Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 74.27
Liaison Konrad Schlarbaum
Submission Date Feb. 15, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Colorado Colorado Springs
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 7.30 / 10.00 Jeff Reed
Executive Director
Facilities Services
"---" 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 All
Commuting All
Purchased goods and services Some
Capital goods None
Waste generated in operations All
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 Some
Other categories Some

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:

UCCS used the SIMAP tool from New Hampshire. For Scope 3 emissions, Procurement Services Center for CU provided the air travel miles for business travel. We conducted a transportation survey for commuting emissions. Paper use separated by percentage recycled was included in SIMAP. Waste, recycling, and compost were included for the Waste generated in operations. T& D losses were included for fuel and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or 2. Study abroad travel was included as part of Other Categories.


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:

The GHG inventory is prepared by the Assistant Director and student staff in the Office of Sustainability.
The inventory was verified by the Sustainability Director.


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 4,021.82 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2,828 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 517.44 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 136 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 19,247.46 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 14,567 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 23,786.72 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 17,531 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 July 1, 2005 June 30, 2006

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):
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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):

No carbon offsets.


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 13,423 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:

Wind RECs. Vendor 3Degrees. 3rd Party certified. Our practice is to purchase 100% RECs for each new building. We have also added most of our larger buildings to the list of buildings with electricity offset by RECS.


Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 10,363.72 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 17,531 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 1,627 755
Number of employees resident on-site 4 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 10,475 6,774
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 1,230 990
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 462 198
Weighted campus users 8,840 5,863.25

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 1.17 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2.99 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
60.79

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
3,026,463 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 42,347 Square feet
Healthcare space 3,909 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 178,788 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
3,297,763 Gross square feet

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

Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
Emissions
Business travel 1,509.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 8,637.49 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 1,024.44 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories 336.62 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

Greening of the Office and Green Labs Program to conserve energy. All new buildings LEED Gold with significant attention to reducing energy use. LED lighting retrofit project in Kraemer Family Library. 184kW photovoltaic installation on Gallogly Event Center. LED lighting retrofits for parking lots. Securing a $5 per semester bus pass for all students. Bicycle tracking and incentives.


The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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.