GHG Report for American University
Submitted on October 31, 2011; last updated on October 31, 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) | 35,782 metric tons of CO2e | 3.1 metric tons of CO2e | 10.1 metric tons of CO2e | 76% |
| Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) | 58,290 metric tons of CO2e | 5.1 metric tons of CO2e | 16.5 metric tons of CO2e | 47% |
| Net emissions | 31,172 metric tons of CO2e | 2.7 metric tons of CO2e | 8.8 metric tons of CO2e | N/A |
Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries
| Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report | May 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.
None excluded. |
|
| Emissions calculation tool used | Clean Air-Cool Planet |
|
Please describe why this tool was selected.
No information provided |
|
|
Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.
No information provided |
|
| Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? | No information provided |
| Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? | External consultant |
|
Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.
SightLines collected data from various campus staff members. |
|
|
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.
No information provided |
|
Emissions Data
Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)
| Scope 1 Emissions | |
|---|---|
| Stationary Combustion | 7,710.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Mobile Combustion | 654.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Process Emissions | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Fugitive Emissions | 557.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 1 emissions | 8,921.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 2 Emissions | |
| Purchased Electricity | 26,861.0 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 | 26,861.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 3 Emissions | |
| Commuting | 8,066.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Air Travel | 14,305.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Solid Waste | 137.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 3 emissions | 22,508.0 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 |
|
Description of offsets purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
No information provided |
|
| Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) | |
| Total RECs purchased | 55564592 kWh |
| Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs | 100.0 % |
| Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs | 26,861.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| REC verification program(s) | Green-e |
|
Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
Renewable Choice Energy, Langdon Wind Center, North Dakota. |
|
| Sequestration and Carbon Storage | |
| Sequestration due to land owned by the institution | 257.0 metric tons of CO2e |
|
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 | 3,542,614.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of laboratory space | 106,641.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of health care space | 2,100.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of residential space | 392,378.0 sq ft |
| Population | |
| Total Student Enrollment (FTE) | 11498.0 |
| Residential Students | 3663 |
| Full-time Commuter Students | 6248 |
| Part-time Commuter Students | 3136 |
| Non-Credit Students | 437 |
| Full-time Faculty | 744 |
| Part-time Faculty | 550 |
| Full-time Staff | 1479 |
| Part-time Staff | 759 |
| Other Contextual Data | |
| Endowment Size | No information provided |
| Heating Degree Days | 4591 |
| Cooling Degree Days | 1108 |
|
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.
Verified by SightLines Inc. |