| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.35 |
| Liaison | Christa Rieck |
| Submission Date | Nov. 23, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Houston
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.37 / 10.00 |
Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include all Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions?:
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 | Yes |
| Capital goods | No |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | No |
| Waste generated in operations | Yes |
Does the institution's GHG emissions inventory include Scope 3 emissions from other categories?:
A brief description of the methodology and/or tool used to complete the GHG emissions inventory:
Our campus uses the Campus Carbon Calculator v6.9 from Clean Air-Cool Planet. A student group in the Energy and Sustainability minor collected data to input into the calculator for emissions analysis.
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?:
A brief description of the internal and/or external verification process:
Throughout the greenhouse gas data collection process, the student team received guidance from Barry Lefer, a former associate professor within the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department who previously conducted the GHG inventory.
Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 27,896.80 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 20,138.40 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 1,632.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,438.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 136,028 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 108,540.30 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:
n/a
A brief description of the carbon sequestration program and reporting protocol used:
n/a
A brief description of the composting and carbon storage program:
There is a small composting program in the UH Campus Community Garden. A few coffee shops on campus contribute spent grounds, but most of the feedstocks come from the garden itself as well as Office of Sustainability events and meetings.
A brief description of the purchased carbon offsets, including third party verifier(s) and contract timeframes:
n/a
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”::
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of residential students | 5,783 | 4,950 |
| Number of residential employees | 15 | 0 |
| Number of in-patient hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Full-time equivalent enrollment | 29,182 | 29,630 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees | 3,558 | 4,623 |
| Full-time equivalent of distance education students | 967 | 893 |
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. 31, 2013 |
| Baseline Year | Sept. 1, 2008 | Aug. 31, 2009 |
A brief description of when and why the GHG emissions baseline was adopted:
We chose fiscal year 2009 as our baseline year as this was our most accurately assessed analysis of the university's greenhouse gas emissions prior to the performance year.
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 937,263 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 7,838 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 19,070 Square feet |
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year::
| Emissions | |
| Business travel | 5,002.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 78,375.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Purchased goods and services | 678.50 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 | 1,156.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories (please specify below) | 16,449.30 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the sources included in Scope 3 GHG emissions from "other categories":
These other category emissions in Scope 3 include: Other Directly Financed Travel; Study Abroad Air Travel; Scope 2 T&D Losses based on the Clean Air-Cool Planet Carbon Calculator categories.
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:
Though a clear climate action plan has not been developed, initiatives such as expanded bike offerings and improved waste diversion are currently in development. The Auto & Fleet department is transitioning all carts to electric, and we're exploring ways to purchase or generate more renewable energy on campus. Additionally the building sub-metering program is expanding, and once all building data is captured, baselines can be used to improve water conservation and energy efficiency over time.
Finally, the University is in the process of becoming Tree Campus USA certified and establishing pocket prairies on campus. Central Plant optimization projects will also continue and help to reduce GHG emissions.
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.