ACUPCC Reporting System

2008 GHG Report for University of Pennsylvania

Submitted on September 15, 2008; last updated on November 26, 2008

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) 309,117 metric tons of CO2e 15.6 metric tons of CO2e 25.9 metric tons of CO2e 34.1%
Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) 355,829 metric tons of CO2e 18 metric tons of CO2e 29.9 metric tons of CO2e 29.6%
Net emissions 250,555 metric tons of CO2e 12.6 metric tons of CO2e 21 metric tons of CO2e N/A

Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries

Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report July 1, 2007
Consolidation methodology used to determine organizational boundaries Operational control approach
If any institution-owned, leased, or operated buildings or other holdings that should fall within the organizational boundaries are omitted, briefly explain why.

Our operational definition includes all buildings and facilities located in West Philadelphia that serve direct academic and residential functions for the faculty, staff, and student body, and that are owned and operated by the University of Pennsylvania.
The following facilities were excluded from the study:
- The New Bolton Center, the Morris Arboretum, the Boat House, and the Penn Club in Manhattan do not purchase electricity or other utilities on the central university accounts.
- The University of Pennsylvania Health System operates four remote hospitals, and has an entirely different facilities management team and structure.
- The main campus does not include commercial or franchised retail ventures.
- Penn owned buildings operated by outside entities such as the Wistar Institute and the Steinberg Dietrich Conference Center.
Emissions calculation tool used Custom tool
Please describe why this tool was selected.

The UPenn calculator was developed using the conventions and assumptions set out by the World Resources Institute. This calculator incorporates information utilized in the previous year's calculator which was based on the Clean Air Cool Planet model.
Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.

steam : UPenn specific, calculated from usage data
natural gas: The Climate Registry Draft Reporting Protocol
oil: The Climate Registry Draft Reporting Protocol
motor diesel: The Climate Registry Draft Reporting Protocol
motor gasoline: The Climate Registry Draft Reporting Protocol
air travel: Clean Air Cool Planet Calculator
Renewable (wind, solar): Clean Air Cool Planet Calculator
Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? Third Assessment Report
Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? Non-profit research center within Penn's School of Design consisting of architecture faculty and gra
Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.

Gather utility data, verify travel and operation information, and use conversion factors as described above.
Please describe any emissions sources that were classified as de minimis and explain how a determination of the significance of these emissions was made.

Refrigerants: Unless the University uses over a certain amount of these chemicals, they are not required to report or log their use. There has not been an excess of their use, and thus they were not logged.
Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.

None

Emissions Data

Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)

Scope 1 Emissions
Stationary Combustion 712 metric tons of CO2e
Mobile Combustion 265 metric tons of CO2e
Process Emissions 0 metric tons of CO2e
Fugitive Emissions 0 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 1 emissions 977 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions
Purchased Electricity 238,129 metric tons of CO2e
Purchased Heating 0 metric tons of CO2e
Purchased Cooling 0 metric tons of CO2e
Purchased Steam 70,011 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 2 emissions 308,140 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions
Commuting 12,389 metric tons of CO2e
Air Travel 29,324 metric tons of CO2e
Solid Waste 4,999 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 3 emissions 46,712 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.
Description of offsets purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

No information provided.
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)
Total RECs purchased 192,727,000 kWh
Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs 45%
Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs 105,274 metric tons of CO2e
REC verification program(s) No information provided.
Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

No information provided.
Sequestration and Carbon Storage
Sequestration due to land owned by the institution No information provided.
Description of how sequestration was calculated

No information provided.

Carbon storage due to composting No information provided.

Normalization and Contextual Data

Building Space
Gross square feet of building space 11,912,086 sq ft
Net assignable square feet of laboratory space No information provided.
Net assignable square feet of health care space No information provided.
Net assignable square feet of residential space No information provided.
Population
Total Student Enrollment (FTE) 19,816
Residential Students No information provided.
Full-time Commuter Students No information provided.
Part-time Commuter Students No information provided.
Non-Credit Students No information provided.
Full-time Faculty 4,647
Part-time Faculty No information provided.
Full-time Staff 16,023
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.
Please describe any circumstances specific to your institution that provide context for understanding your greenhouse gas emissions this year.

No information provided.

Supporting Documentation

Completed inventory narrative No information provided.
Completed inventory calculator No information provided.

Auditing and Verification

These emissions data have not been audited, verified, or peer-reviewed.