Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 66.30
Liaison Andrea Trimble
Submission Date March 1, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Virginia
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 5.18 / 10.00 Andrew Pettit
Sustainability Analyst
UVA Office for Sustainability
"---" 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 None
Commuting All
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 Some
Other categories All

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:

U.Va.'s Office for Sustainability maintains and updates U.Va.'s GHG emissions inventory using the Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator and methdology per the Greenhouse Gas protocol. Scope 3 emissions are calculated through actual measurements, with the exception of commuting, which is calculated based on survey results.


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:

Personnel in U.Va.'s Facilities Management Operations department (staff not affiliated with the Office for Sustainability) review the data to ensure accuracy.


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 86,917.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 116,298.50 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources 6,599.90 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 4,109.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity 150,711.70 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 165,510 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 244,229.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 285,917.60 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 Jan. 1, 2016 Dec. 31, 2016
Baseline Year Jan. 1, 2009 Dec. 31, 2009

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):

In 2011, the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions University-wide 25 percent below 2009 levels by 2025. At the time of the decision, the 2009 inventory was the most recently inventory as the 2010 inventory had yet to be completed and verified.


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):

N/A


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:
---

Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 244,229.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 285,917.60 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
Performance Year Baseline Year
Number of students resident on-site 6,799 6,216
Number of employees resident on-site 93 159
Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds 600 570
Total full-time equivalent student enrollment 22,405 20,297
Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) 15,462 13,289.60
Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education 0 0
Weighted campus users 30,723.25 27,353.70

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 7.95 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent 10.45 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
23.95

Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
17,078,000 Gross square feet

Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
Floor Area
Laboratory space 3,431,000 Square feet
Healthcare space 3,000,000 Square feet
Other energy intensive space 362,724 Square feet

EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
30,302,724 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 ---
Commuting 45,682.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Purchased goods and services ---
Capital goods ---
Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 15,216.11 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Waste generated in operations 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent
Other categories 148.20 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent

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

In Calendar Year 2009, the baseline year for emissions analysis, UVA’s GHG emissions footprint was 345,196.4 Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MTCDE). In 2016, emissions decreased to 305,030.1 MTCDE, resulting in a. 11.6 percent reduction in emissions compared to 2009, due in large part to a major initiative to continue replacing coal with natural gas as the primary fuel used at the Main Heat Plant, a less harsh heating season, and agressive building energy efficiency projects.

It is important to note that the GHG emissions include the Health System, which contributes approximately 40 percent of the total emissions produced by the University. Additionally, the expansion to the University’s offerings has resulted in growth in both population and building area. Since 2009, there has been a population increase of over 5 percent of students, faculty, and staff. To support the University’s growth, 48 facilities have been constructed or acquired since 2009, resulting in an increase of approximately 2.4 million square feet (a 16.2 percent increase) included within the boundaries defined for UVA’s GHG inventory. The University’s commitment to achieving this goal in light of the continuing expansion is driving heavy investments in expanding sustainability efforts to enhance the University’s operations and building portfolio.


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.