GHG Report for University of Massachusetts Amherst
Submitted on September 19, 2008; last updated on January 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) | 126,462 metric tons of CO2e | 4.9 metric tons of CO2e | 12.3 metric tons of CO2e | 0% |
| Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) | 130,896 metric tons of CO2e | 5.1 metric tons of CO2e | 12.7 metric tons of CO2e | 0% |
| Net emissions | 130,896 metric tons of CO2e | 5.1 metric tons of CO2e | 12.7 metric tons of CO2e | N/A |
Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries
| Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report | July 1, 2007 |
| 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.
N/A |
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| Emissions calculation tool used | Clean Air-Cool Planet |
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Please describe why this tool was selected.
The University of Massachusetts has used the Clean Air Cool Planet for the past 5 years since it began to internally track its GHG emissions. This tool was designed for higher education institutions and is widely used in this sector. It is very user friendly. |
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Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.
CA-CP Campus Carbon Calculator's defualt 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? | EH&S and Utilities Staff |
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Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.
The Utilties Department holds the majority of the data that is required to calculate the campus' GHG emissions. Information is pulled from both campus invoices and engineering logs from the central heating plant. Satellite facility electricity and fuel consumption are also pulled from invoices. Vehicle fuel consumption is tracked through fuel management software. Departments with data that contribute to the GHG calculation have assigned personnel that are responsible for compiling data and submitting it annually. |
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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.
No information provided |
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Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.
UMA initially attempted to track emissions from travel and commuting but was not comfortable with the quality of the data set and therefore decided not to include it in the FY 08 inventory. UMA is working to enhance its data collection methods to obtain better data for each area. |
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Emissions Data
Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)
| Scope 1 Emissions | |
|---|---|
| Stationary Combustion | 77,161.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Mobile Combustion | 3,866.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Process Emissions | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Fugitive Emissions | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 1 emissions | 81,027.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 2 Emissions | |
| Purchased Electricity | 45,435.0 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 | 45,435.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 3 Emissions | |
| Commuting | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Air Travel | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Solid Waste | No information provided |
| T&D Losses | 4,434.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 3 emissions | 4,434.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Biogenic Emissions | |
| Biogenic Emissions from Stationary Combustion | No information provided |
| Biogenic Emissions from Mobile Combustion | 78.0 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 | 0 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 | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
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Description of how sequestration was calculated
The Univeristy owns tracks of land for research related to forestry. It has not calculated the amount of carbon sequestered through this acreage. |
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| Carbon storage due to composting | No information provided |
Normalization and Contextual Data
| Building Space | |
|---|---|
| Gross square feet of building space | 10,309,326.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of laboratory space | 696,896.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of health care space | No information provided |
| Net assignable square feet of residential space | 3,223,508.0 sq ft |
| Population | |
| Total Student Enrollment (FTE) | 25873.0 |
| Residential Students | 11957 |
| Full-time Commuter Students | No information provided |
| Part-time Commuter Students | No information provided |
| Non-Credit Students | No information provided |
| Full-time Faculty | 1217 |
| Part-time Faculty | 277 |
| Full-time Staff | 3559 |
| Part-time Staff | 310 |
| Other Contextual Data | |
| Endowment Size | No information provided |
| Heating Degree Days | No information provided |
| Cooling Degree Days | No information provided |
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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 | Download |