Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Climate Action Planning A Strategic Approach for Achieving Climate Neutrality March 4, 2009 GHG Towson University

2 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Getting Started – Baseline GHG Gas Inventory

3 What is a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory? A collection and quantification of gases emitted from an institution that are expected to contribute to global warming Greenhouse Gas Inventory: An Important Tool 1.Identify opportunities for emission reduction & energy savings 2.Data to Make More Informed Decisions 3.Manage Risk (regulatory, reputation, etc) 4.Respond to reporting requirements 5.Position Institution to participate in emerging carbon markets 6.Establish a baseline for carbon neutrality planning 7.Receive recognition for participation 8.Plan for upcoming mandatory GHG regulations Benefits of a GHG Inventory for an Institution

4 What gases should be tracked? GHG Tracking 1.Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) 2. Methane (CH4) 3.Nitrous Oxide (N 2 O) 4.Certain Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)

5 Three (3) scopes have been defined for GHG accounting and reporting purposes to help delineate direct & indirect emission sources, improve transparency, facilitate fair comparisons, & provide utility for different climate policies and goals What are the different Scopes? GHG Classifications – Concept of Scopes

6 Sources of GHG Emissions –Synthetic Fertilizer –Organic Fertilizer –Forestry Purchased Electricity Stationary Sources Transportation Refrig. & Chemicals Agriculture Solid Waste –Central Boiler Plant Generation –Building Heating and Domestic Hot Water –Coal, Nuclear, Natural Gas, Oil, and Renewable Energy –Student, Faculty and Staff Commuter Trips –University Fleet Vehicles –Athletics, Recruitment, Faculty & Staff Travel –Central Cooling Systems –Rooftop & Window A/C Units –Waste Sent to Landfill

7 GHG Inventory Program Overview Data Calculation Process for each Category: Data Source Identification Formal Communication Data Delivery Quality Assurance & Benchmarking Quality Assurance & Benchmarking Greenhouse Gas Calculation Greenhouse Gas Calculation - Assumption Review - Anomaly Review - Conversion Factors - Calculations - CACP - Building Inventory - Student Population - Student Demographics - Department Leaders - Process Overview - Presidential Letter - Accountability - Education Sessions - Community Involvement - Data Collection - Data Input - Source Documentation - Consumption/GSF - Benchmarking - Quality Assurance - Presentation AASHE Report

8 Community Involvement Data Collection Facilities –Grounds –Operations –Health and Safety –Agriculture –Fleet Admissions Accounts Payable Student Government Graduate Students / Interns Travel –Educational –Business –Athletics –Clubs –Other Purchasing Human Resources Parking Authority

9 Challenges Associated with Data Collection Data may be Managed by Various Departments –Potential errors include: Double-counted data Missed data Poorly tracked and labeled data Misunderstood inventory objectives –Strategies for Eliminating Errors Include: Identify department managers of relevant data Identify objectives and collection methodology Be clear and specific when requesting: –Emission sources associated with data –Beginning and ending date range associated with data –Units the data should be presented in Allow time to conduct Quality Assurance Review

10 Electricity –Power plant electric make up – Contact electricity provider Travel –Diesel bus estimate mpg –Personal/fleet vehicle travel mpg Agriculture –Weighted average calculation when using multiple types of fertilizers Waste –Waste disposal – Contact waste disposal provider Landfilled Incinerated Methane Recovery/flaring Offsets –Average carbon density of US forestland –Average carbon density of Wetlands Commuter Travel – Students/Faculty/Staff –Personal Vehicle Travel Students with campus parking passes and associated zip codes –Public Transportation Contact public transportation for estimates Assumptions

11 Towson’s Carbon Footprint Main University Contributors: –70% Energy – Purchased Electricity and Stationary Sources –28% Transportation University emitted 86,390 metric tons of eCO 2 in 2007 –5.6 metric tons of eCO 2 per student –0.02 metric tons of eCO 2 per gross square foot

12 Comparing Institutions Baseline – Total eCO2 School NameRegion# of Students (FTE) 2007 Gross eCO 2 Emissions/Student (FTE) Towson University Mid-Atlantic15,34786, University of Maryland- Baltimore County Mid-Atlantic10,29589, George Mason University Mid-Atlantic22,710103,0664.5

13 Annual Reporting - AASHE Departmen t Data Collection Sheets Admissions AccountsPayable Facilities HumanResources CA-CPCalculator AASHE Online Reporting Tool AASHE Online Reporting Tool - Customized data collection forms -CA-CP data entry, benchmarking, and quality control -AASHE Reporting Greenhouse Gas Inventory

14 Climate Action Planning Taking Steps – Developing the Plan

15 Climate Action Planning – Key Elements GHG Inventory - Baseline Deferred & Modernization Needs Energy Surveys / Assessments Campus Master Plans Priorities Inspections Asset Data OPTIMA Operations Planning Technical Inventory Management of Assets Deferred Needs Asset Inventory Cycle Maintenance

16 Climate Action Planning How Carbon Neutrality is Best Achieved: The Carbon Management Hierarchy Offset Replace Reduce Avoid Avoid Carbon Intensive Activities Improve efficiency of Processes & equipment Replace high carbon energy sources with low carbon source Offset those emissions that cannot Be eliminated by above actions Actions at the top of the hierarchy are more transformative and lasting in terms of reducing an Institutions emissions baseline

17 Climate Action Planning – Process Overview Campus Assessment Planning Campus Assessment Planning Forecasting Mitigation Strategies Climate Action Plan Action Planner Data Base - Category - Approach - Creative Finance - Financial Impact - Difficulty Rating - Prioritization - Campus Master Plan - Deferred Needs Plan - System Modernization - Environmental Studies - Energy Assessments - Campus Plan - GHG Inventory - CA-CP Calculator - Trajectory - Energy - Commuter Travel - Fleet Travel - Waste - Off Sets - Milestones - Target Date - Educational Offerings - Management Data Base - Reporting - Implementation

18 GHG Emissions Trajectory – Business as UsualCommunityInvolvement Green Building: New/Renovation Investment Conservation/Optimization ENERGY TRANSPORTATION

19 Mitigation Strategies – Electricity

20 Mitigation Strategies – Stationary Sources

21 Mitigation Strategies - Transportation

22 Mitigation Strategies - Refrigerants, Solid Waste and Agriculture

23 Planning and Managing Climate Action Plan Calculate, Project and Invest Itemize, Categorize and Prioritize Establish Milestones, Implement and Report

24 Climate Action Planning and Management InputsOutputs CENTRALIZED REPORTING MODULE Greenhouse Gas Inventory * Educational * Research * Community Service Mitigation Strategies Campus Emission & Potential Reductions Financial Impact or ROI Synergistic Measures Prioritization Projects Targets & Milestones

25 Climate Action Planning Comments & Questions