ACUPCC Reporting System

GHG Report for University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Submitted on December 29, 2011; last updated on December 29, 2011

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) 488,400 metric tons of CO2e 10.5 metric tons of CO2e 21.9 metric tons of CO2e 0%
Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) 583,100 metric tons of CO2e 12.6 metric tons of CO2e 26.2 metric tons of CO2e 0%
Net emissions 580,700 metric tons of CO2e 12.5 metric tons of CO2e 26.1 metric tons of CO2e N/A

Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries

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

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

It is the recommended method by the ACUPCC.
Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.

Emission coefficients used were from the Clean Air-Cool Planet Tool except the global warming potentials of refrigerants, which were based on 2007 IPCC values. Individual refrigerant global warming potentials that were not listed in the IPCC report were based on MSDS data sheets.
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.

The data was primarily collected by a Student Sustainability Assistant with support from the Sustainability Coordinator and Sustainability Director. The Student Assistant contacted various subject matter experts and data custodians from across the campus to gather data points necessary to populate the CA-CP tool and prepare a written summary of the inventory. The University operates on a fiscal year that begins July 1 and ends June 30, however the prior greenhouse gas inventory was based on a calendar year. In preparing the 2010 inventory the decision was made to switch to fiscal year reporting to align with University processes.
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 sources were classified as de minimis.

Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.

The University has no way to track air travel mileage by University students, faculty, and staff. Instead, purchases on air travel from the University's Procurement Card, Employee Expenses, and Accounts Payable Invoices were added together to secure a total amount spent on air travel. This number included employee reimbursements, payments to airline vendors, travel agencies, study abroad programs, and payments to individuals for air travel. The conversion rate of $0.22/mile obtained for the 2008 GHG Inventory was reused in the 2010 inventory to estimate mileage.

Student commuting data was based on census tract data that could not be verified. University students are able to list a permanent (home) or campus address. Some prefer to list their permanent address. This may cause overestimation of the commuter travel distance, and therefore emissions from University student commuters.

The B5 and B10 fuel data was only available for calendar year 2010, not for fiscal year 2010.

Waste water emissions had been tracked in the 2008 inventory, but was not tracked for the 2010 inventory.

Emissions Data

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

Scope 1 Emissions
Stationary Combustion 178,700.0 metric tons of CO2e
Mobile Combustion 2,600.0 metric tons of CO2e
Process Emissions 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
Fugitive Emissions 1,800.0 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 1 emissions 183,100.0 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions
Purchased Electricity 305,300.0 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 305,300.0 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions
Commuting 49,400.0 metric tons of CO2e
Air Travel 43,600.0 metric tons of CO2e
Solid Waste 100.0 metric tons of CO2e
Paper 1,600.0 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 3 emissions 94,700.0 metric tons of CO2e
Biogenic Emissions
Biogenic Emissions from Stationary Combustion 75.0 metric tons of CO2e
Biogenic Emissions from Mobile Combustion 150.0 metric tons of CO2e

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 2,400.0 metric tons of CO2e

Normalization and Contextual Data

Building Space
Gross square feet of building space 22,288,388.0 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) 46460.0
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 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 8295
Cooling Degree Days 535
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 No information provided

Auditing and Verification

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

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities was a member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) until the time the exchange closed. Emissions from steam production had been reviewed annually and verified by CCX and third party auditors as part of participation on the exchange. While this latest entire GHG inventory (process and compiled results) was not formally audited, specific pieces were reviewed by multiple individuals or departments and also by in-house by campus colleagues with relevant expertise.