GHG Report for Bowdoin College
Submitted on October 15, 2008; last updated on November 26, 2008
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) | 20,755 metric tons of CO2e | 12.1 metric tons of CO2e | 10.6 metric tons of CO2e | 36% |
| Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) | 24,557 metric tons of CO2e | 14.4 metric tons of CO2e | 12.5 metric tons of CO2e | 30% |
| Net emissions | 17,166 metric tons of CO2e | 10.0 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 | 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.
none omitted |
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| Emissions calculation tool used | Custom tool |
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Please describe why this tool was selected.
The tool was developed by Bowdoin's existing energy consultant. This consultant was already very familiar with our energy usage. In addition to tracking carbon emissions, their model has tools to help Bowdoin evaluate reduction scenarios. Finally, they use more specific (state/local) emission factors for electricity. |
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Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.
Emissions from purchased, electrical power were calculated using state emissions factors in EPA eGRID v2.1. Waste emissions were calculated using factors from EPA's WARM model. Single Stream recycling value is the average for Maine as calculated by the New England Recycling Council. Stationary and mobile combustion factors are from the California Climate Action Registry: General Reporting Protocol |
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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? | External consultant |
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Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.
The data collected and reported comes from actual utility invoices and metered consumption data with the exception of airline travel and employee commute. Our Financial Analyst provided gallons of gasoline purchased, #2 oil purchased, MMbtu of NG purchased, and kwh purchased for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. For scope 3 emissions, company travel was calculated by dollars spent on airline travel gathered from the Controller's Office. Airline travel was calculated based on a dollar amount spent on travel, 16.84 cents per mile. Commuting data was captured from Human Resources data base of each employee, their zip code and job class (i.e., part time academic year, full time academic year, part time year round, full time year round, etc. Employee commute was calculated using zipcode data and dividing the distance by the national carpooling averages. |
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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.
No information provided |
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Emissions Data
Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)
| Scope 1 Emissions | |
|---|---|
| Stationary Combustion | 9,546.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Mobile Combustion | 375.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Process Emissions | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Fugitive Emissions | 68.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 1 emissions | 9,989.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 2 Emissions | |
| Purchased Electricity | 10,766.0 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 | 10,766.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 3 Emissions | |
| Commuting | 1,898.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Air Travel | 589.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Solid Waste | 119.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| transmission loss from electricity | 1,196.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 3 emissions | 3,802.0 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 | 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 | 12570 kWh |
| Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs | 62.0 % |
| Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs | 7,391.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| REC verification program(s) | Green-e, Other |
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Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
570 MWh First Wind, Mars Hill Wind http://www.marshillwind.com/mars_hill/
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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 | 1,957,788.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of laboratory space | 0.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of health care space | 0.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of residential space | No information provided |
| Population | |
| Total Student Enrollment (FTE) | 1710.0 |
| 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 | 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 |
Carbon Tracker Model _091608 Download |
| Completed inventory calculator | Download |