Several buildings which are associated with the university but not owned or operated by UofL are not included in this report. Examples of these include fraternity and sorority houses, dormitories operated by third parties, the University Hospital, and off-campus leased space.

Estimated emissions were calculated using the Clean Air-Cool Planet® Campus Carbon Calculator v6.1 software utilizing annual facility data. The calculator was used for university data collection, storage and conversion into a common greenhouse gas emission unit, metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT eCO2). In the conversion process, the calculator uses scientifically-based factors for specific activities leading to GHG emissions (e.g., commuter miles traveled, tons of waste disposed, gallons of fuel burned, etc.). These conversion factors have been modified as more is learned about the global warming effects of various greenhouse gases.

The default emissions coefficients supplied in the Clean Air-Cool Planet® Campus Carbon Calculator were used in preparing this report. The version of the Carbon Calculator we employed uses a global warming potential (GWP) factor from the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). GWP is the ratio of the degree of warming to the atmosphere that would result from the emission of one unit of a given GHG compared to one unit of carbon dioxide over a specified time period. This is used to convert emissions of other GHGs into units of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e).

Estimated emissions were calculated using the Clean Air-Cool Planet® Campus Carbon Calculator v6.1 software utilizing annual facility data. The calculator was used for university data collection, storage and conversion into a common greenhouse gas emission unit, metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT eCO2). In the conversion process, the calculator uses scientifically-based factors for specific activities leading to GHG emissions (e.g., commuter miles traveled, tons of waste disposed, gallons of fuel burned, etc.). These conversion factors have been modified as more is learned about the global warming effects of various greenhouse gases.

In calculating our carbon footprint, the university used rough, upper-bound estimates to designate as de minimis (or materially insignificant) small emissions sources that collectively comprised less than 5% of the university’s total GHG emissions. Some emissions considered de minimus for this report include nitrous oxides used in the medical and research facilities, perflurocarbons used in eye surgeries and MRIs, sulfur hexafluorides used in ultrasound imaging, and hydrofluorocarbons from campus refrigeration systems.

- Calculations to determine total fuel consumed in university vehicles was based on an average price per gallon. Total fuel consumption figures include fuel used to power equipment in addition to fleet vehicles.
- Wastewater volume is not measured, nor is freshwater input as the water utility does not provide the university with annualized gallon data. In the future, gallons of water consumed by the university could be calculated based on average costs, but currently there is no central repository for the information and the university receives some 150 different water bills each month.
- The university recognizes that its true carbon footprint includes emissions from facilities that it does not own (such as private residence halls and leased off-campus space), however it is difficult for the university to track or control these emissions.
- While the university houses no farm animals, it is responsible for laboratory animals used in medical research. Fugitive emissions from these animals (e.g. releases of methane produced as part of normal digestive processes) could not be monitored.
- The TARC bus service tracks each leg of any trip taken by university-affiliated customers, and not rides taken on transfers. Thus, the university estimated an average of 1.5 rides for each trip reported in order to control for transfers inflation.
- Miles commuted by car to campus are not directly tracked. Instead, the university calculated those who bought parking permits were driving an average round-trip distance from their home zip code at a rate of five times per week for employees and three times per week for students, controlling for time-off and semester breaks.
- Air miles booked on behalf of the university but not using the university's contracted travel agent could not be directly accounted for. Instead, the university estimated based on a historic average of 51% of university air trips booked through contract a prorated miles traveled for the additional 49%.
- The Athletics department has a separate budget from the University Budget. The department was unable to report travel statistics. Based on this neither the budget nor the emissions are included in the calculations. Furthermore, the university was not able to include an accounting of emissions resulting from Athletic events, other than utilities consumed. Unlike other expenses, Athletics department utilities are paid out of the University's general funds and are therefore reflected in this survey. In future years, the university intends to include all of the Athletics department's emissions in our GHG reporting, but unable to reliably do so in time for this report.

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Upon completion, the baseline greenhouse gas inventory report was presented to a panel of university reviewers prior to submission.