ACUPCC Reporting System

GHG Report for University of Vermont

Submitted on January 5, 2012; last updated on July 30, 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) 57,131 metric tons of CO2e 4.8 metric tons of CO2e 10.4 metric tons of CO2e 0%
Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) 88,122 metric tons of CO2e 7.4 metric tons of CO2e 16.1 metric tons of CO2e 0%
Net emissions 88,015 metric tons of CO2e 7.4 metric tons of CO2e 16.0 metric tons of CO2e N/A

Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries

Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report July 1, 2010
Consolidation methodology used to determine organizational boundaries Operational control approach
If any institution-owned, leased, or operated buildings or other holdings that should fall within the organizational boundaries are omitted, briefly explain why.

UVM has several external properties, including residential buildings in Essex, Jericho, and Colchester. The utilities for these facilities are not managed by the UVM physical plant and currently there is no reporting structure from which to draw the necessary information. Including the emissions footprints of these external properties was determined to be unfeasible at present.
Emissions calculation tool used Clean Air-Cool Planet
Please describe why this tool was selected.

We have used this tool to generate inventories in the past and so are both familiar with it and have found it useful for comparative purposes with other institutions in the Northeast.
Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.

In past we customized the Clean Air-Cool Planet calculator by using Burlington Electric Department fuel mixes for electricity emissions coefficients. We changed to use the regional coefficient factors (for the NEWE grid) included in the CA-CP calculator for electricity emissions.
Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? No information provided
Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? Sustainability office staff
Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.

There were several less comprehensive versions of UVM's GHG inventory generated, first in 2001, then again in 2006. To conduct this inventory the previous versions were first compared and, where possible, combined. All data were then traced to their origin to determine the best source of information, and, for the commuter miles and the fleet gallons used, calculate the most accurate values for this inventory.

In 2011 we added air travel.
Please describe any emissions sources that were classified as de minimis and explain how a determination of the significance of these emissions was made.

Refrigerant emissions are less than 1% of total emissions and were, therefore, assumed to be 'de minimis.'
Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.

In this most recent inventory (and updates in the past emissions inventory), we have increased our square footage numbers to include non-energy using buildings in order to be comply with other institutions' methodology for estimating square footage.

We have also done a better estimate of commuting emissions by using Campus Area Transportation Management Authority (CATMA) annual survey data. In the past, we used parking permit data to approximate the number of people commuting to campus in a SOV. The CATMA data allow us to have a better estimate of how many people are actually driving to/from campus as well as to track the other modes that faculty, staff, and students are using to commute.

We have also calculated the emissions from directly financed and study abroad air travel. These emissions are being added back to previous years as we acquire data for past years.

Emissions Data

Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)

Scope 1 Emissions
Stationary Combustion 31,794.6 metric tons of CO2e
Mobile Combustion 773.4 metric tons of CO2e
Process Emissions 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
Fugitive Emissions 558.2 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 1 emissions 33,126.2 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions
Purchased Electricity 24,004.3 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 24,004.3 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions
Commuting 11,793.8 metric tons of CO2e
Air Travel 16,558.4 metric tons of CO2e
Solid Waste 264.7 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 T&D Losses 2,374.1 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 3 emissions 30,991.0 metric tons of CO2e
Biogenic Emissions
Biogenic Emissions from Stationary Combustion 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
Biogenic Emissions from Mobile Combustion 1.5 metric tons of CO2e

Mitigation Data

Carbon Offsets
Carbon offsets purchased 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
Offset verification program(s) No information provided
Description of offsets purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

No information provided
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Total RECs purchased None kWh
Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs None %
Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs No information provided
REC verification program(s) No information provided
Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

No information provided
Sequestration and Carbon Storage
Sequestration due to land owned by the institution No information provided
Description of how sequestration was calculated

No information provided

Carbon storage due to composting 107.0 metric tons of CO2e

Normalization and Contextual Data

Building Space
Gross square feet of building space 5,484,701.0 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) 11888.4
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 1130
Part-time Faculty 241
Full-time Staff 2213
Part-time Staff 211
Other Contextual Data
Endowment Size No information provided
Heating Degree Days 4839
Cooling Degree Days 618
Please describe any circumstances specific to your institution that provide context for understanding your greenhouse gas emissions this year.

No information provided

Supporting Documentation

Completed inventory narrative No information provided
Completed inventory calculator Download

Auditing and Verification

These emissions data have been audited, verified, or peer-reviewed.
Please briefly describe this verification, if any.

These emissions data were verified by Sightlines LLC, as a part of their Greenline reporting.