| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 59.20 |
| Liaison | Elaine Durr |
| Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2024 |
Elon University
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.31 / 8.00 |
Elaine
Durr Senior Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 5,054.82 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 4,665.86 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 986.14 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1,100.54 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 10,296.82 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 15,803.84 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 | 16,337.78 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 21,570.24 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 7,722 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 | 43.51 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 37.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Carbon storage from non-additional sequestration | 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 | 7,765.51 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 37.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Carbon storage from on-site composting represents on-site yard waste composting. The metric tons of CO2 equivalent value was determined using SIMAP. Elon collects and composts 100% of its own yard waste in a facility located on the edge of campus. The resulting compost is then utilized on campus. For this on-site yard waste composting program: the baseline is known, it is additional, there are no known negative secondary effects, it is not reversible and it is not double-counted.
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased represents: 4000 MTCDE from a refrigerant reclamation project in Georgia [retired on Elon's behalf in May 2023 by Anew Climate, American Carbon Registry], 2700 MTCDE from a landfill gas destruction project in North Carolina [retired on Elon's behalf in May 2023 by Anew Climate, Climate Action Reserve], 1000 MTCDE from a forest improvement project in Alabama [retired on Elon's behalf in May 2023 by Anew Climate, American Carbon Registry] and 22 MTCDE from a wind energy project in Texas [retired on Elon's behalf through the UCapture program in June 2022, Verified Carbon Standard].
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 8,572.27 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 21,532.44 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Start date | June 1, 2022 | June 1, 2007 |
| End date | May 31, 2023 | May 31, 2008 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
Elon's first GHG emissions inventory was conducted for FY 2007-2008. This year is utilized to measure progress toward Elon's carbon neutrality goal, which was established in 2007.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 3,998 | 2,860 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 24 | 17 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 12 | 11 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 7,006 | 5,314 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 1,509 | 1,012 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 7,403.75 | 5,474.75 |
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 | 1.16 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor area | |
| Laboratory space | 24,313 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 7,482 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 0 Square feet |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives:
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 source of Elon's purchased electricity (through Duke Energy) has become less carbon intensive (comparing the baseline and performance years).
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.