GHG Report for Santa Clara University
Submitted on July 20, 2010; last updated on January 13, 2012
Summary Statistics
Making fair comparisons between higher education institutions is always challenging due to the rich diversity of higher education. The unverified nature of the information in this database and unavailability of unbiased normalization metrics means such comparisons are even more difficult. Users should therefore approach direct institution to institution comparisons with caution and recognize that all comparisons between institutions are inherently biased.| Total | Per Full-Time Enrollment | Per 1000 Square Feet | % Offset | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2) | 17,915 metric tons of CO2e | 2.3 metric tons of CO2e | 7.4 metric tons of CO2e | 24% |
| Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) | 33,757 metric tons of CO2e | 4.3 metric tons of CO2e | 13.9 metric tons of CO2e | 13% |
| Net emissions | 29,490 metric tons of CO2e | 3.8 metric tons of CO2e | 12.2 metric tons of CO2e | N/A |
Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries
| Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report | January 1, 2009 |
| Consolidation methodology used to determine organizational boundaries | No information provided |
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If any institution-owned, leased, or operated buildings or other holdings that should fall within the organizational boundaries are omitted, briefly explain why.
N/A |
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| Emissions calculation tool used | Clean Air-Cool Planet |
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Please describe why this tool was selected.
No information provided |
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Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.
No information provided |
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| Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? | Third Assessment Report |
| Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? | Sustainability office staff |
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Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.
Data was collected from campus departments. |
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Please describe any emissions sources that were classified as de minimis and explain how a determination of the significance of these emissions was made.
No information provided |
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Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.
Commuting and air travel data were calculated based on assumptions. A commuter survey in September 2009 was sent to all University employees. Air travel mileage was assumed based on $0.25/mile factor. |
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Emissions Data
Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)
| Scope 1 Emissions | |
|---|---|
| Stationary Combustion | 5,861.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Mobile Combustion | 162.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Process Emissions | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Fugitive Emissions | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 1 emissions | 6,023.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 2 Emissions | |
| Purchased Electricity | 11,892.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Purchased Heating | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Purchased Cooling | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Purchased Steam | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 2 emissions | 11,892.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 3 Emissions | |
| Commuting | 400.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Air Travel | 15,226.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Solid Waste | 216.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 3 emissions | 15,842.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Biogenic Emissions | |
| Biogenic Emissions from Stationary Combustion | No information provided |
| Biogenic Emissions from Mobile Combustion | No information provided |
Mitigation Data
| Carbon Offsets | |
|---|---|
| Carbon offsets purchased | No information provided |
| Offset verification program(s) | No information provided |
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Description of offsets purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
No information provided |
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| Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) | |
| Total RECs purchased | 11256000 kWh |
| Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs | 35.88 % |
| Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs | 4,267.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| REC verification program(s) | Green-e |
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Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
Renewable Energy Certificates purchased through Santa Clara Green Power, a program of Silicon Valley Power, our municipal electricity provider. |
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| Sequestration and Carbon Storage | |
| Sequestration due to land owned by the institution | No information provided |
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Description of how sequestration was calculated
No information provided |
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| Carbon storage due to composting | No information provided |
Normalization and Contextual Data
| Building Space | |
|---|---|
| Gross square feet of building space | 2,425,469.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of laboratory space | No information provided |
| Net assignable square feet of health care space | No information provided |
| Net assignable square feet of residential space | No information provided |
| Population | |
| Total Student Enrollment (FTE) | 7800.02 |
| Residential Students | No information provided |
| Full-time Commuter Students | No information provided |
| Part-time Commuter Students | No information provided |
| Non-Credit Students | No information provided |
| Full-time Faculty | No information provided |
| Part-time Faculty | No information provided |
| Full-time Staff | No information provided |
| Part-time Staff | No information provided |
| Other Contextual Data | |
| Endowment Size | No information provided |
| Heating Degree Days | No information provided |
| Cooling Degree Days | No information provided |
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Please describe any circumstances specific to your institution that provide context for understanding your greenhouse gas emissions this year.
No information provided |
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Supporting Documentation
| Completed inventory narrative | No information provided |
| Completed inventory calculator | No information provided |