Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.54
Liaison Mike Versteege
Submission Date June 30, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Alberta
OP-2: Outdoor Air Quality

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 1.00 Michael Versteege
Manager, Energy Management & Sustainable Operations
Facilities & Operations
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution have policies and/or guidelines in place to improve outdoor air quality and minimize air pollutant emissions from mobile sources on campus?:
Yes

A brief description of the policies and/or guidelines to improve outdoor air quality and minimize air pollutant emissions from mobile sources:

On July 11, 2014 the University of Alberta updated its Vehicle Management and Driver Safety policy to include a section that prohibits idling when using one of the institution's fleet vehicles. While there is no formal penalty for idling, the presence of an anti-idling section in the policy enhances the internalization of the values behind idling reduction within the campus community.

For Health and Safety reasons pertaining to indoor air quality, idling is prohibited near identified fresh air intakes of campus buildings, but a policy prohibiting idling by commuter vehicles has not been adopted to date.

UAlberta also delivers a Care for Our Air program which is a vehicle idling reduction awareness and education program that started in 2008. There is permanent signage installed across campus reminding drivers to limit their vehicle idling. There are also Care for Our Air reminder stickers in each of the fleet vehicles.

UAlberta's Vehicle Pool is trying out some new technology to help with idling reduction. A GPS vehicle locator system was deployed into 79 fleet vehicles in 2016 with a purpose of assisting UAlberta in reducing travel time and the adding to the idle reduction program. Additionally idle management devices were installed in 6 vehicles and UAlberta is monitoring them to determine their overall effectiveness in reducing idle times.


Has the institution completed an inventory of significant air emissions from stationary campus sources or else verified that no such emissions are produced?:
Yes

Weight of the following categories of air emissions from stationary sources::
Weight of Emissions
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 175.76 Metric tons
Sulfur oxides (SOx) ---
Carbon monoxide (CO) ---
Particulate matter (PM) ---
Ozone (O3) ---
Lead (Pb) ---
Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) ---
Ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs) ---
Other standard categories of air emissions identified in permits and/or regulations ---

A brief description of the methodology(ies) the institution used to complete its air emissions inventory:

The university has completed an inventory of its significant air emissions, including all of those produced by the district energy system (which includes natural gas electricity generation).

The university does not have data for:
- Sulfur oxides (not measured – usually associated with burning coal)
- Carbon monoxide (not measured – boiler air trim control optimizes to 200 ppm in the boiler burner)
- Particulate matter (not measured – usually associated with burning coal)
- Ozone (not measured/not produced)
- Lead (not measured/not produced)
- Ozone-depleting compounds (not produced by the district energy system; no leaks reported)


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:

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE PARTIES

Terry Nonay
Utility Services Manager
Utilities

Jim Laverty
Manager
Vehicle Pool


ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBLE PARTIES

Terry Nonay
Utility Services Manager
Utilities

Jim Laverty
Manager
Vehicle Pool

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.