Download Earlham College Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory February

Earlham College
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
February, 2013
Spring 2010 Version by Sarah Waddle and Katie-Rose
Taulbee
Updated for Spring 2013 by Yoni Glogower
Project History
Greenhouse gas emissions reports are a quickly growing tool in
today’s campus sustainability efforts. Colleges and universities across the
nation are using greenhouse gas inventory data to create goals for
reducing emissions and are making a real impact with climate change
solutions.
This report is an updated version of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Inventory completed by former students Sarah Waddle (’12) and Katie-Rose
Taulbee (’12) in the spring semester of 2010. The data used was collected
using the Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator, a program
used on campuses across the country for the purpose of quantifying carbon
emissions. Clean Air-Cool Planet, a non-profit organization dedicated to
finding and promoting solutions to global warming, created the calculator.
We gathered emissions data for the college by communicating with various
members of the faculty, staff, and administration with access to the
information we needed. As Earlham’s emissions are linked to many different
aspects of campus, it was necessary to collect data from a variety of
sources, including facilities, finances, institutional research, security,
maintenance, environmental studies, and mathematics. We also
researched sustainability efforts at other colleges across the nation to get a
better sense of how to organize and present the collected information.
In presenting this baseline of greenhouse gas emissions at Earlham, we
hope to engage the community in dialogue about how we can do our part
to respond to climate change at Earlham.
Why Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting?
There is strong consensus among the international scientific
community that human-caused climate change is a real and pressing crisis
facing the planet1. Since the industrial revolution, emissions of greenhouse
gases from industrialized nations have been increasing dramatically.
Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4)
contribute to the greenhouse effect, a global climate phenomenon wherein
certain gases trap infrared radiation from the sun within the earth’s
atmosphere. This causes widespread changes in global climate, including
an increase in average global temperature, as well as increased numbers
and intensity of severe storms.
In order to reduce the effects of global climate change, it is necessary
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a worldwide scale. In order for this
to take place, individuals and communities must take initiative and
responsibility for reduction of greenhouse emissions on a local level. By being
vocal and proactive about these initiatives, communities around the world
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, see the
IPCC website for more information: http://www.ipcc.ch
1
can send a clear message to governments and corporations that climate
change mitigation is a high priority.
Greenhouse gas emissions reporting can be a tool for community
empowerment towards reducing the impacts of climate change. The data
collected provides a baseline of information that can be a starting point
towards taking measures to reduce emissions.
Why Report Emissions at Earlham?
As an institution of higher education in the United States, Earlham has
a unique role to play in climate change education. Located in a country
that has only 5% of the world’s population but uses 21% of the world’s
energy, we are the biggest offenders when it comes to climate change2.
There are currently no federal laws in the U.S. limiting greenhouse gas
emissions. The responsibility to respond to climate change in a positive and
adequate way is falling on communities like colleges and universities.
Institutions of education are interwoven with our society such that what is
taught through our education system is both product and creator of our
cultural mindset. When colleges and universities make commitments to
sustainability, so do their students, and when those students graduate that
culture of sustainability is carried with them wherever they go in the world.
Climate change is the defining environmental crisis of our time. As a
Quaker institution that values social justice and respect for all persons, it is
incumbent upon us to take an active role in engaging with climate change
solutions for the good of our world. Reporting greenhouse gas emissions at
Earlham enables the college community to analyze quantitatively our
collective impact on climate change. Through this analysis, the community
can envision and carry out a positive response to climate change. The
inventory provides a way to shape that response, as well as quantify the
results over time.
Data and Explanations
Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator
This is the emissions calculation tool used to record and interpret
Earlham’s emissions. It is made up of a series of connected Microsoft Excel
spreadsheets that use energy data from various sources to calculate
emissions and project future emissions based on historical trends. The
calculator also has the capability to project changes in emissions based on
future reduction projects.
All the presented here data was collected for the fiscal years 20072008 through 2011-2012. For clarification purposes, the Clean Air-Cool Planet
2
http://www.tonto.eia.doe.gov/eneryexplained/index.cfm?page=us_energy_home#tab3
Campus Carbon Calculator classifies each fiscal year by the end date year,
so when it displays data from 2012, for example, it is referring to the 20112012 fiscal year (July 1st, 2011-June 30th, 2012).
Current Emissions
6%
6% 0%
30%
Natural Gas
Purchased Electrcity
Study Abroad Travel
Scope 2 T & D Losses
Other Sources
58%
Figure 1. Emissions breakdown by category, 2011-2012
Categories
Natural Gas: Data for this section came from records of natural gas
purchased and combusted on campus to heat the campus buildings and
college owned houses.
Purchased Electricity: College purchased electricity comes directly from the
electricity grid and is purchased through Richmond Power and Light. The
electric grid in our region is fueled mainly from coal combustion. Electricity
purchases were recorded for all campus buildings and houses.
Study Abroad Travel: This travel was calculated using records for the number
of students on each study abroad semester, year, or May Term, and
extrapolated using an online air mileage calculator to find the distance
between the Indianapolis airport and the main destination of each
program.
Other sources: This category includes transportation and wastewater.
Transportation: The directly recorded gas usage for all college owned
vehicles.
Waste Water: After water is used at Earlham, it travels to a central
treatment plant where it is treated using aerobic digestion.
Trends over Time
Table 1. Emissions in Metric Tons of CO2 Equivalents Broken Down by Source
and Scope for Earlham College 2008-201
Scope 1
Scope 2
Scope 3
Year
Direct
Transportation
Natural
Gas
Purchased
Electricity
Study
Abroad
Travel
Waste
water
Scope 2
T&D
Losses
Total
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
90.5
87.9
76.2
76.9
73.6
4,245.1
4,530.0
4,611.9
4,541.6
3,898.5
7,244.7
6,811.1
7,593.1
6,987.4
7,549.0
1,505.1
1,099.0
1,052.0
1,161.3
763.8
14.3
14.6
11.9
12.8
12.8
716.5
673.6
751.0
691.1
746.6
13,816.2
13,216.2
14,096.1
13,471.0
13,044.4
16,000
Scope 2 T&D
Losses
Total Emissions (Metric Tonnes eCO2)
14,000
12,000
Study Abroad Air
Travel
10,000
Purchased
Electricity
8,000
6,000
Direct
Transportation
4,000
On-Campus
Stationary
2,000
0
2008
2009
2010
Year
2011
2012
Figure 2. Total emissions in metric tons of CO2 equivalents by source, 20082012
Scopes3
The Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator was developed using
the GHG (greenhouse gas) Protocol standards, which outline three basic
scopes for emissions reporting:
3
Clean Air-Cool Planet v6 User’s Guide
Scope One is made up of emissions from sources that are owned or
operated by the college directly. For this inventory we collected energy use
data for direct campus transportation (use of the college fleet vehicles) and
natural gas (on-campus stationary combustion) in scope one.
Scope Two is made up of emissions from sources not owned or operated
directly by the college, but that can be directly linked its energy
consumption, such as purchased electricity, steam, or chilled water. In this
inventory we collected data on purchased electricity.
Scope Three is made up of emissions that exist as a result of the college, but
are not directly “owned” by the college. Examples of scope three sources
include emissions associated with commuting, college associated travel,
solid waste disposal, wastewater, and paper usage. This inventory collected
data energy data on study abroad travel and wastewater. The Clean AirCool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator also automatically calculates
estimated emissions associated with the transmission and distribution of
purchased energy (T & D losses), which fall under the category of scope
three emissions.
Unfortunately, we do not currently have reliable historical data for either
solid waste disposal or paper usage, but based on a previous version of this
inventory, we estimate that they together do not make up more than 1% of
total emissions.
Emissions offsets are also recorded in scope three. Earlham’s only current
offsets are composting and the newly planted (2012) tree plantation behind
the football field. Data collection on college composting is still in progress at
the time of this report, and it is too soon to be recording data on carbon
sequestration for the tree plantation.
Time Frame
The first purpose of the greenhouse gas emission inventory is to show a
clear picture of our current emissions and their respective sources. The
second is to provide a sense of the trend Earlham’s emissions have been
following in recent years. This second goal has been a challenge because
greenhouse gas emissions reporting is a relatively new field, and thus many
historical records needed to calculate emissions have not been kept at
Earlham. The lack of data in certain areas means that we can only reliably
project emissions going back to 2007.
The projection of future emissions (figure 3) was created using the
Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator’s projections module. It
estimates adjusted emissions rates assuming the upcoming increase in
student population and the construction of additional buildings over the
coming years. Though incomplete in terms of all the factors that may
contribute to fluctuations in emissions, it is nonetheless a faithful
representation of the increase in emissions that is sure to result from these
institutional alterations. This projection assumes usage rates of energy,
transportation, and water continue as usual and increase as more students
and buildings populate the campus. Other futures, with reduced emissions,
are possible should the college pursue greenhouse gas emissions reduction
projects as detailed in the Cilmate Action Plan.
Projected Future Emissions
18,000
Scope 2 T&D Losses
Total Emissions (Metric Tonnes eCO2)
16,000
14,000
Study Abroad Air
Travel
12,000
10,000
Purchased Electricity
8,000
Direct Transportation
6,000
4,000
On-Campus
Stationary
2,000
0
2008
2011
2014
2017
2020
2023
Year
Figure 3. Projected future emissions in metric tons of CO2 equivalents by source,
2008-2025, assuming business as usual
How do we compare?
665 colleges and universities publicly report their greenhouse gas emissions
as members of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate
Commitment. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories for these colleges and
universities can be found at: http://rs.acupcc.org.
Among the 151 baccalaureate colleges reporting to The Presidents Climate
Commitment4, the average yearly gross carbon emissions per 1000 ft2 of
4
http://rs.acupcc.org/stats/ghg-scope-stats/
campus buildings is 14.03 metric tons eCO2. Earlham’s gross carbon
emissions per 1000 ft2 of campus buildings5 was 13.85 metric tons eCO2 in
2012, which places us slightly below, but very near the average for colleges
of our type.
Conclusion
Creating this inventory allows us to see the impact we as a college
community are making in the climate crisis. It is crucial from competitive,
moral, and economic perspectives that Earlham’s environmental impact to
be a positive one, and completing this assessment on a regular basis will
help us to gauge our progress in this regard. Earlham is already taking
important steps in this direction with conservation and action initiatives
currently being undertaken by the Center for Environmental Action and the
Sustainability Advisory Committee. Tangible, measurable goals need to be
put in place to reduce our energy use and overall carbon emissions. This
report, along with research done by students on a variety of carbon
reduction strategies will inform the college’s Climate Action Plan and inspire
reductions in our carbon footprint in the coming years.
In 2012, Earlham’s buildings made us 941772 ft2 and our carbon emissions were 13044.4
metric tons eCO2
5