Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 29.38
Liaison Brandon Hoover
Submission Date Aug. 31, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Messiah University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.56 / 10.00 Brandon Hoover
Director of Sustainability
Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
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 Some
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 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:

Mosaic Carbon Accounting System: Mosaic is one easy-to-use, web-based platform that currently includes a carbon accounting application that is simple, scalable, and automated making the GHG inventory process easier and faster.


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:
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Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
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Does the institution wish to pursue Part 2 and Part 3 of this credit? (reductions in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions):
Yes

Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 4,572.58 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1,480.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 311 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 1,293.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 7,322 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 16,932.10 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 12,205.58 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 19,706.10 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 July 1, 2016 June 30, 2017
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2007 Dec. 31, 2007

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):

This was the first year a GHG inventory was completed for the College. Scope 1 and scope 2 vary so significantly because for many years the College was primarily an electric campus. It switched to propane shortly after the 2007 GHG inventory, and then to Natural Gas in 2016.


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

A brief description of the offsets in each category reported above, including vendor, project source, verification program and contract timeframes (as applicable):
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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:
---

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 12,205.58 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 19,706.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 2,317 2,426
Number of employees resident on-site 14 14
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 14 14
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 3,182 2,794
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 719.35 650
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 462 0
Weighted campus users 3,176.26 3,207

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 3.84 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 6.14 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
37.46

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
1,403,908 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 217,140 Square feet
Healthcare space 4,586 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 71,367 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
1,918,727 Gross square feet

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

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel ---
Commuting 215 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services ---
Capital goods ---
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 ---
Waste generated in operations 317 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories 2,585 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:

Solar Thermal:In 2011 Messiah College installed 112 solar thermal panels on the roofs of the three student residence halls that comprise North Complex. All the domestic hot water needs of these residences--totaling 113,000 square feet and nearly 500 students--will be met by this extensive, energy efficient solar collection system. This solar thermal system offsets greenhouse gases equivalent to planting 3,600 trees a year.

SunFLOWER POWER: Five acres of sunflowers beautified the field adjacent to Orchard Hill for the summer months of 2011. The sunflowers, part of a pilot project called SunFLOWER POWER, are being harvested for their seeds, which will be pressed into high-quality cooking oil. The oil will be used in the College's dining operations, and then collected and converted into biodiesel to fuel campus utility vehicles.

composting
tree initiative


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.