GHG Report for Auburn University
Submitted on January 23, 2012; last updated on January 23, 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) | 160,986 metric tons of CO2e | 6.4 metric tons of CO2e | 17.9 metric tons of CO2e | 0% |
| Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) | 226,989 metric tons of CO2e | 9.1 metric tons of CO2e | 25.3 metric tons of CO2e | 0% |
| Net emissions | 226,989 metric tons of CO2e | 9.1 metric tons of CO2e | 25.3 metric tons of CO2e | N/A |
Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries
| Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report | October 1, 2009 |
| Consolidation methodology used to determine organizational boundaries | Operational control approach |
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If any institution-owned, leased, or operated buildings or other holdings that should fall within the organizational boundaries are omitted, briefly explain why.
Only the core campus was considered within the boundary for the present inventory. Auburn is the land grant institution in Alabama, and has extensive agricultural and forestry programs off-campus and around the state (approx. 15,000 acres). In addition, the campus supports the state Cooperative Extension System. The off-campus physical activities were not included in this inventory (however, travel for these units is included). |
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| Emissions calculation tool used | Clean Air-Cool Planet |
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Please describe why this tool was selected.
Consistency with other campuses, ability to get support and clarification from CA-CP staff as well as a range peers that are also using this calculator. |
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Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.
CA-CP Campus Carbon Calculator's default emissions coefficients. |
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| Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? | Third Assessment Report |
| Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? | Sustainability office staff |
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Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.
The inventory was completed by Auburn Office of Sustainability staff, and utilized essentially the same methodology and data sources identified in the 2008 GHG inventory. Data used were those already being gathered on campus (rather than data gathered specifically for GHG inventorying). Data sources included central campus administrative offices as well as individual departments and units (e.g. Payment and Procurement Services, Budget Services, Campus Planning and Space Management, Campus Energy Manager, Facilities Division, College of Agriculture, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, Dept. of Poultry Science). Inconsistencies in centralized campus data collection and quality in some areas limit the overall data set to 2006 to the present. This report only includes the data from FY 2010 (Oct 09- Sep 10). Recommendations for internal compilation and analysis of data important for carbon inventorying are being made for future use on campus. |
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Please describe any emissions sources that were classified as de minimis and explain how a determination of the significance of these emissions was made.
None |
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Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.
Scope 3 Travel emissions are the maximum estimate and in reality are likely to be lower. Values for inventorying had to be extrapolated from dollar amounts.
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Emissions Data
Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)
| Scope 1 Emissions | |
|---|---|
| Stationary Combustion | 31,204.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Mobile Combustion | 1,332.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Process Emissions | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Fugitive Emissions | 4,306.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 1 emissions | 36,842.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 2 Emissions | |
| Purchased Electricity | 124,144.0 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 | 124,144.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 3 Emissions | |
| Commuting | 20,672.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Air Travel | 512.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Solid Waste | 5,991.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Directly Financed Ground Travel | 26,550.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 2 Transmission and Delivery Losses | 12,278.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| 0 | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 3 emissions | 66,003.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Biogenic Emissions | |
| Biogenic Emissions from Stationary Combustion | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Biogenic Emissions from Mobile Combustion | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
Mitigation Data
| Carbon Offsets | |
|---|---|
| Carbon offsets purchased | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Offset verification program(s) | No information provided |
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Description of offsets purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
No information provided |
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| 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 |
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Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
No information provided |
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| Sequestration and Carbon Storage | |
| Sequestration due to land owned by the institution | No information provided |
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Description of how sequestration was calculated
No information provided |
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| Carbon storage due to composting | No information provided |
Normalization and Contextual Data
| Building Space | |
|---|---|
| Gross square feet of building space | 8,982,150.0 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) | 25078.0 |
| 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 | 1196 |
| Part-time Faculty | 1284 |
| Full-time Staff | 3417 |
| Part-time Staff | 1284 |
| Other Contextual Data | |
| Endowment Size | 425000000 |
| Heating Degree Days | 2724 |
| Cooling Degree Days | 1954 |
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Please describe any circumstances specific to your institution that provide context for understanding your greenhouse gas emissions this year.
No information provided |
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Supporting Documentation
| Completed inventory narrative | No information provided |
| Completed inventory calculator | No information provided |