Case Study 1: Methodology and analysis of the De Montfort University Carbon Footprint. August 2010

Transcription

1 Case Study 1: Methodology and analysis of the De Montfort University Carbon Footprint August 2010

2 Background De Montfort University (DMU) wanted to take a comprehensive approach to measuring and reporting its carbon emissions. To this end DMU commissioned Arup to undertake a baseline carbon footprint assessment of the University using a consumption-based approach. The overall ambition of the project was to develop an effective pilot study such that the methodology and the results could be of benefit to other universities. The aims of the project were therefore to: Quantify the first total consumption-based carbon footprint for a UK university over the baseline period (2005/ /09), and identify carbon hotspots. Review possible interventions for key carbon hotspots and identify actions to make quantitative reductions in carbon emissions. The study emphasizes the relevance for universities to measure their full consumption-based emissions including direct (e.g. on-site) and indirect (e.g. off-site) emissions. Analysis Methodology A comprehensive full consumption-based carbon footprint of the University was estimated as part of the study, including direct and indirect emissions originating from three primary sectors: building energy (direct emissions from University buildings and equipment); travel (from staff and student commutes and international and UK student & visitor travel); procurement (embodied emissions of the goods and services consumed by DMU including business travel). The basic footprint approach remained the same across all primary sectors: Step 1: determine consumption in each sector ( spent, km travelled, or kwh used) Step 2: derive associated carbon intensities, (kgco 2 e/km travelled, kgco 2 e/kwh used or kgco 2 e/ spent). Step 3: multiply consumption by carbon intensity to calculate emissions in kgco 2 e for each sector and combine to determine the overall total carbon footprint. Procurement approach: Emissions result from the production and transportation of goods and services purchased by De Montfort University. In order to avoid double-counting, procurement emissions excluded the University s building energy and travel emissions. The basis of the procurement emissions calculations is to convert DMU expenditure on goods and services to equivalent emissions, using the 75 Defra Sector CO 2 e carbon intensities given in Defra s 2009 Guidelines to Defra / DECC s Greenhouse Gas Conversion Factors for Company Reporting. Procurement data was gathered from a number of different sources including the University s QLX financial management system, the University s Procurement Ecard spend and NYS travel spend (to calculate business travel). Spend information was then multiplied by relevant carbon intensity figures to provide a greenhouse gas emissions figure for procurement. Travel emissions: Travel emissions originate from the movement of people to and from De Montfort University, namely staff, students and visitors. The basis for the travel emissions calculations is to combine travel survey data with modal carbon intensity data (kgco 2 e/km travelled) to calculate total travel emissions. Data for this area was collected from Staff and student commuting: this represents the daily commute to/from the University from their term time accommodation, and comprises these elements: o Modal bottom-up travel consumption data (km travelled by each mode of travel) for staff and students from De Montfort University travel surveys. Also top-down travel data calculated based on HEFCE guidance for later comparison to top-down / bottom up approaches o Number of staff and students from University records o Travel modal carbon intensities (kgco 2 e/km travelled for each mode)

3 Students single year trips to DMU travel: these are the travel emissions associated with the travel from Full-time students homes to their university accommodation, and comprise: o Assumed travel patterns (km travelled by each mode of travel) in the absence of travel survey data o Annual numbers of international and UK students per country of origin o Travel modal carbon intensities (kgco 2 e/km travelled for each mode) Business travel emissions: this maps spend data on DMU business travel to emissions based on categories of travel (e.g. car, rail, air). Visitor travel emissions: this estimates emissions visitor journeys to and from University premises based on an agreed assumption that they equalled 10% of staff commuting emissions. Energy emissions: These emissions relate to the consumption of on-site fossil fuels (e.g. for heating) and grid electricity by De Montfort University. Emissions are calculated based on known energy consumption data from the annual University returns. DMU carbon footprint results The total DMU consumption-based GHG emissions for 2005/06 were estimated to be 48,206 tco 2 e (metric tonnes of CO 2 equivalent). Figure 1 illustrates that building energy and procurement contribute with 39% and 31% respectively to the overall emissions, while travel provides the remaining 30%. This highlights the importance of including the supply chain emissions from procurement within the University s carbon footprint. Figure 1: 2005/06 DMU GHG emissions by sector Figure 2: 2005/06 DMU GHG emissions by scope Figure 2 depicts the relevance of monitoring scope 3 emissions as it represents around 70% of DMU total emissions, where procurement emissions contribute around 44% of scope 3 emissions. A detailed breakdown of the results of the carbon footprint of DMU for 2005/06 is shown in Table 1. The table clearly shows those areas within the procurement sector which have the largest associated emissions. The largest contributor is construction and this reflects the increased spend on construction recently within DMU. The detailed breakdown of the emissions has provided a guide as to the carbon hotpots within procurement to develop interventions to reduce emissions. A time series analysis from 2005/06 to 2008/09 was also completed. Figure 3 illustrates the primary sectors emissions trends in the examined period.

4 Table /06 De Montfort University GHG emissions: sub-sector breakdown Sector Sub sector GHG (CO 2 e) emissions tco 2 e % of total Building Electricity DMU academic and residential buildings 8,592 18% energy use Electricity - private student halls of residence 3,440 7% Gas DMU academic and residential buildings 5,994 12% Gas - private student halls of residence 835 2% Building energy use: sub total 18,861 39% Travel Students daily commuting 8,234 17% International and UK students trips to/from DMU 2,179 5% Visitors 205 0% Staff commuting 2,049 4% Business 1,108 2% Travel: sub total 14,649 30% Procurement Construction 4,175 9% Business services 3,695 8% Other manufactured products 2,380 5% Information and communication technologies 1,848 4% Waste products and recycling 634 1% Paper products 350 1% Food and catering 270 1% Manufactured fuels, chemicals and glasses 276 1% Water and sanitation 399 1% Other procurement 666 1% Procurement: sub total 14,696 31% Total De Montfort University emissions 48, % Figure 3. DMU GHG total emissions 2005/ /09 Building energy: Electricity emissions are twice of those of gas emissions, whilst energy use in academic buildings comprises around 25% of the overall DMU carbon footprint.

5 Travel: The largest sub-sector is student commuting, which accounts for 50% of all travel emissions. Carbased travel constitutes the majority of emissions as this is the dominant mode of fossil fuel-based travel. Procurement: These emissions have increased by over 30% in the examined period, primarily due to the construction emissions that more than doubled as a result of significant investment in new buildings at DMU. This investment can now be seen with an attached carbon cost. Other procurement sub-sectors have decreased in emissions due to a lower expenditure in these sub-sectors. Procurement Interventions From the carbon footprint results, it was decided to concentrate all the effort of the interventions study on procurement. By focusing on this area, it was perceived that the greatest benefits could be achieved in terms of new knowledge and additional carbon actions. Furthermore, procurement spend areas were filtered out to ensure that the study focused on expenditure areas with high impact. The project identified interventions in the following areas:- Sustainable construction Sustainable procurement Food and catering Information and Communication Technologies Paper and printing The interventions were a mixture of quantitative and qualitative measures. The qualitative measures focused on existing DMU procurement processes and the opportunities to amend these processes to deliver more sustainable procurement and embed the principles of sustainable construction in new build and refurbishment projects. The quantitative measures focused on ICT including the use of thin client, server virtualisation and the replacement of printers with multi functional devices. In total these interventions opportunities identified financial savings of approx 362,000 and carbon savings of approx 860 tonnes CO 2 e. Summary implications of DMU study for other HE institutions This is the first university in England to have completed a full consumption-based footprint time-series analysis, and is also the first to include a high level interventions assessment of key procurement carbon hotspots. Whilst these results are important to DMU, the overall aim of the study was to investigate the applicability and benefits adopting a similar approach by other HE institutions. With this in mind the following conclusions and recommendations can be drawn: Analytical Robustness: The strength of the datasets for procurement and building energy indicate this type of analysis could be developed into a toolkit for other universities to use, which would have the benefit of consistency and comparability of results. Scope 3 emissions: The magnitude of these emissions validate the consumption-based approach taken in this analysis, and provides a more detailed analytical basis for the carbon management plan to include actions on the significant carbon hotspots across the full range of emissions sectors. Wider engagement: An important facet of this project was the coordination and cooperation between DMU departments. There are high levels of support and help form other departments for this initiative, as the objectives of the study support those of the individual departments. Engagement with HEFCE: This is an important pilot study in the area of university consumption-based footprinting, and so further discussions with HEFCE are encouraged to help feed back results to help HEFCE assess the benefits and the wider adoption by other HEIs of this consumption-based approach.