Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Climate Action Planning

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Towson University

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

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Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Getting Started Baseline GHG Gas Inventory
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Greenhouse Gas Inventory An Important Tool
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
Benefits of a GHG Inventory for an Institution

• Identify opportunities for emission reduction
  energy savings
• Data to Make More Informed Decisions
• Manage Risk (regulatory, reputation, etc)
• Respond to reporting requirements
• Position Institution to participate in emerging
  carbon markets
• Establish a baseline for carbon neutrality
  planning
• Receive recognition for participation
• Plan for upcoming mandatory GHG regulations

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GHG Tracking
What gases should be tracked?

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• 2. Methane (CH4)
• 3. Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
• 4. Certain Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)

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GHG Classifications Concept of Scopes
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?
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Sources of GHG Emissions
Purchased Electricity

• Coal, Nuclear, Natural Gas, Oil, and Renewable
  Energy

Stationary Sources

• Central Boiler Plant Generation
• Building Heating and Domestic Hot Water

• Student, Faculty and Staff Commuter Trips
• University Fleet Vehicles
• Athletics, Recruitment, Faculty Staff Travel

Transportation

• Central Cooling Systems
• Rooftop Window A/C Units

Refrig. Chemicals

• Waste Sent to Landfill

Solid Waste

• Synthetic Fertilizer
• Organic Fertilizer
• Forestry

Agriculture
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GHG Inventory Program Overview
Data Calculation Process for each Category
Data Source Identification
Formal Communication

• Building Inventory
• Student Population
• Student Demographics
• Department Leaders

Data Delivery

• Process Overview
• Presidential Letter
• Accountability
• Education Sessions

Greenhouse Gas Calculation
Quality Assurance Benchmarking

• Community Involvement
• Data Collection
• Data Input
• Source Documentation

• - Assumption Review
• - Anomaly Review
• Conversion Factors
• Calculations - CACP

• Consumption/GSF
• Benchmarking
• Quality Assurance
• Presentation

AASHE Report
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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

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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

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Assumptions

• 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

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Towsons Carbon Footprint

• University emitted 86,390 metric tons of eCO2 in
  2007
• 5.6 metric tons of eCO2 per student
• 0.02 metric tons of eCO2 per gross square foot

• Main University Contributors
• 70 Energy Purchased Electricity and
  Stationary Sources
• 28 Transportation

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Comparing Institutions Baseline Total eCO2
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Annual Reporting - AASHE
Department Data Collection Sheets
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Climate Action Planning
Taking Steps Developing the Plan
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Climate Action Planning Key Elements
GHG Inventory - Baseline
Deferred Modernization Needs
Energy Surveys / Assessments
Campus Master Plans
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Climate Action Planning
How Carbon Neutrality is Best Achieved The
Carbon Management Hierarchy
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Climate Action Planning Process Overview
Campus Assessment Planning
Forecasting

• Campus Master Plan
• Deferred Needs Plan
• System Modernization
• Environmental Studies
• Energy Assessments

Mitigation Strategies

• Campus Plan
• GHG Inventory
• CA-CP Calculator
• Trajectory

Action Planner Data Base

• Energy
• Commuter Travel
• Fleet Travel
• Waste
• Off Sets

Climate Action Plan

• Category
• Approach
• Creative Finance
• Financial Impact
• Difficulty Rating
• Prioritization

• - Milestones
• Target Date
• Educational Offerings
• Management Data Base
• Reporting

• Implementation

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GHG Emissions Trajectory Business as Usual
ENERGY
ENERGY
TRANSPORTATION
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Mitigation Strategies Electricity
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Mitigation Strategies Stationary Sources
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Mitigation Strategies - Transportation
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Mitigation Strategies -Refrigerants, Solid Waste
and Agriculture
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Planning and Managing Climate Action Plan
Itemize, Categorize and Prioritize
Calculate, Project and Invest
Establish Milestones, Implement and Report
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Climate Action Planning and Management
Inputs
Outputs
Campus Emission Potential Reductions
Mitigation Strategies
Financial Impact or ROI
Synergistic Measures
Prioritization Projects
Targets Milestones
CENTRALIZED REPORTING MODULE
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Climate Action Planning
Comments Questions