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 | |
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| 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% |
| 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 |
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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.
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.
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| Emissions calculation tool used | Other |
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Please describe why this tool was selected.
See page 4 of full report for detailed description of methodolgy |
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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" |
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| 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 |
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Please describe the process of conducting the inventory.
Comprehensive collection, review, and analysis of University operational data. |
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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 information provided |
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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. |
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Emissions Data
Emissions from the following sources (in metric tons of CO2e)
| Scope 1 Emissions | |
|---|---|
| Stationary Combustion | 89,234.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Mobile Combustion | 2,974.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Process Emissions | 11,392.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Fugitive Emissions | 136.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 1 emissions | 103,736.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 2 Emissions | |
| Purchased Electricity | 5,237.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Purchased Heating | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Purchased Cooling | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Purchased Steam | 0.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Total Scope 2 emissions | 5,237.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Scope 3 Emissions | |
| Commuting | 54,628.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Air Travel | 20,885.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| Solid Waste | No information provided |
| Purchased Steam/Natural Gas for facilities operated but not owned | 13,529.0 metric tons of CO2e |
| No information provided | |
| No information provided | |
| Total Scope 3 emissions | 89,042.0 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 | 19206552 kWh |
| Percent of total electricity consumption mitigated through the purchase of RECs | 6.0 % |
| Emissions reductions due to the purchase of RECs | No information provided |
| REC verification program(s) | Other |
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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. |
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| Sequestration and Carbon Storage | |
| Sequestration due to land owned by the institution | 16,400.0 metric tons of CO2e |
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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" |
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| Carbon storage due to composting | No information provided |
Normalization and Contextual Data
| Building Space | |
|---|---|
| Gross square feet of building space | 21,553,035.0 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) | 38921.0 |
| 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 |
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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. |
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Supporting Documentation
| Completed inventory narrative |
2005 INventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Ascribable to the University of Washington Download |
| 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. |