ACUPCC Reporting System

2007 GHG Report for University of Washington Seattle

Submitted on September 15, 2008; last updated on December 19, 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) 108,973 metric tons of CO2e 2.8 metric tons of CO2e 5.1 metric tons of CO2e 15%
Gross emissions (Scopes 1 + 2 + 3) 198,015 metric tons of CO2e 5.1 metric tons of CO2e 9.2 metric tons of CO2e 8.3%
Net emissions 181,615 metric tons of CO2e 4.7 metric tons of CO2e 8.4 metric tons of CO2e N/A

Emissions Inventory Methodology and Boundaries

Start date of the 12-month period covered in this report January 1, 2007
Consolidation methodology used to determine organizational boundaries No information provided.
If any institution-owned, leased, or operated buildings or other holdings that should fall within the organizational boundaries are omitted, briefly explain why.

Since the University or Washington is not a geographically-defined entity, and since the University has an interest in reducing GHG emissions generally, it chooses to account a corporate inventory.
The University of Washington follows an "Ownership Approach" that is designed to be similar to the equity share and financial control approaches described by the GHG Protocol. This inventory accounts for all GHG emissions originating from, or induced by (1) real estate to which the University of Washington holds the title or capital lease; (2) equipment housed in such real estate; and (3) mobile equipment owned by the University of Washington. Under this "Ownership Approach", all buildings are included except facilities leased from commercial owners, which are few. Emissions from the UW Bothell Campus and UW Tacoma Campus have been excluded from this report, as those institutions will report their emissions separately.
Emissions calculation tool used N/A
Please describe why this tool was selected.

See page 4 of full report for detailed description of methodolgy
Please describe the source(s) of the emissions coefficients used.

various, see full report for details, mostly "Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks:1990-2004, USEPA-2006"
Which version of IPCC's list of global warming potentials did you use? Second Assessment Report
Who primarily conducted this emissions inventory? Grad Student and External Consultant
Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.

Comprehensive collection, review, and analysis of University operational data.
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 information provided.
Please describe any data limitations related to this submission and any major assumptions made in response to these limitations.

The university manages dozens of research facilities, minor housing units, office annexes, some in foreign countries which pose significant data collection challenges while adding little to the inventory on a quantitative level. Most of these facilities are rented/leased, and following an ownership approach permits their omission and makes for a cost effective inventory with acceptable precision.

Emissions Data

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

Scope 1 Emissions
Stationary Combustion 89,234 metric tons of CO2e
Mobile Combustion 2,974 metric tons of CO2e
Process Emissions 11,392 metric tons of CO2e
Fugitive Emissions 136 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 1 emissions 103,736 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions
Purchased Electricity 5,237 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 5,237 metric tons of CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions
Commuting 54,628 metric tons of CO2e
Air Travel 20,885 metric tons of CO2e
Solid Waste No information provided.
Purchased Steam/Natural Gas for facilities operated but not owned 13,529 metric tons of CO2e
Total Scope 3 emissions 89,042 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 19,206,552 kWh
Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs 6%
Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs No information provided.
REC verification program(s) n/a
Description of RECs purchased (including vendor, project source, etc.)

We participate in a hybrid program offered and administered by our electricity provider (Seattle City Light). We pay a fee to the utility, they arrange to green-up our power portfolio to be carbon neutral and renewable.
Sequestration and Carbon Storage
Sequestration due to land owned by the institution 16,400 metric tons of CO2e
Description of how sequestration was calculated

Pack Forest is a research forest that has been surveyed since 1970 using the college's in-house carbon modelling software called "Landscape Management System"

Carbon storage due to composting No information provided.

Normalization and Contextual Data

Building Space
Gross square feet of building space 21,553,035 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) 38,921
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 No information provided.
Part-time Faculty No information provided.
Full-time Staff No information provided.
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.

Methodology and inventory was developed and conducted in 2007 for the years 2000 and 2005. Data for 2007 was obtained using the prior developed methodology.

Supporting Documentation

Completed inventory narrative 2005 INventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Ascribable to the University of Washington
Download (UW GHG inventory 2005 Final PDF.pdf)
Completed inventory calculator No information provided.

Auditing and Verification

These emissions data have been audited, verified, or peer-reviewed.
Please briefly describe this verification, if any.

Peer review audit was performed on methodolgy developed in 2006. Updated data for 2007 has been verified but not audited.