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 planet 1. 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 1 According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, see the IPCC website for more information: http://www.ipcc.ch
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 change 2. 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 2007-2008 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 2011-2012 fiscal year (July 1 st, 2011-June 30 th, 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 90.5 4,245.1 7,244.7 1,505.1 14.3 716.5 13,816.2 2009 87.9 4,530.0 6,811.1 1,099.0 14.6 673.6 13,216.2 2010 76.2 4,611.9 7,593.1 1,052.0 11.9 751.0 14,096.1 2011 76.9 4,541.6 6,987.4 1,161.3 12.8 691.1 13,471.0 2012 73.6 3,898.5 7,549.0 763.8 12.8 746.6 13,044.4 Total Emissions (Metric Tonnes eco 2 ) 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Year Scope 2 T&D Losses Study Abroad Air Travel Purchased Electricity Direct Transportation On-Campus Stationary Figure 2. Total emissions in metric tons of CO2 equivalents by source, 2008-2012 Scopes 3 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 Air- Cool 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 Total Emissions (Metric Tonnes eco 2 ) 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 Scope 2 T&D Losses Study Abroad Air Travel Purchased Electricity Direct Transportation On-Campus Stationary 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 Commitment 4, the average yearly gross carbon emissions per 1000 ft 2 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 ft 2 of campus buildings 5 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. 5 In 2012, Earlham s buildings made us 941772 ft 2 and our carbon emissions were 13044.4 metric tons eco2