| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.64 |
| Liaison | Eva Rocke |
| Submission Date | June 30, 2021 |
University of Montana
OP-2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.20 / 8.00 |
Eva
Rocke Sustainability Director 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 | 14,149.65 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 16,696.73 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,456.12 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from imported electricity | 17,168.55 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 27,961.36 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 | 32,774.32 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 44,658.09 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine net carbon sinks:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased | 440 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 | 44.39 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 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 | 484.39 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the carbon sinks, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Campus departments and LEED building projects purchase third party verified carbon offsets and Renewable Energy Credits occasionally to meet certification and climate action goals. In FY19 (the year represented above), the Fitness & Recreation Center purchased carbon offsets and RECs from Sterling Planet. We also purchased carbon offsets for the Champion Center, the only new facility constructed and LEED certified in 2019.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Adjusted net GHG emissions | 32,289.93 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 44,658.09 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 | July 1, 2018 | July 1, 2006 |
| End date | June 30, 2019 | June 30, 2007 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
UM's baseline emissions year was adopted in 2010 when our first GHG emissions inventory was conducted and we developed our climate action plan. Retired university president George Dennison signed the ACUPCC in 2006, making UM one of the charter signatories. Upon initial data collection, it quickly became clear that finding sufficient data from earlier than FY 2007 would be too difficult and inaccurate.
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance year | Baseline year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 2,418 | 2,744 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 4 | 4 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 10,487 | 11,698 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 2,778 | 1,772 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 1,144 | 0 |
| Weighted Campus Users | 9,696.25 | 10,789.50 |
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 | 3.33 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 4.14 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 | 120,092 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 28,665 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:
UM continues to pursue energy conservation projects in its buildings across campus when funding and time allow. We are currently working with McKinstry, an energy performance ESCO, to recommission several large buildings on campus and upgrade lighting. UM is also in the midst of designing and building a Combined Heat & Power plant that will be operable in fall 2022. In addition to infrastructure efficiencies and improvements, we have invested in 3 more fully electric buses for our student-owned transit program and we continue to do extensive outreach and education to support active, sustainable commuting.
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 data above reflect FY19 while our most recent SIMAP submission goes through FY20. Also of note this year is our choice to adopt a custom emissions factor instead of using the eGrid EF. In order to have our GHG inventory more accurately reflect change over time, we updated the 2007 emissions factor based on the specific EF given to us by NorthWestern Energy. So now, 2007 and 2015-2020 emissions profiles are all consistent in their use of custom emissions factors.
The data above reflect FY19 while our most recent SIMAP submission goes through FY20. Also of note this year is our choice to adopt a custom emissions factor instead of using the eGrid EF. In order to have our GHG inventory more accurately reflect change over time, we updated the 2007 emissions factor based on the specific EF given to us by NorthWestern Energy. So now, 2007 and 2015-2020 emissions profiles are all consistent in their use of custom emissions factors.
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.