2007 GHG Report for Towson University
Submitted on September 15, 2008; last updated on January 15, 2009
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) | 60,484 metric tons of CO2e | 3.9 metric tons of CO2e | 14 metric tons of CO2e | 1% |
| Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) | 86,389 metric tons of CO2e | 5.6 metric tons of CO2e | 19.9 metric tons of CO2e | 0.7% |
| Net emissions | 85,769 metric tons of CO2e | 5.6 metric tons of CO2e | 19.8 metric tons of CO2e | N/A |
Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries
| Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report | July 1, 2006 |
| Consolidation methodology used to determine organizational boundaries | Operational control approach |
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If any institution-owned, leased, or operated buildings or other holdings that should fall within the organizational boundaries are omitted, briefly explain why.
All buildings under Towson University's ownership and operation were accounted for. |
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| Emissions calculation tool used | Clean Air-Cool Planet |
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Please describe why this tool was selected.
The Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) calculator was selected for a variety of reasons.It is endorsed by ACUPCC and due to its widespread use provides a standard measuring tool allowing universities to benchmark against one another. It is consistent with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. New versions and updates are constantly available for the CA-CP calculator and CA-CP representatives are readily available for any questions or comments. |
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Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.
The CA-CP calculator bases many of its emissions coefficients from US governmental and intergovernmental (IPCC) data. |
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| Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? | Third Assessment Report |
| Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? | External consultant |
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Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.
The emissions inventory data was managed and coordinated by an outside consultant with the assistance of faculty and staff on campus collecting data. Departments advantageous to the data collection process were determined based on the emissions sections of the CA-CP calculator. A timeframe of two months was allocated to inform the departments of what information was needed and for the departments to retrieve the data. The outside consultant performed the emissions calculations using the CA-CP tool and after quality control and benchmarking comparisons were made, the final GHG inventory report was issued. For a more in-depth description please visit the webpage below. |
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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 sources were excluded on the basis of a de minimis approach. |
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Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.
All buildings under Towson University's ownership and operation were accounted for. |
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Emissions Data
Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)
| Scope 1 Emissions | |
|---|---|
| Stationary Combustion | 13,115 metric tons of CO2e |
| Mobile Combustion | 754 metric tons of CO2e |
| Process Emissions | 24 metric tons of CO2e |
| Fugitive Emissions | 366 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 1 emissions | 14,259 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 2 Emissions | |
| Purchased Electricity | 46,225 metric tons of CO2e |
| Purchased Heating | 0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Purchased Cooling | 0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Purchased Steam | 0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 2 emissions | 46,225 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 3 Emissions | |
| Commuting | 20,054 metric tons of CO2e |
| Air Travel | 3,735 metric tons of CO2e |
| Solid Waste | 2,116 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 3 emissions | 25,905 metric tons of CO2e |
| Biogenic Emissions | |
| Biogenic Emissions from Stationary Combustion | No information provided. |
| Biogenic Emissions from Mobile Combustion | No information provided. |
Mitigation Data
| Carbon Offsets | |
|---|---|
| Carbon offsets purchased | No information provided. |
| Offset verification program(s) | No information provided. |
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Description of offsets purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
No information provided. |
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| Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) | |
| Total RECs purchased | No information provided. |
| Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs | No information provided. |
| Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs | No information provided. |
| REC verification program(s) | No information provided. |
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Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)
No information provided. |
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| Sequestration and Carbon Storage | |
| Sequestration due to land owned by the institution | 620 metric tons of CO2e |
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Description of how sequestration was calculated
The average carbon density of US forestland of 40.9 metric tons of eCO2 per acre was used to estimate the amount of eCO2 sequestered by the 15.163 acres of forest in easement (www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/refs.html - acres of forest preserved from deforestation). |
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| Carbon storage due to composting | No information provided. |
Normalization and Contextual Data
| Building Space | |
|---|---|
| Gross square feet of building space | 4,332,123 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of laboratory space | 43,291 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of health care space | 182,273 sq ft |
| Net assignable square feet of residential space | 1,355,401 sq ft |
| Population | |
| Total Student Enrollment (FTE) | 15,347 |
| Residential Students | No information provided. |
| Full-time Commuter Students | 17,422 |
| Part-time Commuter Students | No information provided. |
| Non-Credit Students | No information provided. |
| Full-time Faculty | 1,375 |
| Part-time Faculty | No information provided. |
| Full-time Staff | 1,659 |
| Part-time Staff | No information provided. |
| Other Contextual Data | |
| Endowment Size | No information provided. |
| Heating Degree Days | No information provided. |
| Cooling Degree Days | No information provided. |
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Please describe any circumstances specific to your institution that provide context for understanding your greenhouse gas emissions this year.
Included in the campus fleet data is the use of college, personal, and rented vehicles for business, athletics, and recruitment travel associated with Towson University. |
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Supporting Documentation
| Completed inventory narrative |
GHG Inventory Report Download (Final Towson GHG Report.pdf) |
| Completed inventory calculator | Download (CoolAir_Calculator_Final.xls) |
Auditing and Verification
These emissions data have been audited, verified, or peer-reviewed.|
Please briefly describe this verification, if any.
The outside consultant performed the emissions calculations using the CA-CP tool and performed a quality control check along with benchmarking comparisons of net emissions of other like institutions. |