgCO2-e per kWh)
o Waste: Waterloo collects annual tonnage of waste sent to landfill from its waste haulers, and multiplies the total by waste emission factors calculated by the Region of Waterloo based on a previous study of the local landfill. (0.19 kgCO2-e per kilogram of waste)
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?:
No
A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
Waterloo was required to validate its Scope 1 emissions from stationary combustion as a capped participant in Ontario’s Cap-and-Trade program. However, this is done at a site level and thus excludes smaller campus locations and satellite facilities beyond the main/south campus. It only covers emissions from Stationary Combustion. Waterloo also uploads its data to the Sustainability Tracking Tool developed by Sustainable Waterloo Region to validate that calculations are comparable to those developed internally. The full inventory has not been externally validated.
Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
---
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
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 34,293.12 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 25,337.62 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 492.58 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 508.47 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 4,709.64 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 12,864.83 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 | 39,495.34 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 38,710.92 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, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2017 |
| Baseline Year | Jan. 1, 2010 | Dec. 31, 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):
---
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 | 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 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
If total performance year carbon offsets are greater than zero, provide:
---
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.
| 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:
---
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 39,495.34 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 38,710.92 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 5,543 | 5,172 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 35,156 | 29,539 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 5,874 | 4,969 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,007 | 485 |
| Weighted campus users | 31,403 | 26,810.25 |
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 | 1.26 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1.44 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
12.90
Part 3
780,339
Gross square meters
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 99,674 Square meters |
| Healthcare space | 3,986 Square meters |
| Other energy intensive space | 63,982 Square meters |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
11,319,769.50
Gross square meters
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
0.00
MtCO2e per square meter
Optional Fields
| Emissions | |
| Business travel | 246.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | --- |
| Purchased goods and services | --- |
| Capital goods | --- |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 523.29 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 614.02 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:
---
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
---
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
NOTE: The uploaded inventory above is based on the 2016 Environmental Sustainability Report, which is the most recent public document available. The 2018 Report (with activity from 2017 calendar year) will contain updated information, which is included here below using this methodology, but there is no public document.
There has been a decrease in emissions from electricity because of substantial changes to Ontario’s electricity grid. Specifically, the province has phased out coal power over the past decade, dropping significantly the emissions intensity of grid-purchased electricity. As per the methodology noted above, the majority of the change in electricity emissions between the base and performance years can be attributed to these changes, and not to efficiency and/or demand reduction.
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.