Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 73.99
Liaison Mary-Lee Townsend
Submission Date Oct. 20, 2021

STARS v2.2

Western University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.52 / 8.00 Evan Green
Energy and Carbon Manager
Office of 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 54,163 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 42,486 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity 4,670 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 28,162 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 58,833 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 70,648 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 58,833 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 70,648 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, 2019 Jan. 1, 2005
End date Dec. 31, 2019 Dec. 31, 2005

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
TO match Federal GHG reduction commitments.

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 6,308 5,107
Number of employees resident on-site 8 8
Number of other individuals resident on-site 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 30,693 23,637
Full-time equivalent of employees 3,871 3,369
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 898 792
Weighted Campus Users 26,828.50 20,939.25

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 2.19 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 3.37 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
35.00

Part 2. GHG emissions per unit of floor area

Performance year floor area

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
875,755.57 Gross square meters

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor area
Laboratory space 86,771 Square meters
Healthcare space 0 Square meters
Other energy intensive space 188,747.45 Square meters

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
1,238,044.49 Gross square meters

Metric used in scoring for Part 2

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

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
GHG reduction through electrification of heating, energy efficiency, and renewable geothermal.

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:
Regarding reductions on Scope 2 emissions from Purchased Electricity

Due to the retirement of coal-fired generation and the reduced demand for electricity, the GHG emissions from Ontario's electricity sector fell by 80% since 2005.
https://www.ieso.ca/en/Learn/Ontario-Supply-Mix/Ontario-Energy-Capacity

In 2019, energy production relied heavily on nuclear (61%) and hydro (25%), both of which are considered low carbon. Only 6% of our electricity mix was fossil fuel base (oil/gas).
https://www.ieso.ca/en/Corporate-IESO/Media/Year-End-Data/2019

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.