| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.89 |
| Liaison | Marian Brown |
| Submission Date | Dec. 13, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Wells College
OP-1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
6.48 / 10.00 |
Marian
Brown Director Center for Sustainability and the Environment |
Has the institution conducted a GHG emissions inventory that includes all Scope 1 and 2 emissions? :
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 | None |
| Purchased goods and services | None |
| Capital goods | None |
| Waste generated in operations | None |
| Fuel- and energy-related activities not included in Scope 1 or Scope 2 | None |
| 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:
We utilize the Campus Carbon Map system.
Business travel and commuting emissions have not [yet] been captured in Scope 3.. Study abroad air travel is tracked in that "other" category above - this was calculated to be 87.26 MTCO2e. The college landfill waste is processed in a facility that produces electricity from captured methane, but the fields above do not allow for negative entries. Waste Generated in Operations should be -3.4 MTCO2e. The total Scope 3 emissions reported in Other is the combined total of 83.81 MTCO2e.
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:
The GHGE inventory through 2014 was conducted by an environmental science faculty member and those findings reviewed by the director of the Center for Sustainability and the Environment. From 2015 on, that process has been reversed; the director of the Center for Sustainability oversees the data collection and inventory analysis process, and the finalized inventory is reviewed by that experienced faculty member.
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):
Gross Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from stationary combustion | 2,105.73 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 3,778 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 1 GHG emissions from other sources | 126.12 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 224.10 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Gross Scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity | 944.26 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 1,374 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 | 3,176.11 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 5,376.10 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, 2008 | June 30, 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):
Former President Lisa Marsh Ryerson signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment in spring 2008. The college's first greenhouse gas emissions inventory was completed in 2010 with the help of O'Brien & Gere, an external consulting group - Fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009) is used as the college's baseline year.
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):
While we do compost organic food waste, we did not report related offsets (other than purchased RECs) in the CarbonMap system.
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 | 492.43 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 59.54 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the purchased RECs/GOs including vendor, project source and verification program:
Our Facilities director recontracted with Constellation Energy for purchased electricity; all electricity supplied under this new multi-year contract provides 100% Ecovations Renewable Energy Green-e certified RECs, generated 100% from wind power. The amount of purchased RECs covered the period from Jan 1, 2017, when the new contract started, to June 30, 2017.
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions | 2,683.68 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 5,316.57 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Figures needed to determine “Weighted Campus Users”:
| Performance Year | Baseline Year | |
| Number of students resident on-site | 480 | 485 |
| Number of employees resident on-site | 4 | 1 |
| Number of other individuals resident on-site and/or staffed hospital beds | 0 | 0 |
| Total full-time equivalent student enrollment | 510 | 583 |
| Full-time equivalent of employees (staff + faculty) | 171 | 186.50 |
| Full-time equivalent of students enrolled exclusively in distance education | 0 | 0 |
| Weighted campus users | 631.75 | 698.63 |
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 | 4.25 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent | 7.61 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
Percentage reduction in adjusted net Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions per weighted campus user from baseline:
Gross floor area of building space, performance year:
Floor area of energy intensive building space, performance year:
| Floor Area | |
| Laboratory space | 14,126 Square feet |
| Healthcare space | 2,800 Square feet |
| Other energy intensive space | 4,804 Square feet |
EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Adjusted net Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per unit of EUI-adjusted floor area, performance year:
Scope 3 GHG emissions, performance year:
| Emissions | |
| Business travel | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Commuting | 0 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 | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Waste generated in operations | 0 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
| Other categories | 83.81 Metric tons of CO2 equivalent |
A brief description of the institution’s GHG emissions reduction initiatives, including efforts made during the previous three years:
The college has been assertive in changing out interior lighting to LED technology and integrating occupancy sensor controls in new projects. The college has done a great deal to upgrade building HVAC systems and to seal air leaks in buildings.
All computing equipment in offices and computer labs meets EnergyStar standards. Most other eligible equipment purchased on campus also meets EnergyStar standards.
We have also aggressively promoted resource (energy, water) conservation measures among our campus community.
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.