The goal of our study was to compile a comprehensive inventory of the greenhouse gasses (GHG) emitted by Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) in 2007. We used the most recent data available for our 2007 figures, focusing on the fiscal year from June 2006 through May 2007 whenever possible. The inventory details all direct sources of the Colleges’ emissions where data were available as well as some indirect sources. This will help the Colleges to focus their emissions-reducing policies by highlighting the primary contributing sources. The completion of future inventories will allow the Colleges to evaluate the efficiency of any emissions reduction projects by analyzing previous years' emissions levels.
The total amount of greenhouse gasses emitted in 2007 was 15,794 MTCDE. This represents an increase in emissions of 60% from the fiscal year 2004/5 and an increase of 120% from 2005/6. The 2005/6 data, however, only covered emissions from June 2005 through March 2006. The 2007 emissions show such a great increase because of the new format used for completing the inventory, which was more comprehensive than the methods used to calculate previous years’ GHG emissions. New sources of emissions found in this inventory include athletic team vehicle and air travel, student air travel to study abroad programs, student commuting, agriculture, and solid waste disposal. The inventory also utilized campus wide surveys to obtain expanded data on faculty and staff commuting, campus sponsored vehicle travel, and campus sponsored air travel. These surveys can be seen in figures 6.b.1 and 6.c.1 of the methods section.
The primary sources of GHG emissions are, in order, natural gas used for heating, purchased electricity, faculty/staff/business commuting, student commuting, and faculty/staff/business campus sponsored air travel. The amount of GHGs emitted by each source can be found in Table 2 of the inventory. These sources not only satisfy the reporting requirements of the Presidents Climate Commitment for direct GHG emissions, explained in more detail in the following introduction, but they also provide a good representation of the indirect emissions that HWS are responsible for. Although it is nearly impossible to discover all emissions that are indirectly linked to the Colleges’ actions, ie: gasses emitted in the manufacturing process of the printer paper that the Colleges buy, we hope that each future inventory will research new data and give us an as accurate portrayal of Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ emissions as possible. Some suggestions can be found in the discussion section on page 23 of the inventory.
In September 2007, President Mark D. Gearan of Hobart and William Smith Colleges signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). The commitment is a progressive step toward reducing GHG emissions and attaining climate neutrality. One of the document’s mandatory criteria is the completion of a comprehensive inventory of all the greenhouse gas emissions for the HWS campus. The inventory will help the Colleges to identify the primary sources of emissions and to develop an action plan for achieving climate neutrality as soon as possible.
In order to complete the inventory, we utilized a calculating tool from Clean Air Cool Planet (CA-CP), a science-based non-profit organization that works to find solutions to global warming. The methods provided by the CA-CP Campus Carbon Calculator v5.0 are consistent with the standards of the Green House Gas Protocol of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBSCSD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI).
The calculator uses three “scopes” to organize direct and indirect emissions of the Colleges:
Our goal was to complete a comprehensive inventory for the fiscal year starting in June 2006 and continuing through May 2007. Emissions data from the previous three years were taken from a study by Clancy Brown, William Smith Class of 2009. Hopefully, this project will also serve as a template for the completion of future GHG emissions inventories at HWS. More information on the ACUPCC can be found on their Web site.
Data Collection
The CA-CP Campus Carbon Calculator was very helpful in discovering the sources of GHG emissions on the HWS campus. It breaks down scopes 1, 2, and 3 into the following source categories: purchased electricity, purchased steam and chilled water, on campus stationary production of heat and electricity, transportation, agriculture, solid waste disposal, and the release of refrigerants and other chemicals. For all sources except transportation, the data were retrieved by contacting the directors of the HWS Facilities and Buildings and Grounds departments and by accessing Utility Manager Online, which holds records of all utility use.
Transportation data were accumulated for the air and ground travel that the colleges are responsible for. In addition to the university fleet emissions that are required by the ACUPCC, we compiled additional scope 3 emissions data for athletic team travel (air and ground), student and faculty/staff commuting, campus sponsored vehicle travel, campus sponsored faculty/staff air travel, and student air travel to study abroad programs. These sources were placed into three categories by the CA-CP calculator: university fleet, air travel and commuting.
The flight schedules for travel to all 2007 study abroad programs were obtained from the Center for Global Education. The athletic team competition schedules were provided by the Hobart and William Smith College athletic directors. Additional athletic team travel information, including flight plans and vehicle use, were obtained by contacting the teams’ head coaches. Two surveys were made up to obtain the information for student and faculty/staff transportation and were edited after being given to a class as a trial run. The two anonymous online surveys, provided in figures 6.b.1 and 6.c.1 of the methods section, were sent out to all faculty, staff and students on November 7, 2007 and left open to responses for 10 days. The surveys were created with the help of HWS IT (information technology) services and are stored in the Surveyor program under the “environmental studies” subject heading.
Table 1
Global warming potentials (100 years).
GHG |
CO2 Equivalent |
|---|---|
CO2 |
1 |
CH4 |
23 |
N2O |
296 |
HFCs |
up to 12,000 |
Figure 1
Purchased Electricity (Scope 2)
Figure 2
Purchased Steam and Chilled Water (Scope 2)
Figure 3
On Campus Stationary (Scope 1)
Figure 4
University Fleet (Scope 1)
Figure 4.a) Fuel use by HWS Facilities was provided by Scott Woodworth. The 2007 data were the average fuel use of the previous 3 years (2003/4, 2004/5, 2005/6)
Figure 4.b) Fuel use by Security and Campus Safety was provided by Cal Brown. The 2007 data were the sum of the monthly fuel usages from June 2006 thru May 2007. The vehicles run only on gasoline.
Figure 4.c) Fuel use by Campus Vans and Recruiting Vehicles was provided by Erica Connor. The 2007 data were the sum of the yearly average miles driven by campus vans(16mpg) and recruiting cars(22mpg). Both types of vehicles run only on gasoline.
Figure 5
Air Travel (Scope 3)
Figure 5.a) Athletic Team Air Travel data were derived from the 2007/2008 Hobart and William Smith competition schedules, provided by Mike Hannah and Sally Scatton. The 2007 data were the sum of the distances of all flights by HWS athletic teams. This includes flights for all winter/spring break team trips – the locations may change each year and individual head coaches should be referred to.
Figure 5.b) Student Programs Air Travel data were derived from every study abroad program of the Spring 2007 and Fall 2007 terms, provided by Amy Teel. The 2007 data were the sum of the distances of all flights to and from HWS study abroad programs.
Figure 5.c) Faculty and Staff Air Travel data were derived from the responses to the faculty and staff transportation survey. Respondents were asked to list all campus sponsored air travel that they had participated in over the past 12 months, including the cities they flew in and out of during their trip. The 2007 data used the average miles traveled of the 212 respondents to the survey multiplied by a total of 617 faculty/staff members.
Figure 6
Commuting (Scope 3)
Figure 6.a) Athletic Team Vehicle Travel data were derived from the 2007/2008 Hobart and William Smith competition schedules. The miles traveled to each competition (including winter/spring break team trips) were calculated using Mapquest. The total number of miles traveled by each team was divided by the fuel efficiency of the type of vehicle traveled in (listed below). The 2007 data was the sum of the total gallons of gasoline and diesel consumed
– Soccer(m/w), Cross Country(m/w), Field Hockey, Football, Lacrosse(m/w), Hockey, Basketball(m/w)
– Tennis(m/w), Squash(m/w)
Figure 6.b) Faculty/Staff Commuting data were obtained using the faculty and staff transportation survey. The following questions were asked in an anonymous online survey:
1) Do you walk to campus? 2) Do you drive to campus? 3) What type of car to you drive? 4) How many days a week do you drive to campus? 5) When you drive to campus, how many trips on average do you make per day? (1 trip = to and from campus) 6) How far is your trip to campus *Please estimate in miles. (Distance from starting point to campus) 7) While on campus, how many trips do you make in your car? (for meetings, the field house/athletic facilities, lunch, etc…) 8) What is the average distance of these trips *Please estimate in miles 9) How many days a week do you commute to campus or make trips for school programs using public or campus sponsored transportation? 10) When using this transportation, how many trips on average do you make per day? (1 trip = to and from campus) 11) How far is your trip *Please estimate in miles (distance from starting point to destination) 12) What type of vehicle do you travel in? 13) In the past 12 months, have you used any air travel sponsored by HWS? (ie: to conferences) 14) For any air travel (past 12 months) that was paid for by HWS, please list the starting point and destination of the airports you used. If the flight plan was not the same on your return trip, please list those cities as well. 15) How many miles of automobile travel do you do per year that is paid for by HWS? (Conferences, field trips, labs, etc…) 16) In which type of vehicle was the travel? (select all that apply) *if different types of vehicles are used, please specify the miles traveled in each in the text box below 17) How many vehicles were used per trip?
212 Faculty and Staff members responded to the survey. The survey data were exported to an Excel workbook for analysis.
Fuel efficiency of each vehicle type was assigned by filtering the data:
1. SUV – 16mpg
2. Small SUV – 22mpg
3. Minivan – 17mpg
4. Hybrid – 45mpg
5. Large Car – 20mpg
6. Midsize Car – 24mpg
7. Compact Car – 26mpg
8. Sub-compact Car – 28mpg
9. Truck – 15mpg
10. Wagon – 20mpg
11. Small bus (k-ventures) – 10mpg diesel
12. Large bus (coach/school bus) – 5mpg diesel
13. Campus van – 16mpg diesel
Total Fuel Consumption was calculated using the following steps:
- Miles driven per week was calculated using the following:
(Driving days per week) * (Trips per day) * (Distance * 2)- Commuter gallons consumed were calculated using the following:
average of [(miles per week) / (vehicle fuel efficiency) * (40 weeks)] * 617
The same formula was used for trips made while on campus
Public transportation used the same formula with one exception:
Gallons consumed were divided by the passenger capacity of each vehicle
Campus van – 7; Small bus – 25; Large bus – 50- Campus sponsored vehicle travel was calculated using the following:
average of [(miles per year) * (number of vehicles) / (fuel efficiency)] * 617Figure 6.c) Student Commuting data were obtained from the Student Transportation Survey. The following questions were asked in an anonymous online survey:
1) Do you own a car? 2) What type of car do you drive? 3) How many days a week do you drive to campus? 4) When you drive to campus, how many trips on average do you make per day? (1 trip = to and from campus) 5) How far is your trip to campus *Please estimate in miles (distance from starting point to campus) 6) How many days a week do you commute to campus or make trips for school programs(service programs, internships, etc..) using public or campus sponsored transportation? 7) When using this transportation, how many trips on average do you make per day? (1 trip = to and from campus/destination) 8) How far is your trip *Please estimate in miles (distance from starting point to destination) 9) What type of vehicle do you travel in?
418 students responded to the survey. The survey data were exported to an Excel workbook.
Analysis methods were the same for the Student Commuter and Public Transportation as they were for Faculty/Staff Commuter and Public Transportation found in figures 6.b.2 and 6.b.3 of the methods section, with two exceptions:
- The number of weeks used was only when the colleges are in session, 32 weeks
- Average fuel consumption was multiplied by 1978 students
Figure 7
Agriculture (Scope 1)
Figure 8
Solid Waste (Scope 3)
Figure 9
Refrigerants and Other Chemicals (Scope 1)
Figure 1
Purchased Electricity
Figure 2
Purchased Steam and Chilled Water
Figure 3
On Campus Stationary
Figure 4
University Fleet
Figure 4.a) Fuel Use by HWS Facilities
Figure 4.b) Fuel Use by Security and Campus Safety
Figure 4.c) Fuel Use by Campus Vans and Recruiting Vehicles
Gasoline only – 13,920.1 gallons
Figure 5
Air Travel
Figure 5.a) Athletic Team Air Travel
Figure 5.b) Student Programs
Figure 5.c) Faculty and Staff
Figure 6
Commuting
Figure 6.a) Athletic Team Vehicle Travel
Figure 6.b) Faculty/Staff Commuting
Figure 6.c) Student Commuting
Figure 7
Agriculture
Figure 8 – Solid Waste
Figure 9 – Refrigerants and Other Chemicals
Table 2.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by source
Source |
Units of energy consumption |
Resulting GHG emissions |
|---|---|---|
Purchased Electricity |
10,448,433 kWh |
3,994 |
Natural Gas Use |
105,886 MMbtu |
5,606 |
University Fleet |
44,851 gallons (gas and diesel) |
403 |
Student Air Travel |
362,234 miles |
281 |
FSB Air Travel |
1,288,097 miles |
1,001 |
FSB Commuting |
374,076 gallons (gas and diesel) |
3,353 |
Student Commuting |
115,680 gallons (gas and diesel) |
1,045 |
Agriculture |
1,600 lbs N |
6 |
Solid Waste |
712 tons |
104 |
Figure 10
Total Campus Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Figure 11
Per Capita Emissions
Table 3.
HWS Greenhouse Gas Emissions since 2003
Year |
2003/2004 |
2004/2005 |
2005/2006 |
2006/2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
GHG emissions |
10,147 |
9,861 |
7,169 |
15,794 |
Graph 1.
Graph 2.
Graph 3.
Graph 4.
Graph 5.
Graph 6.
Graph 7.
Graph Source: Utility Manger Online, Sodex-Ho database
The increase in GHG emissions seen between the 2005/6 and 2006/7 data is mostly due to a more comprehensive inventory, not an actual increase in the Colleges’ emissions. Graph 7 on page 21, “Energy Use Monthly and Annual Trend”, shows that electricity and natural gas consumption have remained mostly constant over the past 3 years, and therefore is not the cause of increased emissions. The transportation sector was the main source of the increase. By using an online survey, we were able to come up with more accurate estimates of faculty and staff air travel and commuting than the previous inventory. We were also able to obtain new data on student commuting, air travel to study abroad programs, athletic team travel and solid waste disposal: none of which had been included in previous inventories.
When compared to colleges of similar size such as Middlebury and Smith, HWS has lower emissions totals for two reasons. First, the emissions factor for electricity is very low in upstate New York (.381 kg CO2 / kWh) because a high percentage of energy comes from hydro-electric plants. The average in the New England area is .408 kg CO2 / kWh. However, even if we were located in Massachusetts, the increase in emissions due to electricity use would only increase our overall emissions to 16,087 MTCDE – not a significant change. Second, HWS only uses natural gas to produce energy and heat its buildings. In addition to natural gas, Smith and Middlebury use #2 and #6 oil which release greater amounts of GHG when burned. This may cause a more significant change than electricity use, but we do not know their exact fuel mixes in order to do an emission comparison. In the future, it may be more useful to compare our emissions with other small colleges in the region if they complete GHG emissions inventories.
Suggestions for Future Inventories
If you have any questions about the HWS Goes Green Program or Climate Task Force, feel free to contact- Sustainability Coordinator, James Landi 315-781-4442
This Environmental Commitment provides a framework and support for more than 600 of America's colleges and universities to go carbon neutral. The signatories of the Commitment pledge to fulfill a three-step constitution which includes expediently initiating a comprehensive plan for climate neutrality, taking tangible action to reduce greenhouse gases, and publicizing the action plan, inventory and progress. The Commitment recognizes the unique responsibility that institutions of higher education have as role models for their communities and in training the people who will develop the social, economic and technological solutions to reverse global warming.
Mark Clayton, Hobart '08 and Michael Thompson, Hobart '08
HWS – Hobart and William Smith Colleges
ACUPCC – American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment
CA-CP – Clean Air - Cool Planet
CO2 – Carbon Dioxide
CH4 – Methane
N20 – Nitrous Oxide
HFC – Hydro-Fluorocarbon
GHG – Greenhouse Gas
eCO2 – Carbon Dioxide Equivalents
MTCDE – Metric Tons Carbon Dioxide Equivalents
GWP – Global Warming Potential
Btu – British Thermal Unit; the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit
MMBtu – One million Btu
One Metric Ton = 1,000 kg or 2,205 lbs
Professors Eugenio Arima and Thomas Drennen of the HWS Environmental Studies Department
Clancy Brown – William Smith Class of 2009
Scott Woodworth – Assistant Director of Facilities at HWS
Cal Brown – Director of Campus Safety
Erica Cooney-Connor – Director of Summer Programs and Conferences and Events
Amy Teel – Global Education Program Operations Manager
Mike Hanna – Director of Athletics, Hobart College
Sally Scatton – Asst. Director of Athletics / Head Field Hockey Coach, William Smith College
All athletic team coaches for providing travel information
Faculty, Staff and Students who participated in the online surveys
HWS IT services
President Mark Gearan for signing the Presidents Climate Commitment.
We would not have been able to complete this inventory without your help.
