ACUPCC Reporting System

GHG Report for University of Arkansas Main Campus

Submitted on August 29, 2008; last updated on February 2, 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) 125,192 metric tons of CO2e 8.4 metric tons of CO2e 16.5 metric tons of CO2e 0%
Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) 169,103 metric tons of CO2e 11.3 metric tons of CO2e 22.3 metric tons of CO2e 0%
Net emissions 169,103 metric tons of CO2e 11.3 metric tons of CO2e 22.3 metric tons of CO2e N/A

Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries

Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report July 1, 2006
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.

None.
Emissions calculation tool used Clean Air-Cool Planet
Please describe why this tool was selected.

The approach is widely used and understandable, and it allows valid benchmarking with peer institutions. It is the methodology used by consultants who assisted us.
Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.

American Electric Power, the electricity provider, provided us with the emissions coefficient that represents the typical supply to customers in the State of Arkansas. Non-electric coefficients came directly from Clean Air Cool Planet v5.
Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? Third Assessment Report
Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? a team of faculty, students, sustainability staff, and consultants
Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.

Comprehensive data collection included compilation and detailed analyses of utility bills (including fuel source data for our electricity provider), steam and chilled water uses, fleet fuel uses, air travel documents, commuting studies, fugitive refrigerant reports, solid waste reports, and fertilizer invoices.
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
Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.

Detailed air travel data were analyzed for FY02 and extrapolated to FY06. Details describing fuel burning characteristcs and passenger loads of specific flights are not available for most flights, and we make assumptions based on typical aircraft and average passenger loads based on market sizes. We will collect and analyze start points and destination data for flights from FY03 through FY08 for the Sept 09 report.

The commuter transportation data were based on a 2005 study. More detailed and updated data will be provided for the 2009 report.

Emissions Data

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

Scope 1 Emissions
Stationary Combustion 27,635.81 metric tons of CO2e
Mobile Combustion 2,853.0 metric tons of CO2e
Process Emissions 5.0 metric tons of CO2e
Fugitive Emissions 2.0 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 1 emissions 30,495.81 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions
Purchased Electricity 94,696.48 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 94,696.48 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions
Commuting 18,402.17 metric tons of CO2e
Air Travel 15,614.2 metric tons of CO2e
Solid Waste 825.92 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 T&D losses 9,014.55 metric tons of CO2e
Waste Water Emissions 53.9 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 3 emissions 43,910.74 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 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
Offset verification program(s) No information provided
Description of offsets purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

N/A
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Total RECs purchased 0 kWh
Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs 0.0 %
Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
REC verification program(s) No information provided
Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

N/A
Sequestration and Carbon Storage
Sequestration due to land owned by the institution 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
Description of how sequestration was calculated

Although UA owns and manages over 5000 acres of land, of which nearly 1000 acres is forested, no additionality above baseline GHG removals can be claimed.

Carbon storage due to composting No information provided

Normalization and Contextual Data

Building Space
Gross square feet of building space 7,568,076.0 sq ft
Net assignable square feet of laboratory space 339,227.0 sq ft
Net assignable square feet of health care space 38,180.0 sq ft
Net assignable square feet of residential space 1,198,915.0 sq ft
Population
Total Student Enrollment (FTE) 14939.0
Residential Students 3966
Full-time Commuter Students 9905
Part-time Commuter Students 3244
Non-Credit Students 39
Full-time Faculty 832
Part-time Faculty 91
Full-time Staff 3379
Part-time Staff 1399
Other Contextual Data
Endowment Size 763069000
Heating Degree Days No information provided
Cooling Degree Days No information provided
Please describe any circumstances specific to your institution that provide context for understanding your greenhouse gas emissions this year.

Three-quarters of our emissions come from scope 2, coal-based, purchased electricity. The magnitude of our emissions is thereby defined largely by the high proportion of coal used by our electricity provider.

Between 2002 and 2007, UA's building space grew by 33%, but our GHG emissions grew by only 12%.

Supporting Documentation

Completed inventory narrative No information provided
Completed inventory calculator No information provided

Auditing and Verification

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

UA has contracted with Sightlines LLC to provide data and benchmarking for our energy use on campus through their Greenlines program. Through that agreement, Sightlines managers have provided professional peer review of our data integrity and analyses. Data sources, methods, and results have also been reviewed by the UA College of Engineering and the Environmental Dynamics Program.