| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.12 |
| Liaison | Ciannat Howett |
| Submission Date | July 25, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Emory University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.47 / 10.00 |
Joan
Kowal Senior Director for Energy Strategy and Utilities Campus Services |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
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 | All |
| Commuting | All |
| Purchased goods and services | None |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | Some |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | None |
| 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 Campus Carbon Calculator was used.
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?:
A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
The final greenhouse gas inventory was reviewed and approved by Emory's Senior Director of Energy Strategy and Utilities, who was not responsible for any component of the inventory as it was calculated.
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):
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 55,685 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 60,064 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 6,064 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 15,111 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 176,128 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 191,250 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 | 237,877 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 266,425 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 | Sept. 1, 2013 | Aug. 31, 2014 |
| Baseline Year | Sept. 1, 2004 | Aug. 31, 2005 |
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):
The baseline year of 2005 was selected to be the same as the baseline year established previously for measuring other on-campus sustainability initiatives. 2005 aligns with the year the University's Strategic Plan was initiated. The plan identified sustainability as an institutional priority and called for the development of Emory's 2005-2015 Sustainability Vision.
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 | 180 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 | 180 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
Emory University does not currently utilize offsets as part of its GHG emissions reductions strategy. The carbon accounting industry does not require onsite composting to be a verified offset, therefore information on “vendor, project source, verification program, and contract timeframes” as requested is not best practice nor required for onsite compost programs in GHG emissions inventories. Onsite composting meets the accounting best practices for offsets because baseline scenarios are known, composting programs are additional, there are no negative secondary effects, there is no risk of reversibility, and it is not double-counted. Emory sends all of its food waste compost to an offsite vendor, which we do not get credit for in GHG emissions accounting, and composts onsite a small amount of landscaping materials.
Emissions reductions attributable to Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) or Guarantee of Origin (GO) purchases:
| 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:
Emory University does not currently purchase RECs as part of its GHG emissions reductions strategy.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 237,697 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 266,425 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 4,352 | 4,424 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 24 | 27 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 702 | 579 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 14,521 | 13,507 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 14,676 | 16,665 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 9 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 23,687 | 24,320.75 |
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 | 10.03 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 10.95 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 | 1,720,176 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 1,893,473 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 318,015 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:
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Emissions | |
| Business travel | 22,657 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 40,365 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Capital goods | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
Emory University and Emory Healthcare continue to grow, however Emory proudly recorded a 26.5% per square foot decrease in energy consumption from FY2005 to FY2015. This achievement was made possible through careful monitoring, strategic operations, innovative technology in constructed buildings, and behavior change.
A temperature control policy and weekend, evening, and holiday building shutdowns have decreased the steam and chilled water (stationary sources) loads required to heat and cool university buildings. A general decrease in energy consumption of around 20% is attributed to occupant behavior modifications. A LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver minimum requirement for all new construction and the complimentary Emory Sustainable Performance Program ensure that buildings, the largest energy consumers, are built and operate efficiently. A steam turbine generator was installed on Emory’s existing steam plant on campus, producing one megawatt of clean power for the campus.
In addition to an enterprise-wide Climate Action Plan outlining GHG emission reductions strategies, the 2011 Climate Action Plan asked academic departments and operations to develop emission reduction plans. These individual Plans lay out various strategic paths toward reducing the carbon emissions of each academic unit in the areas of sustainable building and construction, energy, transportation, waste management, food, procurement, academic programs, and individual action.
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:
The data provided in this credit is based off of GHG Emissions Inventory conducted for FY 2005 and FY 2014.
Emory's GHG Emissions Inventory includes the adjacent Emory Healthcare System and scientific research facilities, with the goal in mind to promote sustainability efforts across the whole Emory institution. The decision to include these energy intensive facilities significantly contributes to the carbon emissions levels inventoried.
The data provided in this credit is based off of GHG Emissions Inventory conducted for FY 2005 and FY 2014.
Emory's GHG Emissions Inventory includes the adjacent Emory Healthcare System and scientific research facilities, with the goal in mind to promote sustainability efforts across the whole Emory institution. The decision to include these energy intensive facilities significantly contributes to the carbon emissions levels inventoried.
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.