ACUPCC Reporting System

GHG Report for Saint Xavier University

Submitted on January 15, 2009; last updated on April 2, 2009

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) 13,366 metric tons of CO2e 3.1 metric tons of CO2e 17.0 metric tons of CO2e 3%
Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) 21,572 metric tons of CO2e 5.0 metric tons of CO2e 27.5 metric tons of CO2e 2%
Net emissions 21,175 metric tons of CO2e 4.9 metric tons of CO2e 26.9 metric tons of CO2e N/A

Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries

Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report July 1, 2006
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.

All buildings under Saint Xavier University's ownership and operation were accounted for.

Emissions calculation tool used Clean Air-Cool Planet
Please describe why this tool was selected.

The Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) calculator was selected for a variety of reasons.It is endorsed by ACUPCC and due to its widespread use provides a standard measuring tool allowing universities to benchmark against one another. It is consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. New versions and updates are constantly available for the CA-CP calculator and CA-CP representatives are readily available for any questions or comments.

Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.

The CA-CP calculator bases many of its emissions coefficients from US governmental and intergovernmental (IPCC) data.

Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? Third Assessment Report
Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? External consultant
Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.

The emissions inventory data was managed and coordinated by an outside consultant with the assistance of the Saint Xavier University Facilities Management team, Sustainability Intern and data provided by various University department heads. Departments advantageous to the data collection process were determined based on the emissions sections of the CA-CP calculator. A timeframe of two months was allocated to inform the departments of what information was needed and for the departments to retrieve the data. The outside consultant performed the emissions calculations using the CA-CP tool and after quality control and benchmarking comparisons were made, the final GHG inventory report was issued.

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.

All buildings under Saint Xavier University's ownership and operation were accounted for.

Emissions Data

Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)

Scope 1 Emissions
Stationary Combustion 7,172.1 metric tons of CO2e
Mobile Combustion 248.9 metric tons of CO2e
Process Emissions 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
Fugitive Emissions 39.2 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 1 emissions 7,460.2 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions
Purchased Electricity 5,905.9 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 5,905.9 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions
Commuting 7,061.0 metric tons of CO2e
Air Travel 382.1 metric tons of CO2e
Solid Waste 762.3 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 3 emissions 8,205.4 metric tons of CO2e
Biogenic Emissions
Biogenic Emissions from Stationary Combustion No information provided
Biogenic Emissions from Mobile Combustion 145,189.0 metric tons of CO2e

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 600000 kWh
Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs 6.0 %
Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs 348.5 metric tons of CO2e
REC verification program(s) No information provided
Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

Purchesed RECs through Sky Energy

Sequestration and Carbon Storage
Sequestration due to land owned by the institution 48.0 metric tons of CO2e
Description of how sequestration was calculated

Used the fact that 0.6 tons/acre/yr (1.4 t/ha/yr) of carbon sequestered by temperate Ohio wetlands (http://news.mongabay.com/2008/1008-wetlands.html). Saint Xavier University has 24.2 acres of protected wetlands and therefore used the following calculation: 0.6*24.2*(44/12)=53.68 tons of CO2 = 48.29852 metric tons of CO2/year.

Carbon storage due to composting No information provided

Normalization and Contextual Data

Building Space
Gross square feet of building space 785,733.0 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 251,435.0 sq ft
Population
Total Student Enrollment (FTE) 4281.0
Residential Students 750
Full-time Commuter Students 2136
Part-time Commuter Students 2789
Non-Credit Students No information provided
Full-time Faculty 491
Part-time Faculty No information provided
Full-time Staff 597
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
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 Saint Xavier University GHG Inventory
Download
Completed inventory calculator Download

Auditing and Verification

These emissions data have been audited, verified, or peer-reviewed.
Please briefly describe this verification, if any.

The outside consultant performed the emissions calculations using the CA-CP tool and performed a quality control check along with benchmarking comparisons of net emissions of other like institutions.