Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 57.64
Liaison Allison Maxted
Submission Date Jan. 25, 2016
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Mohawk College
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 7.61 / 10.00 Kayla LaChance
Sustainability Programs and Services Coordinator
Sustainability Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions?:
Yes

Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 3 GHG emissions from any of the following categories?:
Yes or No
Business travel Yes
Commuting Yes
Purchased goods and services No
Capital goods No
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 Yes
Waste generated in operations Yes

Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from other categories?:
Yes

A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:

To quantify GHG emissions for Mohawk College a higher educational institution where
no protocol has been prescribed, the GHG Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and
Reporting Standard, (Revised Edition), developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI)
and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is employed in
this assessment as the best practice guidance document.


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?:
Yes

A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:

In 2013, Mohawk College retained Stantec Consulting Ltd. (Stantec) to complete the emission inventory for the 2012 reporting year.
The objective was to complete a transparent inventory that could be meaningfully
compared to the 2007 baseline emission inventory, as well as compared against performance indicators for similar institutions.


Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 2,697 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 3,524 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 114 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 121 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 2,108 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 4,876 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine total carbon offsets::
Performance Year Baseline Year
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
Third-party verified carbon offsets purchased 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the institution-catalyzed carbon offsets program:
---

A brief description of the carbon sequestration program and reporting protocol used:
---

A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:
---

A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:
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Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 350 350
Number of residential employees 0 0
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 15,882 11,750
Full-time equivalent of employees 1,300 1,100
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 450.80 398.70

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Jan. 1, 2012 Dec. 31, 2012
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2007 Dec. 31, 2007

A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:

In 2011, Mohawk prepared its first GHG greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions report
which established a 2007 baseline. The baseline enables the development of
meaningful and appropriate emission reduction strategies as well as creates a
benchmark for all future GHG inventories.


Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
1,376,542 Square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 301,553 Square feet
Healthcare space 0 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 0 Square feet

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
Emissions
Business travel 44.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 4,628 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 174 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories (please specify below) 619 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":

Data for paper consumption was provided for the number of page used for various
paper sizes and properties. Emissions were calculated based on overall paper weights,
recycled content and emission factors provided by the Paper Task Force.


A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
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The website URL where the GHG emissions inventory is posted:
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:

Mohawk College has carried out a number of initiatives with the aim of reducing GHG
emissions while expanding its buildings and facilities.

•Replacement in 2008 of approximately 9000 T12 fluorescent bulbs with more
energy efficient TB bulbs, reducing overall energy consumption from lighting by
25%;
• Installation in 2010 of a solar wall at the Engineering Wing to preheat fresh air in the
winter months. This passive feature can increase incoming air temperature by up
to 20°C on sunny days;
• Upgrading from pneumatic to Direct Digital Controls of valves and dampers,
providing more accurate and energy-efficient control;
• Replacement of older and less efficient pumps, motors and cooling tower at
Central Plant. Variable Frequency Drives added to improve efficiency and add
better control.
• Replacement of dual-fired boiler system at Central Plant with more efficient and
cleaner-burning natural gas-fired boiler system.
• Conversion of diesel-fired emergency generators at Central Plant to natural gas fired
emergency generators;
• Replacement of one large chillers with two smaller ones, increasing efficiency by
running only one small chiller when reduced capacity required;
• Addition of 64,000 square foot LEED Gold facility. The David Bradley Athletic and
Recreation Centre, R-Wing, opened September 3, 2013 and an application for
certification has been submitted;
• Sale in 2011 of Wentworth Campus building. Built in the early 20th century, the
removal of this inefficient building is expected to have a positive impact on
Mohawk College's overall energy efficiency;
• Campus intensification with the transfer of more than 1200 students and staff of the
now-closed Brantford (Elgin) Campus to the Fennell Campus. This transfer has
resulted in no net increase in water or electricity use. Programs such as
MoCoModal, a custom travel planner, and a shuttle service from Brantford have
provided green transportation alternatives to students and staff; and,
• Student and staff engagement. Various programs are underway promoting
awareness of the sustainability initiatives at Mohawk. These programs include
promotion of ban on plastic bottles and bags, environmental course offerings,
enhanced signage, creation of a waste management zone, partnership with
Smart Commute Hamilton and student-run ECOS Committee.


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.