Tulane University Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory,

Transcription

1 Tulane University Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, In March 2008, Tulane University President Scott Cowen joined the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a commitment of university leaders to engage their university community in developing solutions to climate change. Tulane University has completed an inventory of its greenhouse gas emissions in order to assess our impact on global climate change for calendar years 2006, 2007, and A greenhouse gas emissions inventory is an emerging tool that has been used by businesses, local governments, and institutions nationwide to quantify this key aspect of sustainability, to prioritize actions and to assess their success. Conducting an inventory is likely to become a more widespread practice as states and regions implement greenhouse gas reduction targets and trading systems, and as leaders consider a national climate change policy. This and future inventories will serve not only to benchmark and measure our progress towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, but also it will provide Tulane students with an opportunity to learn methods and principles that will be crucial to entering careers in this emerging field. Overall, campus buildings are the largest source of emissions, followed by travel for university business, employee and student commute, waste, study abroad travel and finally the campus vehicle fleets. Total emissions for 2006 were 151,641 MTCO 2 e (Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent), total emissions for 2007 were 144,107 MTCO 2 e, and total emissions for 2008 were 144,591 MTCO 2 e. Detailed information about the inventory methodology and data collection is included in Appendixes A and B. Greenhouse Gases Greenhouse gases absorb heat that would normally leave the earth s atmosphere, thereby warming the planet. There are six greenhouse gases that are covered by the Kyoto Protocol, the international treaty addressing climate change. They are carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs). Boundaries Physically, this inventory covers Tulane s main campuses in the city of New Orleans, LA Uptown on St. Charles Avenue, and Downtown in the Central Business District as well as satellite campuses and other administrative and research buildings. The three satellite campuses are in Houston, TX, Harahan, LA and Biloxi, MS, which house an executive MBA program and 2 branches of the School of Continuing Studies, respectively. The research centers are located in Covington, LA and Belle Chase, LA. The other administrative buildings that Tulane rents or owns are scattered throughout the New Orleans area. 1

2 This inventory covers the period January 1, 2006 to December 31, Scopes Scopes are an agreed upon framework developed by the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, 1 an internationally recognized method of conducting inventories, to classify emissions and who is ultimately responsible for them. Scope 1 emissions are greenhouse gases that are directly created by an institution. In the context of this inventory, scope 1 emissions include CO2 created by combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles and boilers, and greenhouse gases purchased or released by the university, such as fugitive emissions of refrigerants and other greenhouse gases used in research. Scope 2 emissions are those that result from the purchase of electricity, steam and chilled water for use by the institution. While the emissions occur at the utility, as the consumers of the resulting electricity, steam and chilled water, we are indirectly responsible for these emissions. Scope 3 emissions are other indirect emissions that are a consequence of University activities and policies but are not directly created or released on the university campus. Scope 3 emissions at Tulane include travel for university business and study abroad, employee and student commute, and disposal of solid waste. Inventory Process Once the boundaries and scopes of an emissions inventory are decided, the process of calculating emissions is fairly straightforward. Data on energy use, waste and purchases of greenhouse gases are gathered from departments across the university. In Tulane s case, there is no single department that controls all of the energy, fuel and other data that we needed, and each department keeps their records differently. Table A below is a list of the types of data that were gathered and the source. Table A Data Purchased Electricity Purchased Steam Purchased Chilled Water Natural Gas Gasoline Diesel Vehicles Propane Direct Emissions of Greenhouse Gasses Waste Directly Financed Outsourced Air Travel Source Electricity Bills Steam bills Chilled Water bills Natural Gas Bills Fuel Bills, mileage and fuel economy Fuel Bills Fuel Bills Environmental Health and Safety Reports Estimated based on dumpster size and frequency of pick ups Estimated based on dollars spent on air travel 1 World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development, The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, revised edition, accessed at standard on June 2,

3 Study Abroad Travel Directly Financed Outsourced Ground Travel Employee and Off Campus Student Commute Estimated based on 2007/2008 number of students going abroad by destination Estimated based on dollars spent on ground travel Estimated from 2008 Transportation Habits Survey and year specific population Data are entered in a calculator tool, which uses a set of emissions factors to calculate the resulting greenhouse gasses from each activity. The emissions factors are a measure of how much of each greenhouse gas is emitted per unit of fuel, electricity, steam, waste, etc. After examining several options, Tulane chose to use the Clean Air Cool Planet (CA CP) Campus Carbon Calculator. 2 The CA CP Campus Carbon Calculator is a Microsoft Excel workbook with input worksheets and formulae developed specifically for college campuses and based on the widely used GHG Protocol. Electricity Emission Factors The greenhouse gases released for a unit of electricity depend on the fuel source. Because utilities in different regions of the country rely on different mixes of fuels, a unit of electricity in New Orleans has a different emission factor from a unit of electricity in Detroit, Los Angeles, or Washington D.C. When utilities make improvements that reduce the emissions from generating electricity, the Scope 2 emissions of an institution using that electricity are reduced. This inventory uses an electricity emission factor calculated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the electricity in our regional grid. 2 coolplanet.org/toolkit/inv calculator.php 3

4 Results Table B shows total emissions by sector. Chart A shows the emission profile by scope, and Charts B, C and D show the overall breakdown of emissions for 2006, 2007, and 2008, respectively. Table B Total Emissions by Sector (MTCO2e) Sector '06 to '07 Percent Change '07 to '08 Percent Change Buildings 105,815 89,731 87, % 2.31% Travel 32,931 41,128 43, % 4.88% Commute 9,374 9,731 10, % 5.60% Waste % 1.79% Study Abroad 1,986 1,986 1, % 0.00% Fleet % 2.31% Total 151, , , % 0.34% 160,000 Chart A 140, ,000 52,809 59,964 62, ,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 77,750 63,899 64,427 Total Scope 3 Total Scope 2 Total Scope 1 20,000 21,082 20,243 17,

5 Chart B 2006 Emissions by Sector Waste 1% Study Abroad Commute 6% 1% Fleet 0% Travel 22% Buildings 70% Waste 1% Chart C 2007 Emissions by Sector Commute 7% Study Abroad 1% Fleet 0% Travel 29% Buildings 62% 5

6 Chart D 2008 Emissions by Sector Commute 7% Study Abroad 1% Waste 1% Fleet 0% Travel 30% Buildings 61% Discussion These three years were Tulane s first calendar years after reopening following Hurricane Katrina in January Table C shows Tulane s per capita and per 1000 square feet greenhouse gas emissions for each year. As the University s population and infrastructure have rebounded, greenhouse gas emissions have not increased significantly, meaning that normalized emissions are showing a downward trend. Table C Normalized Emissions ACUPCC Average Total Population (FTE) 13,341 13,629 14,359 Per Capita Emissions (MTCO2e/person) Total Building Area (sq. feet) 6,713,508 6,746,734 7,038,007 Emissions (MTCO2e) Per 1000 Square Feet

7 The column ACUPCC average represents the emissions of the 85 other Doctorate Granting Universities who have signed the commitment and have submitted their inventories as of September 1, It is important to note that between 2006 and 2007 the emission factor for electricity in the SERC Mississippi Valley egrid sub region decreased significantly, and that was the major reason for the 15.2% reduction in building sector emissions from 2006 to The boundaries of the region were changed, resulting in a change in the electricity emission factor (the greenhouse gas emissions emitted by electricity generation in that region). The reduction may also be due in part to improvements in the region s utilities. As the emission coefficient remained the same for 2007 and 2008, the 2.3% reduction in building sector emissions seen between 2007 and 2008 is more clearly a result of improvements on Tulane s campuses. Because of the significant change in the regional emissions factor between 2006 and 2007, 2007 is a more appropriate year to use as Tulane s baseline year when determining reduction goals in our climate action plan and measuring our progress. Future Inventory Improvements The current emissions inventory reports all emissions as an institution, but Tulane s future inventories will report scope 1 and 2 emissions at the facility level. Tracking scope 1 and 2 emissions by facility will allow us to better track emission reduction projects, such the campus wide energy efficiency retrofits. Facility level tracking of emissions is also consistent with the Climate Registry 4 voluntary reporting protocols and the US EPA s proposed mandatory reporting protocols 5 for large emitters. Using utility specific electricity emission factors will give a more precise, local accounting of the emissions that result from purchased electricity. Entergy, the utility servicing buildings in New Orleans, has made a strong commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and Entergy has relatively low emissions due to their use of natural gas and nuclear power as opposed to coal and oil. Using Entergyspecific emission factors, the total emissions from purchased electricity would be significantly lower. The Tulane University Hospital and Clinic is not included in this inventory, but it could be included in future updates. HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) owns 82.5% of the Tulane Medical Center and Tulane University owns 17.5%. 6 If the Medical Center were included, it would make the most sense to use an equity share approach where Tulane would only be responsible for the emissions proportionate to its financial stake in the hospital operations. The current inventory uses an operational control approach and does not include the Medical Center because HCA is responsible for its day to day operation. This inventory does not include any offsets, which are actions taken by Tulane to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond the boundaries of this inventory. Tulane has not purchased any carbon offsets or renewable energy credits. However, the actions and projects of many faculty, staff and students have 3 scope statistics.php AB4 815A 48B84AB1C7D7} 7

8 helped reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in the New Orleans area. Future inventories will include amounts and estimates of both purchased offsets and the greenhouse gas emissions reductions resulting from service, research and education projects. Verification Verification by an independent third party is an integral part of many greenhouse gas reporting protocols, including the Climate Registry and the EPA Mandatory Reporting Rule. Inventory verifiers typically look at a subset of the data gathered for the inventory, and they review all of the conversions and calculations done to prepare that data for input into the calculator tool. In some cases, they also review the calculation methods. After their review is complete, a verifier issues a report on their findings and any errors must be corrected by the party responsible for the inventory and submitted for reverification. This inventory has not been verified by an independent third party. We are interested in developing opportunities for students to learn these methods while verifying Tulane s inventory. Conclusion Completion of this inventory establishes a baseline and a process for measuring our most direct impact on climate change, the release of emissions that result from campus activities. As a management tool, it will help identify priority areas for reductions and track the impact of improvement measures. As an educational tool, it will help individuals understand the relationship between campus activities and climate change, and it will provide faculty and students with an accessible teaching tool and a starting point for discussions of climate policy, reduction targets, and environmental management. 8

9 Appendix A: Tulane University Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Methods This is a detailed overview of the data and methods used to complete the inventory and a record of all decisions that impact our results. Greenhouse Gases Even though the results of the inventory are reported as Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent, this inventory tracks carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and five additional greenhouse gases: nitrous oxide (N 2 O), methane (CH 4 ), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs). These five are converted into a unit known as Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (commonly abbreviated as CDE or CO 2 e) by multiplying the quantity of each gas by its global warming potential (GWP), a measure of its ability to trap heat relative to CO 2. For example, methane (CH 4 ) has a GWP of 23, which means that one unit of CH 4 counts as 23 units of CO 2 e. Below is a list of the GWP values included in Tulane s inventory. Chemical Formula Common Name GWP CO 2 Carbon Dioxide 1 CH 4 Methane 23 N 2 O Nitrous Oxide 296 HFC 134a 1,1,1,2 TETRAFLUOROETHANE 1300 HCFC 22 CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE 1700 HFC 404a R 404a (refrigerant) 3260 The GWP values in this inventory are in the calculator tool and were taken from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Assessment Report (TAR); all values assume a 100 year atmospheric lifetime period. Calculator Tools At the most basic level, greenhouse gas emissions are calculated by gathering data, such as purchased electricity or natural gas, and multiplying that amount by a coefficient that represents the amount of greenhouse gases emitted per unit of energy or fuel. Various calculators have been developed that simplify this process by doing the work of compiling coefficients and creating a user friendly interface for entering data. The ACUPCC suggests using one of three calculator tools Clean Air Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator, the Climate Action Registry Reporting Online Tool (CARROT), and the World Resources Institute (WRI) / World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Greenhouse Gas i

10 Protocol (GHG Protocol). 1 The GHG Protocol is by far the most widely used calculator tool, but its main drawback is that it was designed for use by the business sector and not the unique operations of a college campus. CARROT is a tool designed for use with the California Climate Action Registry so it does not apply to Tulane geographically. We decided to use the Clean Air Cool Planet Campus (CA CP) Carbon Calculator because it is based on the GHG Protocol but customized for use in higher education. It is also recommended by the ACUPCC. Electricity Emission Factors The greenhouse gases released for a unit of electricity depend on the fuel source. Tulane s emission factors for electricity and chilled water, which is generated with electricity by our utility, are based on the average for the EPA egrid sub region defined as SERC Mississippi Valley in the CA CP Campus Carbon Calculator. Tulane s emission factor for steam is based on the fuel mix, which is 100% natural gas as reported by Entergy Thermal. All emissions factors are included in or calculated by the CA CP Campus Carbon Calculator. We chose to base our emissions on the egrid average for two main reasons. First, all of Tulane s campuses and satellite locations fall within the SERC Mississippi Valley egrid sub region, which means that a consistent emission factor can be used for all campus entities. Second, as signatories of the ACUPCC, we would like to be able to compare our normalized emissions to other members, especially those in our region who will be using the same egrid average. The CA CP calculator changed emission factors between 2006 and 2007 in part because the boundaries of the defined egrid sub regions changed significantly during that time. The SERC Mississippi Valley subregion boundaries were changed. For 2006, the CA CP calculator uses average emission factor for in the SERC Mississippi Valley sub region. For 2007 and 2008, it uses 2005 emission factors for a SERC Mississippi Valley sub region with different geographical boundaries. ii Figure 1: Map of egrid sub regions for (The SERC Mississippi Valley sub region is abbreviated SRMV. ) 1 World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development, The Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, revised edition, accessed at standard on June 2, 2008.

11 Figure 2: Map of egrid sub regions for 2007 on. (The SERC Mississippi Valley sub region is abbreviated SRMV. ) The emission factors for are significantly lower than the emission factors for 2006, resulting in a decrease in Scope 2 emissions from purchased electricity despite the fact that overall University electric consumption increased. Because of the boundary change, it is difficult to determine if the emission factor reduction is due to utility improvements and cleaner fuels, or if it is due to the measurement of a different set of power plants. Data Collection One of the biggest challenges involved in completing a greenhouse gas inventory is assembling all of the required data. Data for the 2006 and 2007 inventory were collected during the period June 2008 to January 2009 by Shelley Meaux, Senior Program Coordinator in the Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research. Twenty one different departments provided data or assistance. Copies of the data submitted are held electronically and in hardcopy in the Center for Bioenvironmental Research, 102 Alcee Fortier Hall. TIS is assisting with the development of a system for each department contact to enter their greenhouse gas data into a central database. Buildings Electricity A majority of Tulane s electricity is purchased from utilities: Entergy in New Orleans, Cleco in Covington, and Mississippi Power in Biloxi. In two cases, at 1555 Poydras in New Orleans and in Houston, electricity is included in Tulane s rent and had to be estimated. All electricity purchases are included in scope 2 and transmission and distribution losses are included in scope 3. iii

12 The Uptown campus is metered as two separate units, front campus and back campus, with the exception of the Reily Student Recreation Center and the Aron Residences. The Uptown campus electricity data for the front and back campus units are provided in an excel spreadsheet by the Uptown Facilities Services department. The Reily electric use data are provided as scanned copies of Entergy invoices by Reily staff. The Aron electric use data are provided by Housing and Residence Life in a summary table that lists each apartment and its electric use; these are all metered separately because students living in the Aron Residences pay for their electricity. The Health Sciences Center and Hebert Research Center buildings are metered and billed for electricity on a building by building basis. The Health Sciences Center provided photocopies of Entergy bills for each building. Since our initial request for data in summer 2008, they started to compile their data in an excel spreadsheet and will provide those files in the future. The Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) in Covington, LA is billed for electricity on a building by building basis. Their business office keeps records in an excel spreadsheet that they provided to us for the greenhouse gas inventory. The Biloxi, Mississippi satellite campus, which houses programs in the School for Continuing Studies, is billed for their offices and classrooms by Mississippi Power. Their administrators provided photocopies of their electric bills. For 1555 Poydras, the source of data was a document called Utility Usage and Cost Issues Report, Tulane Lease 1555 Poydras St by Finnin & Associates, Inc. The Finnin estimates are based on the building area leased and a factor of 4.03 kwh per square foot of leased area. An additional electric meter for the servers housed at 1555 Poydras is billed directly to the Health Sciences Center Facilities Services department and they included that data with the other Health Science Center figures. The Houston campus is housed in an office high rise at 1700 West Loop South, which was completed in Using EIA data, 2 we determined that the annual electric energy intensity for a building in Houston s Climate Zone is 16.0 kwh/sq. ft. and that figure was multiplied by the area that Tulane rents to estimate annual usage. Various other administrative buildings and satellite campuses are billed for electricity through the Capital Projects and Real Estate Group (CPREG) and Uptown Facilities Services. In addition, the Center for Bioenvironmental Research (CBR) is billed for electric use at A Studio in the Woods. Those data were provided as scanned copies of electric bills or in excel spreadsheets by the individuals responsible for paying the bills. Natural Gas Tulane University owns and operates a master meter natural gas distribution system on the Uptown campus. Tulane purchases natural gas from Entergy. 2 Energy Information Administration. Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption and Expenditures 1992 iv

13 Tulane installed a 5MW natural gas fired co generation facility in 1999 on the Uptown campus that simultaneously generates electricity and steam, which is used to heat water and campus buildings. Natural gas for the co generation turbine engine is not metered separately from the natural gas for the campus boilers. Because of this, all emissions from natural gas burned on Tulane s Uptown campus are quantified as other on campus stationary sources. In 2006, the co generation system was run for about 2000 hours and in 2007 it was run for about 4000 hours; that includes approximately hours of maintenance time each year. A rough calculation indicates that including the co generation system with the other on campus boilers in the CA CP calculator, instead of separately as a cogeneration facility, has no impact on the emissions results. Natural gas is also purchased from Entergy for boilers in several Health Science Center buildings that are used to provide hot water and heating when needed. At the TNPRC in Covington, natural gas is purchased from CenterPoint and is used to provide hot water and heating when needed. All natural gas use is included in scope 1 emissions from combustion of fossil fuels on campus. Diesel In cases where back up power is needed, such as a hurricane, Tulane has electric generators at each major campus and research center that run on diesel. Whenever diesel is used for emergency power it will be included with scope 1 emissions but counted separately from vehicle diesel use. All diesel use is included in scope 1 emissions from combustion of fossil fuels on campus. Propane A Studio in the Woods (ASITW) is a program of Tulane University dedicated to preserving the endangered bottomland hardwood forest and providing within it a peaceful retreat where visual, literary and performing artists can work uninterrupted. The stove and hot water heater at ASITW are run on propane and photocopies of bills were provided by the CBR. Propane use is included in scope 1 emissions from combustion of fossil fuels on campus. Purchased Steam The Health Science Center campus purchases steam for a small number of buildings from Entergy Thermal s district in downtown New Orleans. Entergy uses 100% natural gas 3 to produce steam in New Orleans. The HSC Facilities Services Department provided photocopies of the Entergy Thermal bills. Emissions from purchased steam are included in scope 2 emissions and distribution losses are included in scope 3. Purchased Chilled Water The HSC also purchases chilled water from Entergy Thermal s downtown New Orleans district energy system. Entergy uses electric chillers to produce all of its chilled water. The conversion factor provided by Entergy Thermal 3 is kwh per ton hour. Because the CA CP calculator does not give users the option to choose electricity as part of the chilled water generation mix, we used a separate calculator 3 Steve Martins, Entergy Thermal, January 20, v

14 workbook to calculate chilled water emissions in order to differentiate it from actual purchased electricity use. The resulting emissions are then added to the results of the main emission calculator workbook to determine total emissions. Purchased chilled water emissions are included in scope 2 emissions and distribution losses are included in scope 3. Vehicle Fleet Tulane University does not have a centralized fleet and many departments across campus own and operate their own vehicles. Because this poses a significant data collection challenge, only the departments that have several vehicles and use them as an integral part of their operation are included in this inventory. All vehicle fleet emissions are included in scope 1, except the electric golf carts. Electricity Electric golf carts are a common means of transportation on Tulane s Uptown campus. They use electricity off of the main campus grid so their emissions are included in scope 2 and 3 with electricity purchased for buildings and transmission and distribution losses, respectively. Gasoline A majority of Tulane s Uptown vehicle fleet uses gasoline, including all TUPD (Public Safety), Associated Student Body (ASB) and Center for Public Service (CPS) vehicles. Facilities Services Uptown purchases gasoline in bulk and operates a fueling station on campus for its vehicles and the TUPD shuttles. When TUPD is not able to fill up with facilities services, they sometimes purchase gasoline at a retail location. Uptown Facilities Services provided their total purchases of gasoline in gallons via verbal communication. TUPD additional purchases for 2006 and 2007 are estimated based on 2008 data provided in an and actual figures will be provided annually thereafter. ASB gasoline use is estimated because each student organization or club purchases gasoline and returns the vans full. Use was calculated as the distance travelled by each vehicle in miles divided by its fuel economy in miles per gallon. ASB provided odometer readings and fuel economy figures for 2007 and Data for 2006 was unavailable due to a change in staffing; therefore it is assumed to be the same as Future years will be based on annual mileage and average fuel economy for each vehicle. CPS provided actual annual gasoline usage in gallons. All of Tulane s Health Science Center and most of the Hebert Research Center vehicle fleet run on gasoline. Annual fuel purchases in gallons are reported by the Health Science Center Facilities Services Department in a hard copy table. The TNPRC in Covington also maintains a fleet of gasoline vehicles for public safety and maintenance. Their Facilities Services Department provided a hand written estimate of annual gasoline usage based on their available records. Diesel and Biodiesel The Uptown campus maintains a fleet of diesel fueled tractors and large trucks that are used by the Facilities Services Department to aid in maintenance of the campus grounds and buildings. Diesel fuel use in gallons was communicated verbally by the Uptown Facilities Services Department. vi

15 The Hebert Research Center has several diesel tractors used to maintain the grounds and buildings. The Health Science Center Facilities Services Department provided annual diesel use in a hard copy table and will track use in a spreadsheet that they will provide for future updates to the inventory. The TNPRC also has diesel trucks and tractors in its fleet. A handwritten estimate of annual diesel fuel use was provided by their Facilities Services Department based on available bills and records. Propane There are a few propane fueled forklifts at the TNPRC and the Belle Chasse Research Center. Actual use data was provided by their respective facilities services departments. Employee and Student Commute In order to estimate emissions from faculty, staff and student commute, students from Dr. Rick Duque s 2008 Sociology classes, including service learning students in Environmental Sociology class, conducted a telephone survey about commute habits. The telephone survey methodology used by Dr. Duque s class followed that used in our 2000 greenhouse gas emissions inventory. Faculty, staff and students were surveyed from all campuses and the average transportation habits were applied across all Tulane facilities. We used the survey answers to calculate the percentage of each group using each mode of transportation and average one way commute distance for each mode. On campus students are not included in the commuting greenhouse gas emissions so the number of students living on campus was subtracted from the total number of students (in FTE) to determine the number of commuting students. We assume students take 2 trips per day and commute 180 days per year; we assume faculty take 2 trips per day and commute 200 days per year; we assume staff take 2 trips per day and commute 220 days per year. These estimates are identical to those used in the 2000 inventory and were based on the number of months each group attends class or work and a 5 day work week. A paper describing the survey, copies of the survey and an example of our calculations will be available online at commitment.html. Data on trip length and mode were entered into the CA CP Campus Carbon Calculator to determine greenhouse gas emissions from commuting. The calculator uses data on average vehicle fuel use, occupancy, and fuel efficiency to estimate the emissions that result from each unit of travel. The New Orleans Streetcar system is considered light rail in the category of Heritage/Vintage Trolley Systems by the American Public Transportation Association 4 so we used the CA CP light rail category for those commuters. All student and employee commute emissions are counted in scope 3. Business Travel Tulane does not have a centralized system for tracking business travel. Individuals who wish to travel book their own accommodations and transportation then submit a travel advance or reimbursement to the accounting department. The accounting department provided a report of expenditures on all travel related accounts. There are 5 separate account categories for travel reimbursements local 4 accessed April 29, vii

16 transportation, domestic transportation, foreign transportation, recruitment expenses, and visiting professionals. We assume that expenses in the local transportation category are all for personally owned vehicle transportation and reimbursed based on GSA (General Services Administration) rates. We assume that 100% of expenses in the domestic and international travel accounts are for airfare. We assume that 75% of the expenses in the recruitment and visiting professionals accounts are for airfare and the remaining 25% is for other accommodations, including hotels and meals. All business travel emissions are included in scope 3. Following guidance from AASHE, 5 we used statistics on price per passenger air mile from the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) 6 (in current cents per mile) and added 20% to account for taxes. The total air travel expenses were then divided by that figure to determine air miles travelled. The rates vary annually, so the total for each quarter of expenses is divided by the calculated price per mile including tax that corresponds to that year. The resulting calculator input is total air miles. To calculate business travel emissions from personal vehicles, the total expenditures were divided by an appropriate GSA mileage reimbursement rate, in dollars per mile. This calculation was done for each quarter because the mileage rate changes with fuel prices. The resulting calculator input is total vehicle miles. All athletics travel is included with business travel because their expenditures are coded the same as business travel in the accounting system. Study Abroad Travel In order to estimate emissions from travel related to the study abroad program, the Center for Global Education provided their annual report for 2007/2008. It lists all of the study abroad program destinations and the number of students (FTE) going to each. We used the calculator at Climate Friendly, 7 to determine the distance between New Orleans and each destination. New Orleans was assumed to be the flight origination because specific data about where each student actually flew from is not available. We then multiplied the distance by the number of students attending each program. The sum of all distances, in miles, was entered into the CA CP calculator. For 2006, the 07/08 numbers were used, but future inventories will be estimated from each year s actual destinations of students. Study abroad travel emissions are included in scope 3. Others Direct Use of Refrigerants and Other Greenhouse Gases The Office of Environmental Health and Safety maintains records of chemical use on all campuses. They provided a copy of their database for use in the greenhouse gas inventory. Their database tracks purchases of chemicals, which are not necessarily actual emissions into the atmosphere. Because of this, the inventory most likely over estimates greenhouse gas emissions from these sources. 5 scope 3 emissions pt 2 air travel accessed April 29, 2009 viii

17 In addition, the Facilities Services departments provided records of their use of refrigerants. Again, the inventory most likely overestimates these emissions because the only data available are purchases of refrigerants for use in equipment, not actual fugitive emissions. All direct use of refrigerants and other greenhouse gases is included in scope 1. Waste Data on waste disposal are estimated. For the Uptown campus, weights from dumpsters are measured occasionally and then used to estimate annual collection. All other campus waste estimates are based on the size and type of dumpsters and the frequency of pick ups. It is assumed that the dumpsters are full when they are emptied. All dumpster sizes are volumetric, so we used guidelines 8 from RecycleMania to convert the volumetric measurements into weight. Waste from the uptown and downtown campuses, the majority of Tulane s waste, is landfilled at Riverbirch, where they capture and flare methane. 9 All waste data are included in scope 3. Transmission and Distribution Losses Energy lost while transporting purchased electricity, steam and chilled water to campus is counted under scope 3 indirect emissions as transmission and distribution losses. The owner of the distribution pipes or power lines is responsible for the energy that is lost. The CA CP calculator uses an average figure of 9% to account for transmission and distribution losses. All T & D emissions are calculated from the same inputs as emissions from purchased electricity, steam and chilled water. Omissions Fertilizer Fertilizer application was omitted because a rough estimate indicates that it is an insignificant source of greenhouse gas emissions at Tulane s mostly urban campuses. According to Tulane s Uptown grounds crew superintendent, a total of 1 pound of Nitrogen per 1000 square feet is applied on the Uptown campus lawns and grounds annually. In order to determine whether we needed to acquire fertilizer purchase records, we estimated the number of square feet of green space on campus from aerial images using a GIS. The resulting areal estimate was then used to determine how many pounds of fertilizer would be needed in a year to apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet. The results showed that approximately 9800 lbs of fertilizer would be needed. This figure was entered in the CACP Campus Carbon Calculator resulting in approximately 3.3 MT eco2. This figure is only 0.003% of preliminary 2006 emissions that did not include outsourced travel. Our other campuses and research centers do not use fertilizer on their grounds. The estimated contribution to our overall carbon footprint is so small that we determined that searching for actual fertilizer purchase records would not add value to our emissions inventory. 8 tracking/conversions.pdf, accessed December 16, Transcript% pdf, page 15 ix

18 Superdome Emissions The Tulane football team plays 5 to 6 home games each year in the Louisiana Superdome. Tulane commencement is also held in the Superdome. This inventory does not include emissions related to these activities. Other Omissions Emissions from treatment of wastewater and purchase of paper can be calculated with the Clean Air Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator, but we chose to omit them because they are not required by ACUPCC guidelines. Though it would benefit our recycling programs to track emissions related to paper use, each department and office orders their own paper, and data related to recycled content and amount purchased were not readily available. De Minimus Emissions We did not treat any emissions as de minimus by adding a percentage of our emissions to our total. There are no sources that we feel are underestimated or missing from the inventory. Acknowledgements Shelley Meaux, Senior Program Coordinator in the Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research, has done the analysis and report for this inventory. She would like to thank Liz Davey, Alex Hernandez, Heike Lueger, and Greg Southworth for their careful review of the inventory. She would also like to thank the following people for providing the original data sources for the inventory and answering all of her questions: Wil Adams, Mike Aertker, Jim Balsamo, Mark Beirn, Marty Brantley, Shirley Buras, Cindy Butler, Joe Cali, John Caradona, Gwen Chavez, Jason Chretien, Mike Crago, Ann Danos, Liz Davey, Christy Day, Karen Delzell Lucas, Jay Folse, Cynthia Foret, Gina Fortado, Vince Granito, Michael Guidry, Melissa Guidry, Jerry Hagebusch, Doug Harrell, Laura Henry, Rick Jones, Rickie Kramer, Lisa LeBlanc, Steve Martins, Adrien McElroy, Charlie McGrath, Giselle McKinney, Patty Oates, LaShanda Robinson, Lawrence Smith III, John Stockwell, Judith Stone Collins, Bob Turner, Von Vargo, Amanda Walters, and Galo Yepez. Special thanks to Professor Duque, Professor Duque s sociology students, and David Gray for completing the transportation and commute habits survey. x

19 Appendix B: List of Inventory Inputs Buildings Data Campus/Location Source of Data Unit Purchased Electricity Uptown Uptown Facilities Services kwh 61,031,847 58,730,027 66,988,067 Purchased Electricity Reilly Reily Center Administration kwh 3,415,200 3,415,200 2,881,600 Purchased Electricity Aron Housing and Residence Life kwh 1,854,129 1,854,129 1,662,293 Purchased Electricity Health Science Center HSC Facilities Services kwh 33,519,240 36,944,361 34,019,702 Purchased Electricity Hebert Center HSC Facilities Services kwh 605, , ,581 Purchased Electricity 900 S. Jeff Davis Uptown Facilities Services kwh 915, ,000 1,035,680 Purchased Electricity 900 S. Jeff Davis (recovery) CPREG kwh N/A N/A 87,760 Purchased Electricity 800 E. Commerce CPREG kwh 1,145,700 1,014,000 1,065,000 Purchased Electricity University Square Uptown Facilities Services kwh 648, , ,775 Purchased Electricity University Square (EHS) CPREG kwh 503, , ,203 Purchased Electricity Medical Arts Uptown Facilities Services kwh 467, , ,400 Purchased Electricity 1555 Poydras CPREG kwh 4,052,827 5,663, ,829 Purchased Electricity 1555 Poydras (servers) HSC Facilities Services kwh 1,867,600 2,515,380 2,862,000 Purchased Electricity A Studio in the Woods CBR kwh 14,972 14,791 15,753 Purchased Electricity Biloxi Sch. Of Continuing Studies kwh 295, , ,120 Purchased Electricity Houston AB F Sch. Of Business kwh 316, , ,336 Purchased Electricity Primate Center TNPRC Business Office kwh 8,593,928 9,639,723 11,132,919 Purchased Electricity Total kwh 119,249, ,392, ,778,018 Natural Gas Uptown Uptown Facilities Services MMBtu 307, , ,879 Natural Gas Downtown HSC Facilities Services MMBtu 10,005 8,426 8,942 Natural Gas Primate Center TNPRC Business Office MMBtu 40,554 42,634 49,939 Natural Gas Total MMBtu 357, , ,760 Purchased Steam (Downtown Only) Total HSC Facilities Services MMBtu 42,004 51,893 47,951 Purchased Chilled Water (Downtown Only) Total HSC Facilities Services MMBtu 54,605 67,026 69,994 Propane A Studio in the Woods CBR gallons Propane Hebert Center HSC Facilities Services gallons Propane Primate Center TNPRC Facilities Services gallons Propane Total gallons Diesel Generators Uptown Uptown Facilities Services gallons N/A N/A N/A

20 Diesel Generators Primate Center TNPRC Facilities Services gallons N/A N/A N/A Diesel Generators Total gallons HCFC 22 (CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE ) Downtown HSC Facilities Services lbs HCFC 22 (CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE ) Hebert Center HSC Facilities Services lbs HCFC 22 (CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE ) Reported to OEHS OEHS lbs 1, HCFC 22 (CHLORODIFLUOROMETHANE ) Total lbs CO2 (CARBON DIOXIDE) Total OEHS lbs HFC 134a (1,1,1,2 TETRAFLUOROETHANE) Total OEHS lbs HFC 404a (R 404a) Total OEHS lbs CH4 (METHANE) Total OEHS lbs N2O (NITROUS OXIDE) Total OEHS lbs Vehicle Fleet Data Campus/Location Source of Data Unit Gasoline Uptown Uptown Facilities Services gallons 16,020 15,900 12,064 Gasoline Downtown HSC Facilities Services gallons 900 1,998 3,206 Gasoline Hebert Center HSC Facilities Services gallons 476 1,500 Incl. w/hsc Gasoline Primate Center TNPRC Facilities Services gallons 16,125 16,125 16,125 Gasoline Shuttles TUPD gallons 1,000 1,000 1,112 Gasoline CPS CPS gallons 1,450 2,871 2,800 Gasoline ASB Vans Student Affairs gallons 7,343 7,343 7,500 Gasoline Total gallons 43,314 46,737 42,807 Diesel Vehicles Uptown Uptown Facilities Services gallons 3,900 2,900 Diesel Vehicles Downtown HSC Facilities Services gallons 5,465 3,400 1,800 Diesel Vehicles Hebert Center HSC Facilities Services gallons 1,500 1,000 Diesel Vehicles Primate Center TNPRC Facilities Services gallons 8,445 8,445 8,445 Diesel Vehicles Total gallons 19,310 15,745 10,245 B10 Biodiesel Vehicles Uptown Uptown Facilities Services gallons 8,577 B10 Biodiesel Vehicles Total gallons 8,577

21 Waste Data Campus/Location Source of Data Unit Waste Uptown Uptown Facilities Services short tons 1,956 1,956 2,500 Waste Downtown HSC Facilities Services short tons 1,231 1, Waste Hebert Center HSC Facilities Services short tons Waste Primate Center TNPRC Facilities Services short tons Waste Total short tons 3,397 3,397 3,458 Travel Data Campus/Location Source of Data Unit Directly Financed Outsourced Air Travel Total Accounting Miles 41,947,597 52,458,449 55,025,774 Directly Financed Outsourced Ground Travel Total Accounting Miles 905, ,781 1,034,172 Study Abroad Data Campus/Location Source of Data Unit Air Travel Study Abroad Center for Global Education Miles 2,557,820 2,557,820 2,557,820 Commuting Data Data Campus/Location Source of Data Unit Off Campus Students Total Registrar/Housing # 6,771 6,433 6,554 Students who commute in personal vehicle Total Commute Survey % Students who carpool or get a ride Total Commute Survey % Student one way commute distance vehicles Total Commute Survey miles Students who ride the streetcar (light rail) Total Commute Survey % Student one way commute distance streetcar Total Commute Survey miles Students trips per day Total Assumption # Students commuting days per year Total Assumption # Faculty Total WFMO # 1,332 1,353 1,356 Faculty who commute in personal vehicle Total Commute Survey % Faculty one way commute distance vehicles Total Commute Survey miles

22 Faculty who commute by bus Total Commute Survey % Faculty one way commute distance bus Total Commute Survey miles Faculty who ride the streetcar (light rail) Total Commute Survey % Faculty one way commute distance streetcar Total Commute Survey miles Faculty trips per day Total Assumption # Faculty commuting days per year Total Assumption # Staff Total WFMO # 2,305 2,635 2,912 Staff who commute in personal vehicle Total Commute Survey % Staff who carpool or get a ride Total Commute Survey % Staff one way commute distance vehicles Total Commute Survey miles Staff who commute by bus Total Commute Survey % Staff one way commute distance bus Total Commute Survey miles Staff who ride the streetcar (light rail) Total Commute Survey % Staff one way commute distance streetcar Total Commute Survey miles Staff trips per day Total Assumption # Staff commuting days per year Total Assumption # Institutional Data Data Campus/Location Source of Data Unit Full Time Students Total Registrar's Website # 8,802 8,764 9,024 Part Time Students Total Registrar's Website # 1,804 1,755 2,133 On Campus Students Total Housing and Residence Life # 2,932 3,208 3,537 Faculty Total WFMO # 1,332 1,353 1,356 Staff Total WFMO # 2,305 2,635 2,912 Operating Budget Total Accting Website (Financial Stmt.) $ 598,683, ,436, ,215,000 Research Budget Total Accting Website (Financial Stmt.) $ 124,662, ,684, ,139,000 Energy Budget Total Accounting $ 20,000,000 20,000,000 20,000,000 Research Building Area Total Draft Cost Studies Database sq. ft. 462, , ,737 Building Area Total University Architects and Facilities Services sq. ft. 6,713,508 6,746,734 7,038,007

23 Data Electricity CO 2 Coefficent Electricity CH 4 Coefficient Electricity N 2 O Coefficient Campus/Locati on Total Total Total Select Emission Factors Source of Data Unit CA CP Calculator/EPA egrid CA CP Calculator/EPA egrid CA CP Calculator/EPA egrid kg CO 2 /kwh kg CH 4 /kwh E E E 06 kg N 2 O/kWh E E E 06 Steam CO 2 Coefficent Total CA CP Calculator kg CO 2 /MMBtu Steam CH 4 Coefficient Total CA CP Calculator kg CH 4 /MMBtu Steam N 2 O Coefficient Total CA CP Calculator kg N 2 O/MMBtu