ACUPCC Reporting System

GHG Report for Aquinas College

Submitted on September 14, 2009; last updated on May 23, 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) 7,414 metric tons of CO2e 4.1 metric tons of CO2e 11.4 metric tons of CO2e 1%
Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) 9,732 metric tons of CO2e 5.4 metric tons of CO2e 15.0 metric tons of CO2e 0%
Net emissions 9,684 metric tons of CO2e 5.4 metric tons of CO2e 14.9 metric tons of CO2e N/A

Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries

Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report July 1, 2007
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.

Aquinas is temporarily leasing dormitory space at a nearby Dominican center to house overflow students. Because utility information is difficult to find on this facility and the operation of the building is not under our control, it is omitted from our GHG report. Other structures omitted for similar reasons, and because the operating bodies are only affiliated with Aquinas, include: The Conductive Learning Center and the Child Development/Discovery Center.
Emissions calculation tool used Clean Air-Cool Planet
Please describe why this tool was selected.

The CA-CP tool was selected primarily because of its ease of use, thoroughness and relevance.
Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.

CA-CP Campus Carbon Calculator's default emissions coefficients
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
Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.

The process of conducting the carbon footprint inventory was managed by the Program Director at the Center for Sustainability at Aquinas College, with assistance from student interns and multiple college employees.

Some information was obtained directly from an energy report prepared during an audit by PSI, including square footage and wastewater statistics. Utility and campus fleet data was directly computed from bills in the Physical Plant Office. Commuter distance was calculated using zip codes received from HR, and transportation habits were estimated using a survey. Business travel miles were gathered by contacting individual departments, except airfare which was on file in the Accounting Office. Refrigerant totals were obtained from the Physical Plant Office, waste totals from our waste hauling company, and fertilizer use from the Grounds Department.
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.

While commuting distance was computed using the entire data set, mileage was determined from zip code information, rather than actual addresses. Faculty were assumed to drive to campus 160 days/year, staff 255 days/year, and students 128 days/year, based on average schedules. Because of limited information on faculty and staff transportation habits, nearly all were assumed to drive personal vehicles. Only select individuals who were known to use an alternative method of transportation (based on informal campus interviews and frequent campus observations) were included in the percent of faculty and staff travelling using methods other than a personal vehicle.

Air travel statistics relied on reimbursed airfare and we acknowledge that other non-reimbursed travel may have occurred. Personal Mileage Reimbursements (Scope 3- Other) was an estimation based on self-reporting by individual departments.

Emissions Data

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

Scope 1 Emissions
Stationary Combustion 2,735.0 metric tons of CO2e
Mobile Combustion 33.0 metric tons of CO2e
Process Emissions 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
Fugitive Emissions 42.0 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 1 emissions 2,810.0 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions
Purchased Electricity 4,604.0 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 4,604.0 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions
Commuting 1,481.0 metric tons of CO2e
Air Travel 686.0 metric tons of CO2e
Solid Waste -24.0 metric tons of CO2e
Colored and white copy paper 20.2 metric tons of CO2e
Directly Financed Outsourced Travel: Ground Transportation 154.6 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 3 emissions 2,317.8 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
Description of offsets purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

N/A
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Total RECs purchased 0 kWh
Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs 0.0 %
Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs 0.0 metric tons of CO2e
REC verification program(s) No information provided
Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

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

Sequestration was determined using the calculator on the "Michigan Conservation and Climate Initiative" web site. Assumptions= Maple/Beech forest, 21 Acres of forestland, and an age of 26 years and older.

Carbon storage due to composting 0.0 metric tons of CO2e

Normalization and Contextual Data

Building Space
Gross square feet of building space 648,806.0 sq ft
Net assignable square feet of laboratory space 22,714.0 sq ft
Net assignable square feet of health care space 1,247.0 sq ft
Net assignable square feet of residential space 195,846.0 sq ft
Population
Total Student Enrollment (FTE) 1787.26
Residential Students 763
Full-time Commuter Students No information provided
Part-time Commuter Students No information provided
Non-Credit Students No information provided
Full-time Faculty 91
Part-time Faculty 92
Full-time Staff 180
Part-time Staff 20
Other Contextual Data
Endowment Size No information provided
Heating Degree Days 6694
Cooling Degree Days 591
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 No information provided
Completed inventory calculator Download

Auditing and Verification

These emissions data have not been audited, verified, or peer-reviewed.