Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.80
Liaison Paul Scanlon
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2014
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Slippery Rock University
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.96 / 10.00 Paul Scanlon
Special Assistant to the President
President's Office/Sustainability
"---" 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:

The SRU GHG Inventory was completed in-house using the Clean Air - Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator, v6.9.


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:

Most Scope 1 and Scope 2 data (fossil fuel use at the central plant, electrical use, wastewater use) is collected and verified by an independent third party (Penn State Facilities Engineering Institute).

The current GHG Inventory has not been verified in whole by an independent thrid party, but a third party (Sightlines) had completed previous years' inventories that we updated (where more accurate information was available) so we had the benefit of verifying this year's data against previous years' data.


Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion 20,265 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 20,402 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 466 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 444 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 20,265 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 23,457 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Scope 2 GHG emissions from other sources 2,004 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2,320 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 21 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 21 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:

NA


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

NA


A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:

Approximately 328 CY (38 tons) of leaves are collected annually from the Borough of Slippery Rock and composted in a large windrow composting system at the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Education and Research. An additional 5,100 gallons (16 tons) of pre-consumer food scraps from the University Dining halls is also composted at the same location, along with a small amount of compost generated from a Clivus Multrum composting toilet located at the Harmony House.


A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:

NA


Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of residential students 2,984 2,881
Number of residential employees 0 0
Number of in-patient hospital beds 0 0
Full-time equivalent enrollment 8,642 7,704
Full-time equivalent of employees 879 826
Full-time equivalent of distance education students 757 141

Start and end dates of the performance year and baseline year (or three-year periods):
Start Date End Date
Performance Year Sept. 1, 2012 Aug. 30, 2013
Baseline Year Sept. 1, 2004 Aug. 30, 2005

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

The GHG emissions baseline was adopted after signing the Presidents Climate Action Commitment in 2009, and FY 2004-2005 was selected as the baseline period because that was the earliest year for which the most accurate information was available.


Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
2,511,667 Square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 26,759 Square feet
Healthcare space 6,114 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 0 Square feet

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
Emissions
Business travel 377.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 3,902 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services 135 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 2,145 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 196.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories (please specify below) 31.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

Wastewater


A copy of the most recent GHG emissions inventory:
---

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:

SRU's GHG emissions reduction initiatives are documented in detail in our AASHE Climate Action Plan (available at www.sru.edu/sustainability web page) and include continuous efforts to improve energy efficiency as well as major future initiatives, including conversion to a biomass-fired central heating plant with CHP to provide a minimum of 5% of the university's electrical needs, plus several large scale photovoltaic system installations.

Continuing initiatives made during the past three years include physical upgrades to existing buildings (e.g., completion of the new Smith Student Center, installation of attic insulation at several buildings, replacement of several sections of underground steam and condensate piping, an energy audit and follow-up energy-conserving measures at Morrow Field House, and the installation of energy dashboards at 5 major Residence Halls that will be used within the context of our energy action campaign to support energy competitions among the residence halls).


Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

Greenhouse gas inventories were first performed in-house for FY 2004-2005, after which a third party(Sightlines) was contracted to perform inventories for FY05-FY11. In FY 2012-2013, SRU decided to perform the GHG inventory in-house, partly in order to better understand the process and how it can be used to further reduce our emissions.

Green electricity (Scope 2 offsets) were collectively purchased through the state system (PASSHE) through 2011. In FY 2011-2012 and FY 2012-2013, SRU purchased renewable energy RECs directly from Renewable Energy Choice.


Greenhouse gas inventories were first performed in-house for FY 2004-2005, after which a third party(Sightlines) was contracted to perform inventories for FY05-FY11. In FY 2012-2013, SRU decided to perform the GHG inventory in-house, partly in order to better understand the process and how it can be used to further reduce our emissions.

Green electricity (Scope 2 offsets) were collectively purchased through the state system (PASSHE) through 2011. In FY 2011-2012 and FY 2012-2013, SRU purchased renewable energy RECs directly from Renewable Energy Choice.

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.