Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory Fiscal Year 2013

Transcription

1 Greenhuse Gas (GHG) Emissins Inventry Fiscal Year 2013 Prepared by the Office f Sustainability fr the Envirnmental Advisry Cuncil Page 1 f 11

2 Envirnmental Advisry Cuncil Members James Beuerle Assciate Prfessr, Mathematics Jessica Bilecki Educatin and Outreach Crdinatr, Office f Sustainability Rbert Buchhlz Assistant Vice President fr Facilities Management, Directr f Physical Plant Janet Cpe Assciate Prfessr, Physical Therapy Educatin Elaine Durr Directr f Sustainability Thmas Friend Student Representative, Class f 2016 Angel Garcia Assistant Directr f Residence Life Statin at Mill Pint, Assistant Directr f the Multicultural Center Hlly Hdge Interir Designer, Planning, Design and Cnstructin Management Michele Kleckner Senir Lecturer, Cmputing Sciences and Sustainability Faculty Fellw Lauren Reiman Student Representative, Class f 2013 Raghu Tadepalli Dean, Martha and Spencer Lve Schl f Business Gerald Whittingtn, Chair Senir Vice President fr Business, Finance and Technlgy and Assciate Prfessr Acknwledgments Eln University s sixth annual greenhuse gas emissins inventry was cmpleted with the assistance f Lydia Santgade, GHG Intern fr summer 2013, wh cllected and analyzed the data. In additin, the inventry culd nt have been cmpleted withut the cperatin and assistance f many individuals wh prvided the necessary data, gave guidance thrughut the prcess and assisted with data cllectin and analysis. Thank yu t everyne wh cntributes t this yearly institutinal pririty. Page 2 f 11

3 The verarching gal f Eln University s Sustainability Master Plan ( ) is t minimize ur impact n the glbal envirnment by establishing a carbn neutral university. Calculating the University s greenhuse gas (GHG) emissins r carbn ftprint is ne f the essential steps in establishing a carbn neutral university. Eln s first GHG inventry was cnducted fr fiscal year (FY) 2008 and serves as Eln s baseline frm which t measure reductins in emissins. A yearly GHG inventry is cnducted t mnitr prgress tward Eln s emissin reductin gals. Versin 6.9 f the Clean Air-Cl Planet (CA-CP) Campus Carbn Calculatr was used t calculate Eln s emissins fr FY This Calculatr includes up t date cnstants and emissin factrs. As with previus versins f the Calculatr, it includes all f the primary cmpnents f a GHG inventry: Scpe 1, 2 and 3 emissins as well as ffsets and prvides the ttal amunt f carbn dixide equivalent emissins (eco2). Scpe 1 is direct emissins, such as prductin f electricity n campus and university vehicles. Scpe 2 emissins cme frm imprted surces f energy, i.e., purchased electricity r steam. Scpe 3 is all ther indirect surces f emissins, such as business travel, cmmuter travel and slid waste generatin. An ffset is a reductin f carbn dixide r remval f carbn dixide equivalent (eco 2 ) GHG emissins that is used t cunterbalance r cmpensate fr ( ffset ) emissins frm ther activities. The data cllectin prcess fr FY 2013 was cnducted per the standard prcedures initially dcumented in the summer f 2010 and updated each year. The standard prcedures dcument utlines wh t cntact fr each piece f infrmatin and any data analysis and cnversin steps that are needed. As new methdlgies and data cllectin techniques emerge, they are reviewed and adpted when apprpriate. Once adpted, a new methdlgy r technique is applied t the current and previus years t allw fr year t year cmparisns. Versin 6.9 f the calculatr tl includes a new methdlgy fr cmmuting that requires mre data analysis t btain the necessary inputs. The primary difference is the need t determine the trip distributin (% trips by mde) fr each cmmuting mde, including carbn free mdes, and the specific trip distance fr each cmmuting mde. Given this, the data frm the cmmuter habit surveys (2008, 2010 and 2012) was re-analyzed t btain the required inputs. The cmmuter habit survey data used fr FY 2013 was cllected in fall A cmmuter habit survey and GIS analysis are cnducted every ther year t cllect changes in cmmuter travel patterns. This frequency will be re-visited as necessary t ensure changes in patterns are apprpriately reflected. The cmmuter habit survey was created and the results analyzed with the assistance f Rb Springer, Executive Directr f Institutinal Effectiveness. An was sent t all faculty, staff and students that briefly explained the purpse f the survey and prvided a link t cmplete the survey nline. Belw is a summary f the cmmuter habit survey inputs used in the calculatr tl: Page 3 f 11

4 Off Campus Students On average, ff campus students make 11.2 rund trips t campus each week 12.8% f thse trips are by bike 33.4% f thse trips are by walking 32.9% f thse trips are in a car alne 11.9% f thse trips are by carpling 9.0% f thse trips are by bus Faculty Staff On average, faculty make 5.25 rund trips t campus each week 4.8% f thse trips are by bike 3.3% f thse trips are by walking 86.3% f thse trips are in a car alne 5.0% f thse trips are by carpling 0.6% f thse trips are by bus On average, staff make 6.1 rund trips t campus each week 0.2% f thse trips are by bike 0.6% f thse trips are by walking 92.9% f thse trips are in a car alne 6.3% f thse trips are by carpling 0% f thse trips are by bus The GIS analysis was cnducted by an Eln student, Dan Kessler (Envirnmental and Eclgical Sciences Majr, GIS Minr) and an Eln faculty member, Ryan Kirk (Gegraphy and Envirnmental Studies), in the fall f Annymus faculty and staff addresses as f September 5, 2012 were prvided by Deirdre Lea in Human Resurces. Fr the GIS analysis, cmmuting distances were calculated as the shrtest travel rute frm the nearest rad fr each residence t the edge f the Eln campus prperty r as the shrtest rad distance t the intersectin nearest the Law Schl campus as apprpriate. Given this, all campus addresses were given a distance f zer. The mean travel distance t the Eln campus is 13.6 miles, and the median distance is 6.1 miles (Figure 1). The mean travel distance t the Law Schl campus is 8.6 miles, and the median distance is 5.8 miles (Figure 2). Fr bth campuses, 45.6% f faculty and staff live within 5 miles, 58.1% within 10 miles, 81% within 25 miles and 96.7% within 50 miles. Fr data surce cnsistency, the distances determined with the survey data were utilized in calculating cmmuting emissins. The GIS analysis cntinues t be cnducted because it prvides anther surce f useful infrmatin, as well as maps, t cmpare and identify trends in faculty/staff cmmuting distances and residence chice. Page 4 f 11

5 Figure 1: Eln Campus Faculty and Staff Cmmutershed Page 5 f 11

6 Figure 2: Law Schl Campus Faculty and Staff Cmmutershed Page 6 f 11

7 Eln s ttal GHG emissins fr FY 2013 were 40,285.1 metric tns f carbn dixide equivalents (MTCDE). The net GHG emissins fr FY 2013 were 40,248.5 MTCDE due t an ffset f 36.6 MTCDE fr yard waste cmpsting. Per full-time equivalent (FTE) student net emissins were 6.8 MTCDE/student and per building square ft (ft 2 ) were MTCDE/ft 2 r 17.2 MTCDE per 1,000 square feet. See Figure 3 fr a percentage breakdwn by categry. Wastewater 0.06% Directly Financed Travel 10.66% Slid Waste 6.29% T&D Lsses 3.87% Natural Gas / Prpane 11.07% University Fleet 2.18% Refrigeratin 0.24% Fertilizer 0.18% Study Abrad 15.55% Purchased Electricity 39.18% Faculty/Staff Cmmuting 7.24% Student Cmmuting 3.48% Figure 3: Emissins Percentage by Categry T facilitate a cmparisn acrss the six years a GHG inventry has been cnducted, the FY 2008 thrugh FY 2012 inventries were updated (using the v6.9 Calculatr) with the new methdlgy previusly referenced fr cmmuting. See Figure 4 fr the categry breakdwn by metric tns f eco2 fr all six years. Page 7 f 11

8 Metric Tns f eco 2 (MTCDE) FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY Figure 4: Emissins by Categry fr FY Eln s GHG emissins increased 2.1% frm FY 2008 t FY 2013 primarily frm an increase in directly financed travel. Frm FY 2012 t FY 2013, emissins increased 5.1%, primarily frm an increase in energy cnsumptin, study abrad and directly financed travel. An increase in faculty and staff business travel as well as athletic team travel is the primary cause fr the increase in directly financed travel, which culd be the result f imprved data cllectin and/r mre actual travel. Emissins increased frm energy cnsumptin accrdingly based n the increase in purchased electricity and natural gas cnsumptin frm FY 2012 t FY This increase is likely the result f adding 227,759 square feet f building space. Study abrad emissins increased due t mre students studying abrad thrugh Eln spnsred prgrams 1,053 students in FY 2012 and 1,082 students in FY Thugh Eln s net GHG emissins have increased since FY 2008, it is imprtant t cnsider the grwth f the campus in terms f square ftage and students during this time perid. Frm FY 2008 t FY 2013, square ftage increased 424,652 square feet, a 22% increase, while emissins per 1,000 square feet decreased 16.4%. See Figure 5 fr the change in emissins per 1,000 square feet since FY Page 8 f 11

9 21 FY 08 Baseline Net Metric Tns f eco2 (MTCDE) per 1,000 SF % frm FY % frm FY % frm FY % frm FY % frm FY FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 Figure 5: Emissins per 1,000 SF FY Frm FY 2008 t FY 2013, the number f FTE students increased 560 students, a 10.5% increase, while emissins per FTE student decreased 7.6%. See Figure 6 fr the change in emissins per FTE student since FY Page 9 f 11

10 7.6 FY 08 Baseline Net Metric Tns f eco2 (MTCDE) per FTE Student % frm FY % frm FY % frm FY % frm FY % frm FY FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012 FY 2013 Figure 6: Emissins per FTE Student FY Energy cnsumptin (Purchased Electricity, Natural Gas/Prpane and T&D Lsses) remains the largest surce f emissins accunting fr 54.1% f ttal FY 2013 emissins. T&D Lsses are transmissin and distributin lsses f purchased electricity. Reductins in direct emissins frm energy cnsumptin will likely cme frm cntinued campus energy cnservatin and efficiency prjects as identified in the Climate Actin Plan (CAP). Installatins f renewable and alternative energy, such as slar thermal and gethermal, will als cntribute t reductins in emissins frm energy cnsumptin. Eln has ne gethermal system that prvides the primary surce f heating and cling fr five residence halls and a dining hall. Five slar thermal installatins prvide dmestic ht water fr a dining hall and fur residence halls. These technlgies will be mnitred and cmpared with cnventinal technlgies t determine effectiveness and apprpriateness fr ther campus facilities (existing and new). Additinal renewable energy installatins, including slar phtvltaic panels, will be cnsidered as apprpriate and applicable as retrfits t existing facilities and/r a part f new facilities. Eln is currently wrking with a third-party prvider t develp a 1.66 MW slar farm. Eln wuld nt wn the slar farm but wuld lease the land fr it t the third party. Given this, the system wuld nt affect Eln s emissins inventry, thugh it wuld benefit the regin and reduce the need fr fssil fuel based energy. The system is expected t prvide apprximately 2,500 mwh f electricity t the grid each year, which equates t remving ver 1,100 MTCDE per year frm the atmsphere r 350 cars frm the rad. In the future, Eln wuld have the pprtunity t purchase the system. Upn ding s, Eln wuld then be able t claim the carbn reductin in the annual GHG emissins inventry. Study abrad travel represents 15.5% f Eln s FY 13 emissins. Eln is ranked number ne in the natin amng masters level universities fr study abrad prgrams by the Institute f Internatinal Page 10 f 11

11 Educatin. Abut 72% f Eln students study abrad at least nce during their time at the University. In FY 2013, 1,082 students studied abrad with an Eln spnsred prgram. This was up frm 1,053 students in FY 2012 and dwn frm 1,236 in FY The ecnmic climate is likely a primary cntributr t the reductin since FY Hwever, as the numbers suggest that trend is reversing. In fact, the number f students studying abrad will likely cntinue t increase as prviding access t study abrad t 100% f Eln students is a pririty in The Eln Cmmitment strategic plan. Strategies fr reducing net emissins, such as ffsets, frm study abrad travel are included in Eln s CAP. Cmmuting and Directly Financed Travel accunt fr a cmbined 21.4% f Eln s GHG emissins. Strategies fr increasing the use f alternative transprtatin, such as carpling, using the Eln Bibuses, walking and biking are included in the CAP. Cntinuing and increasing the use f hybrid and ther alternative fueled vehicles, web-cnferencing, taking Amtrak when apprpriate and cmbining trips thrugh scheduling culd als help reduce emissins frm faculty and staff business travel and athletic team travel. Slid Waste represents 6.3% f Eln s FY 13 emissins. As nted in the CAP, reducing slid waste will require cntinuing the expansin f Eln s recycling and cmpsting prgrams, decreasing dispsable materials and increasing effrts t reuse materials (when apprpriate). The rest f the emissins categries cmbined (University Fleet, Refrigeratin, Fertilizer and Wastewater) amunt t less than 3% f ttal emissins. The strategies being used t reduce emissins in these categries (see the CAP fr details) will cntinue and expand t keep them a small prtin f Eln s GHG emissins. In additin t the prjects and prgrams that can take place n campus, additinal strategies, mainly ffsets, will need t be cnsidered t reduce Eln s net GHG emissins. Eln already has sme ffsets (36.6 MTCDE) in the frm f yard waste cmpsting. Apprximately 95 tns f yard waste were cmpsted in FY Additinal ffsets will need t be explred t reach the gal f carbn neutrality. There are different ptins fr investing in ffsets such as purchasing ffset credits (retail r whlesale) frm third-party prviders, investing in prjects directly (withut a third-party prvider) and develping prjects independently. Offset ptins that seem mre likely are purchasing retail ffset credits and investing in prjects directly. Hwever, utilizing ffsets fr all f Eln s net GHG emissins wuld nt be an effective use f financial resurces. The intentin is t utilize ffsets nly after reducing emissins n campus as much as pssible. The FY 2013 GHG inventry indicates emissins have increased since FY Hwever, emissins per 1,000 square feet and FTE student have decreased since FY 2008, even thugh the campus square ftage and FTE student ppulatin have increased. The initiatives and strategies implemented t reduce carbn emissins have been effective in slwing the rate f emissins grwth and indicate a psitive effrt tward the gal f carbn neutrality as identified in the Sustainability Master Plan. As nted in the CAP, the University s grwth is prving challenging t emissins reductins. Therefre, it is critical t cntinue implementatin f the strategies identified in the CAP t reduce emissins in the cming years. The CAP is a living, flexible dcument that will be revised as technlgy, research and incentives develp. A GHG inventry will cntinue t be cnducted yearly t mnitr prgress tward Eln s verarching gal f carbn neutrality. Page 11 f 11