GHG Report for Ithaca College
Submitted on October 22, 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) | 26,794 metric tons of CO2e | 4.2 metric tons of CO2e | 11.6 metric tons of CO2e | 0% |
| Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) | 34,456 metric tons of CO2e | 5.4 metric tons of CO2e | 15.0 metric tons of CO2e | 0% |
| Net emissions | 34,440 metric tons of CO2e | 5.4 metric tons of CO2e | 15.0 metric tons of CO2e | N/A |
Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries
| Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report | June 1, 2005 |
| 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 are omitted. |
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| Emissions calculation tool used | Clean Air-Cool Planet |
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Please describe why this tool was selected.
This was the recommended tool, and it seemed to us to offer a robust inventory tool. There was a critical mass of institutions using the CACP tool, so the possibility of creating a usable benchmark system exists, altho' CACP has not yet developed this. |
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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? | Student researcher(s) |
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Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.
Student researcher Paige Davis and her faculty advisor, Susan Swensen, were given free access to all sources of College data necessary to complete the inventory. In the case of collecting better data related to commuting habits and administrative travel, a memo to all administrative and academic department assistants and their supervisors was sent by the Vice President for Finance and Administration (and chair of the Climate Commitment Committee) stressing the importance of this data collection effort and his expectation for their full cooperation and participation. |
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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.
Commuting data is extrapolated from information on parking permit registrations and transit users, but does not accurately capture information on pedestrians, bicyclists, or carpool participants. We likely did not receive 100% compliance from all departments on all instances of institutional air travel, nor were accurate projections likely made of miles traveled by air or ground. We are addressing this deficiency in our travel reconciliation process for 2008. |
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Emissions Data
Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)
| Scope 1 Emissions | |
|---|---|
| Stationary Combustion | 11,336.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Mobile Combustion | 960.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Process Emissions | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Fugitive Emissions | 17.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 1 emissions | 12,313.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 2 Emissions | |
| Purchased Electricity | 14,481.0 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 | 14,481.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 3 Emissions | |
| Commuting | 3,912.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Air Travel | 3,609.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Solid Waste | 141.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 3 emissions | 7,662.0 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 | 16.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Offset verification program(s) | No information provided |
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Description of offsets purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
We maintain a dining hall food waste composting program, and are phasing in post-consumer collection of biodegradable/compostable serviceware (plates, cups, napkins, eating utensils, straws) in catered and retail operations. The tonnage of compost collected was based upon volume/weight ratios from the National Recycling Council. |
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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 | 2,300,000.0 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of laboratory space | 125,000.0 sq ft |
| 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) | 6409.0 |
| 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 | No information provided |
| Completed inventory calculator | Download |