Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 36.07
Liaison Christopher Williams
Submission Date Jan. 31, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Delaware
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.55 / 10.00
"---" 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 All
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 All
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:

Direct data records were compiled for building energy use, UD owned fleet vehicles, organic waste outputs, and fertilizer used. Estimates were utilized to assess fuel consumption associated with commuting activities as was required for the 2007-2008 academic year GHG inventory. The Campus Transportation Survey was updated in 2017 and this new information and associated analysis was leveraged to refresh the scope 3 mobile combustion emission models for the 2017-2018 GHG Inventory Report.
Emission factors for the combustion of natural gas, fuel oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel were obtained from the U.S. EPA Mandatory Reporting Rule for Greenhouse Gases (MRR), Table C-1, in keeping with the accounting methodology specified by The Climate Registry’s General Reporting Protocol (GRP). Methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions associated with fuel combustion were considered in the 2013-2014 report.

Emission factors for purchased electricity, in keeping with GRP methodology, were derived from the U.S. EPA’s eGRID 9th Edition tables. UD is located within the RFC East Subregion, so the published GHG emission factors representing the fuel mix used in generating electricity in this region were used. Scope 3 transmission and distribution losses associated with purchased electricity were calculated based on the loss percentages published in the eGRID 9th Edition for the East region.

Scope 3 GHG emissions from the disposal of mixed waste, food waste, and food composting were calculated using emission factors obtained from the U.S. EPA WARM Model, version 13.

GHG emissions resulting from usage of nitrogen fertilizer were calculated with an emission factor derived from the U.S. EPA’s Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2001 (April 2003).


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:

Our GHG Inventory is produced by a third party contractor and validated by our Sustainability Manager.


Documentation to support the internal and/or external verification process:
---

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 40,144 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 36,656 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 2,535 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 2,811 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 56,933 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 71,665 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 99,612 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 111,132 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, 2017 July 1, 2018
Baseline Year July 1, 2007 July 1, 2008

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):

The GHG Baseline is sourced from UD's first ever GHG Inventory, which was an effort driven by students, faculty and staff.


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):

na


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:

n/a


Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 99,612 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 111,132 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 7,363 6,289
Number of employees resident on-site 0 0
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 0 0
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 22,181 17,631
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 4,439 3,857
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 416 1,115
Weighted campus users 21,493.75 16,852

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 4.63 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 6.59 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
29.72

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
8,592,873 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 1,226,732 Square feet
Healthcare space 27,265 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 1,712,566 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
12,813,433 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 24 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Commuting 21,200 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services ---
Capital goods ---
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 5,748 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 901 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories ---

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

UD is gaining significant energy efficiency and conservation success thanks to a coordinated Deferred Maintenance program, an engineering study of our Central Utility Plant with accompanying maintenance, repair and upgrade funding, and also through a strategic Retro-commissioning program. We also upgrade lighting, shower heads and other basic facilities as projects are identified, regardless of ROI. Our improved building standards also improve spaces during the course of ordinary maintenance and rennovation work. All new buildings on campus are designed to LEED Silver standard.


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:

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.