ACUPCC Reporting System

GHG Report for University of California, Riverside

Submitted on January 15, 2011; last updated on January 27, 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) 96,873 metric tons of CO2e 5.2 metric tons of CO2e 14.4 metric tons of CO2e 0%
Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) 137,902 metric tons of CO2e 7.3 metric tons of CO2e 20.5 metric tons of CO2e 0%
Net emissions 137,902 metric tons of CO2e 7.3 metric tons of CO2e 20.5 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 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.

Data collections came from paid receipts for buildings under operation control in Riverside, Palm Desert and smaller research stations.

Emissions calculation tool used Other
Please describe why this tool was selected.

CRIS is the tool required for reporting through The Climate Registry. All UC campuses and the UCOP must reprot through CRIS. Scope 3 data was calculated using Clean Air-Cool Planet tool and the URBEMIS2007 software for commuting.

Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.

Efficients provided be respective emission calculators described above.
Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? Fourth Assessment Report
Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? Sustainability office staff
Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.

Data was collected from a variety of campus departments and cross checked with data from outside sources including data generated by Impact Sciences in preparation of the 2010 CAP. We are evaluating the process to explain any discrepancies found in data collected from the variety of sources.
Please describe any emissions sources that were classified as de minimis and explain how a determination of the significance of these emissions was made.

Sources from Scope 1 Mobile Fleet for Agricultural Operations was based on 2010 data as no 2009 data was available due to a delay in performing the 2009 GHG Inventory.
Scope 1 Stationary Main Campus Center for Research in Environment an Technology were bases on pre-calculated emissions for 2010 plus added a 30% addition for precautionary principle as no 2009 data was available due to a delay in performing the 2009 GHG Inventory.
Scope 1 Stationary emissions for the Natural Reserves were based on records for 2010 as no 2009 data was available due to a delay in performing the 2009 GHG Inventory. Scope 2 Satellite Electricity for the Natural Reserves were based on records for 2010 as no 2009 data was available due to a delay in performing the 2009 GHG Inventory.
All total de minimis sources accounted for less than 1% of total GHG emissions for UCR.
Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.

Commuting data for staff and faculty were taken from surveys performed by the Office of Transportation and Parking Services.Commuting data for students were extrapolated from calculations used for staff and faculty using student employee data from the survey and campus statistics in accodance with UCOP Sustaiability Transportation Working Group Protocol. Air Travel data were based on miles calculated from plotting origin and destination airport codes using TravelMath.

Emissions Data

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

Scope 1 Emissions
Stationary Combustion 23,168.25849 metric tons of CO2e
Mobile Combustion 2,095.59644 metric tons of CO2e
Process Emissions 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
Fugitive Emissions 75.81106 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 1 emissions 25,339.66599 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions
Purchased Electricity 71,532.96141 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 71,532.96141 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions
Commuting 33,309.43 metric tons of CO2e
Air Travel 7,720.0 metric tons of CO2e
Solid Waste No information provided
Total Scope 3 emissions 41,029.43 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
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 No information provided

Normalization and Contextual Data

Building Space
Gross square feet of building space 6,723,576.0 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) 18802.0
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 1964
Part-time Faculty No information provided
Full-time Staff 2944
Part-time Staff No information provided
Other Contextual Data
Endowment Size No information provided
Heating Degree Days 1779
Cooling Degree Days 2430
Please describe any circumstances specific to your institution that provide context for understanding your greenhouse gas emissions this year.

As the campus transitions to The Climate Registry and reevaluates its GHG Inventory procedures we expect to update our GHG report as needed to reflect the new methodological approach.

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.

UCR's GHG emissions for calendar years 2009 and 2010 were third party verified by Bureau Veritas and confirmed by The Climate Registry for Scope 1 and Scope 2. Scope 3 were not included in the verification.