Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

What Is It?

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) are those gases that contribute to global warming, primarily CO2 and also including any gas that reflects infrared radiation such as CH4, N2O (nitrous oxide), and refrigerants HFC (hydrofluorocarbons), PFC (perfluorocarbons), and SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride).

By September 2008, the GHG Inventory will:

1. Estimate the direct and indirect emissions of GHG due to the existence and operations of the institution
2. Reveal relative magnitudes of GHG emissions and thereby suggest areas for reduction.

What Are the Sources/Sinks of GHG?

1. On-campus electricity/heat/cold water production
2. Purchased electricity
3. Transportation, including college fleet, business travel, commuting
4. Waste production going to landfills or incineration
5. Fertilizer usage
6. Refrigerants
7. Offsets (reductions) come from GHG absorption by campus vegetation, etc.

How Do We Calculate GHG Emissions for BSC?

BSC will use the Clean Air-Cool Planet (CA-CP) Campus Carbon Calculator (http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/toolkit/). Students, faculty and staff will collect and input data, and produce calculations and trend analysis in spreadsheet form of CO2 equivalents according to Global Warming Potential (GWP) of different gases. To participate in the inventory, or to discuss possible participation, contact Ron Pitt at x2564 or rpitt@bridgew.edu.

What Are the Data Needs and Sources?

Data Need
Source
Available?
Student, faculty, and staff population and square footage of buildings Office of Institutional Research and Assessment Yes, on IR website
Purchased electricity, steam, and chilled water Keith MacDonald, Facilities Management and Planning Yes
On-campus usage of fuels in stationary sources Keith MacDonald, Facilities Management and Planning Yes
College fleet usage of fuel Mary Cahill, Transportation Office Yes
Mileage of air travel by faculty, staff, and students Jean Zona, Purchasing Yes for current year; will need to extrapolate backward for previous years
Commuter travel of students Colleen Gallagher, Margarida Vieira, Administration and Finance Home towns already available
Commuter travel of faculty and staff Institutional Research and Assessment, Parking Office Home towns already available
Fertilizer usage Keith MacDonald Likely
Solid waste disposal Mary Cahill Yes
Purchased refrigerants Keith MacDonald Yes
Green electricity purchases Mike Gomes, Facilities Management and Planning TBD
Vegetation coverage, land areas Karen Jason, FMP Already available