1
University of Virginia Greenhouse Gas Report
Calendar Year 2015
Executive Summary
In 2011, the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors committed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions University-wide (both the Academic Division and the Health System) 25% below 2009 levels by 2025, including growth. To track the progress, UVA’s greenhouse gas footprint is calculated and analyzed annually by the Office for Sustainability, and reviewed by other departments within Facilities Management. The following report explains UVA’s methodology, documents the current footprint, and provides an analysis of the inventory to target areas for further reductions to meet the 2025 goal.
In Calendar Year 2009, the baseline year for emissions analysis, the total greenhouse gas emissions footprint was 340,731
Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MTCDE). In 2015, emissions decreased to 323,844 MTCDE, resulting in a
4.96% reduction in emissions compared to CY2009, due in large part to a major initiative to continue replacing coal with
natural gas as the primary fuel used at the Main Heat Plant, a less harsh heating season, and continued action on Grounds.
It is important to note that the GHG emissions include the Health System, which contributes approximately 40% of the total
emissions produced by the University. Additionally, the expansion to the University’s offerings and scope has resulted in
growth in both building area and population. Since 2009, there has been a population increase of 2,497 students, faculty,
and staff (a 6.3% increase). To support the University’s growth, forty-two facilities have been constructed or acquired since
2009, resulting in an increase of 1.7 million square feet (an 11.4% increase) included within the boundaries defined for
UVA’s greenhouse gas inventory. Notwithstanding this expansion of buildings within the University’s portfolio, the efforts
undertaken to date would have generated a 14.8% reduction of emissions released in CY2009. The University’s
commitment to achieving this goal in light of the continuing expansion is driving heavy investments in expanding
sustainability efforts to enhance the University’s operations and building portfolio.
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50,000
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350,000
400,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
E
Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source
Electricity Fuel Operations Support Transportation UVA 2025 Goal
2
Contents
METHODOLOGY 3
BOUNDARY 3
GHG EMISSION SOURCES 3
INPUT DATA SOURCES 4
EMISSIONS 4
2015 EMISSIONS BY SOURCE 5
2015 EMISSIONS BY SCOPE 6
ELECTRICITY 7
FUEL (ON-GROUNDS STATIONARY SOURCES) 8
TRANSPORTATION 10
OPERATIONS SUPPORT 10
MOVING FORWARD 11
NORMALIZATION 12
BUILDING FOOTPRINT 12
POPULATION GROWTH 12
WEATHER 13
EFFECTS ON EMISSIONS 14
INCREASED BUILDING AREA 14
POPULATION GROWTH 15
ELECTRICITY 16
HEATING 17
TRANSPORTATION 17
APPENDIX A: TOTAL MTCDE RAW DATA AND SUMMATIONS 18
3
Methodology
The methods for a GHG inventory define how the boundary is established and what is included. UVA’s methodology is aligned with the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment guidance, which references The Climate Registry’s General Reporting Protocol and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. The Clean-Air Cool Planet (CA-CP) calculator version 8.0, which uses global warming potentials from the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change’s Assessment Reports, was used to calculate emissions. CA‐CP is a science based, non‐profit, non‐partisan organization dedicated to finding and promoting climate change solutions. Their efforts focus on providing tools to help organizations calculate their greenhouse gas emissions and assisting organizations in finding ways to reduce these emissions.
CA‐CP calculates a carbon footprint by focusing on emissions in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and refrigerants with global warming potentials. Emissions of methane, nitrous oxide, and refrigerants are converted to metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in order to estimate total carbon emissions for the University. CA-CP focuses on the major emission sources on campus (Grounds), which include electricity, energy production on Grounds, transportation, and operational support.
Boundary
On the most basic level, University emissions include any emissions tied to the functioning of the University. These emissions are divided into three scopes and are illustrated further along in this document. An “Operational Control Approach” best aligns with the boundaries established for this inventory – “accounting for GHG emissions from operations under its operational control, which refers to the authority to introduce and implement operating policies at an operation.”1 Owned properties with electricity provided through a UVA substation, a direct electricity feed and a bill paid by Facilities Management, or thermal energy provided from one of UVA’s central heating or chiller plants with energy consumption assigned to the facility are included in the boundary, which includes buildings in the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, as well as some remote research buildings in the Commonwealth of Virginia (namely Mountain Lake Biological Station, and Anheuser-Busch Coastal Research Center). Leased properties, UVA Foundation properties, the College at Wise, and UVA property in other geographic locations are not currently included in the greenhouse gas footprint boundary.
GHG Emission Sources
UVA’s GHG emissions stem from four distinct sources: Electricity, Fuel, Transportation, and Operations Support. Electricity
includes purchased electricity as well as transmission and distribution losses. Fuel includes coal, natural gas, distillate oil,
and propane used on Grounds. Transportation includes direct emissions from fleet vehicles used as well as student, faculty,
and staff commuting. Operations Support includes fertilizer, refrigerants, solid waste, and wastewater emissions which are
all necessary for the functioning of the University. Based on standard greenhouse gas accounting protocols and definitions,
these emission sources are grouped into one of three “Scopes” based on the controllability of the emission by the
University.
Scope 1: This refers to any emissions directly coming from sources that are owned or controlled by the University. This
includes:
• On Campus Stationary sources (heating energy fuel consumption) o Natural Gas o Coal o Distillate Oil o Propane
• Direct transportation
1 Source: http://rs.acupcc.org/instructions/ghg/
4
o University buses o University fleet/vehicles o University jet
• Refrigerants and chemicals
• Fertilizer application
Scope 2: This refers to indirect GHG emissions that are a consequence of activities that take place within the organizational boundaries of the institution, but occur at sources owned or controlled by another entity. Since heating and cooling is included in scope 1, at UVA this only includes:
• Purchased electricity
Scope 3: This refers to all indirect emissions not covered in Scope 2. The following are included in UVA’s footprint:
• Commuting (faculty, staff, and students)
• Solid (landfill) waste
• Wastewater
• Transmission and Distribution losses
Scope 3 Emissions Sources Not Included: Study abroad travel, holiday-related travel, and work-related travel have not been included because University-wide reporting methods do not currently exist. Likewise, purchased paper has not been included because a method of accurately accounting for paper purchasing on a University-wide basis is not available.
Input Data Sources
Data input to the CA-CP calculator is derived from a variety of University personnel and sources. Fuel and electricity
consumption is metered and records retained by Facilities Management. Direct transportation fuel consumption is
maintained by Parking and Transportation. Refrigerant use is sourced from a variety of locations with Facilities Management
and Dining being the primary contributors. Fertilizers are used and logged by Landscaping (Facilities Management),
Athletics, and Intramural-Recreational Sports (IM-Rec).
Emissions
The University of Virginia
generated 323,844 MTCDE
of emissions in CY2015, a
4.96% reduction in net total
emissions since 2009 and a
3.77% reduction relative to
2014. The reduction relative
to 2014 is largely a result of
a more typical heating
season whereby the
University’s Main Heating
plant had natural gas more
available.
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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
E
Total Net Emissions by Scope
Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3 Reduction Goal
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2015 Emissions by Source
(in MTCDE) 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Electricity 181,879 187,408 186,201 185,181 182,958 184,236 189,544
Fuel 117,420 110,761 108,530 94,057 97,785 105,505 87,264
Transportation 40,974 41,660 42,299 43,462 44,676 44,881 44,250
Operations Support 457 288 816 717 816 1,913 2,786
These charts graphically display the sub-components of the total 2015 emissions by source. Electricity use on Grounds is the single largest source of emissions due to extensive need for lighting, cooling, and electrical equipment operation.
6
2015 Emissions by Scope
These charts reflect the total emissions reported for 2015 divided into the three Scopes defined by industry to categorize emissions. UVA’s analysis employs the Clean Air Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator. The University’s largest greenhouse gas emissions come from Purchased Electricity (55%), followed by On-Campus Stationary energy sources (27%), and then Commuting (12%):
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Electricity
Electricity consumption continues to be the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions at the University. UVA purchases
the vast majority of electricity from Dominion Virginia Power. This electricity is used primarily for cooling and core electrical
services such as lighting and plug loads. Transmission and distribution (T&D) losses stem from electricity (calculated as a
percentage of total electricity consumption), and are included in this category despite being tracked as part of scope 3
emissions. Due to the construction of new buildings, net emissions for electricity remain above 2009 levels.
Total Electricity Consumption (kWh) and Emissions (MTCDE)
2009 2014 2015 % change from ‘14 % change from ‘09
Purchased Electricity (kWh) 350,762,551 354,833,518 365,055,430 2.88% 4.07%
Purchased Electricity (MTCDE) 165,510 173,512 178,510 2.88% 7.85%
T&D Losses (MTCDE) 16,369 10,724 11,033 2.88% -32.6%
Total MTCDE 181,879 184,236 189,544 2.88% 4.21%
There has been a 4.1% increase in total
electricity use compared to 2009. Over the
same period, total emissions attributed to
purchased electricity have seen a 4.2%
increase due to changes in emissions factors
and transmission and distribution loss factors
over time.
UVA has ongoing initiatives to curb the use of
electricity on Grounds. 2015 saw continued
success in implementing solid state lighting
technology in exterior lighting, building retrofits
through Delta Force projects, and new
construction and renovation projects.
Furthermore, the new Facilities Management
Shop Support and Office Building incorporated a 15 kW photovoltaic array on the roof. Additionally, continuous deployment
of building occupant energy awareness training along with specialized events throughout the year have contributed to
UVA’s goal for diminishing carbon emissions from purchased electricity.
Cooling
The University of Virginia consumes a lot of energy for cooling buildings. The primary means of cooling on Grounds is using
chilled water produced by electrically driven, water-cooled chillers housed in multiple chiller plants. In addition to energy, the
chiller plants are the largest water consumer, needing make-up water for the cooling towers. A variety of other direct-
expansion cooling systems are employed by UVA’s portfolio. These systems range from window-mounted air conditioning
units, to dedicated building-level chillers; energy use of these non-centralized cooling systems are captured by building level
electricity meters and cannot be isolated.
20,000
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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
EElectricity Emissions by Source
Electricity T&D Losses
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Chiller Plant Consumption (kWh) and Emissions (MTCDE) 2009 2014 2015 % change '14 % change '09
Electricity Consumed (kWh) 65,755,529 73,218,038 72,399,623 -1.12% 10.1%
Total Emissions (MTCDE) 33,819 37,879 37,456 -1.12% 10.8%
Electricity consumed by the central chiller plants has increased by 10.1% since 2009 as a result of building additional
facilities and connecting previously stand-alone buildings to a central chiller plant. Improvements at the chiller plants in 2015
are mostly a result of the team’s desire to improve continuously. Significant improvements are achieved by way of
numerous small improvements and changes that occur daily in a true example of the whole being far greater than the sum
of its parts. A few significant projects that improved energy
efficiency include expanding the Automatic Tube Cleaning
System at the South Chiller plant, interconnecting the
Newcomb and Central Grounds chilled water loops,
operating and maintaining the newly renovated North
Grounds Mechanical plant, upgrading the South Chiller
Plant cooling towers, and collaborating with engineering
students to review operation of the Thermal Storage tank.
Since 2009, chiller plant efficiencies have improved by
18.5%.
Fuel (On-Grounds Stationary Sources)
The majority of UVA’s direct emissions (Scope 1) stem from On-Campus Stationary fuels used for heating. These sources include coal, natural gas, distillate oil, and propane gas. In 2015, UVA successfully diminished coal use to 30% of the total heating energy source, replacing it with natural gas to keep up with heating needs. More significantly, the heating plant completely eliminated the use of coal during the summer months (June-September), the first time this occurred since 2009. This fuel switch resulted in the biggest emissions reduction at the University due to the cleaner combustion of natural gas compared to coal as evidenced by the charts below.
Total Fuel Consumption (MMBtu) 2009 2014 2015 % change from ‘14 % change from ‘09
Coal 857,266 534,641 304,842 -43.0% -64.4%
Natural Gas 481,505 936,622 1,023,679 9.29% 113%
Distillate Oil 122,361 45,910 36,704 -20.1% -70.0%
Propane Gas 2,177 3,337 2,974 -10.9% 36.6%
Total MMBTU 1,463,310 1,520,509 1,368,199 -10.0% -6.5%
Total Fuel Emissions (MTCDE)
2009 2014 2015 % change from ‘14 % change from ‘09
Coal 81,445 50,754 28,939 -43.0% -64.5%
Natural Gas 26,735 51,130 55,411 8.37% 107%
Distillate Oil 9,105 3,414 2,729 -20.1% -70.0%
Propane Gas 135 207 185 -10.9% 36.5%
Heating MTCDE Total 117,420 105,505 87,264 -17.3% -25.7%
3.5163.912
4.352 4.283 4.4163.969 4.167
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Coefficient of Performance
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A 25.7% reduction in net emissions
due to heating has occurred since
2009, 17.3% in the past year. As
illustrated, this reduction is mainly due
to the increased use of natural gas
instead of coal to manage the
University’s energy load. The
discrepancy in heating emissions
between 2013 and 2014 is due to a
colder than normal winter, which
caused a shortage in natural gas
supply during the coldest peaks
resulting in interruptions in UVA’s gas
service to the Main Heating Plant
whereby coal was fired in the boilers.
While fuel switching has significantly reduced emissions from stationary sources, additional actions contributed to the
successes on this front including: replacement of boilers at the North Grounds Mechanical Plant with low temperature hot
water generators and heat recovery chillers, burner replacements at Massie Road Plant, and the continued success of the
Delta Force program. The Energy and Utilities infrastructure projects, including the utility tunnel installation along
McCormick Road, continued making progress with the goal of migrating from high pressure steam to medium temperature
hot water around Grounds to improve heating efficiency whereby reducing carbon emissions.
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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Heating GHG Emissions by Source
Distillate Oil (#1-4) Natural Gas LPG (Propane) Coal (Steam Coal)
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120.00
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MM
BT
U
x 10
000
Heating Source Energy ConsumptionDistillate Oil (#1-4) Natural GasLPG (Propane) Coal (Steam Coal)
0.0802 0.08010.0782
0.0693
0.0652
0.0694
0.0638
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
E/M
MB
TU
Emissions per Energy Used
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Transportation
The fleet portion of emissions includes the University Transit System buses, University-issued cars and maintenance vehicles, and the University jet; the University has direct control of these sources and are therefore part of Scope 1 emissions. The remainder of the transportation emissions include student, faculty, and staff commuting. These emissions are included in Scope 3 for they are indirectly tied to the University and are calculated from the approximate miles students, faculty, and staff travel to and from the University each day. Overall, emissions from transportation are still greater than 2009 levels despite reductions in emissions due to commuting in the past year. UVA has been establishing campaigns and incentives to promote more sustainable commuting practices while continuing to offer complementary programs such as operating the University Transit Service and contributing a stipend to the Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) to help faculty, staff, and students get to destinations once arriving on Grounds in multi-occupant vehicles or via other sustainable commuting options. The Cavpool program – for faculty/staff carpools – is the most common sustainable, non-single occupant vehicle, commuting means and saw increased registration by 9 percent from 2014 to 2015. Also, 2015 saw full deployment of UVA’s bicycle sharing program to further increase sustainable transportation options once individuals arrive on Grounds.
Total Transportation Emissions (MTCDE)
2009 2014 2015 % change from ‘14 % change from ‘09
Fleet (Direct) 3,687 3,815 3,907 2.41% 5.98%
Student Commuting 2,419 2,642 2,580 -1.72% 8.30%
Faculty/Staff Commuting 34,868 38,424 37,763 -2.36% 6.63%
Population 39,700 41,880 42,197 -1.76% 8.19%
Commuting GHG Intensity per Capita 0.94 0.98 0.96 0.76% 6.29%
Operations Support
Operations support generates emissions from the release of refrigerants and other chemicals into the atmosphere, off-gassing from fertilizers, mitigation of methane production by landfilling solid waste to facilities that capture the methane and use for power generation, and emissions associated with treating wastewater. While operations support emissions are a minimal overall component of the total emissions portfolio generated by UVA, they have increased significantly since 2009. The primary contributor is the release of refrigerants and chemicals. In 2015, there was a significant refrigerant leak from a failed chiller at Clemons Library which released approximately 665 pounds of R11 refrigerant to the atmosphere. Two new centralized chillers were under construction at the time of the failure which will replace four remaining old chillers in Alderman Library and Newcomb Hall, along with the failed chiller in Clemons Library. As UVA continues to centralize cooling by connecting buildings with previously stand-alone chillers to central chilled water plants, the global warming potential of the refrigerants employed for building conditioning are being reduced due to advances in technology used by the newer equipment in the plants. Additionally, the centralization of the chillers will result in more frequent monitoring for refrigerant leaks by individuals likely to see and prevent problems before they become major issues.
Total Operations Support Emissions (MTCDE)
2009 2014 2015 % change from ‘14 % change from ‘09
Refrigerants & Chemicals 418 1,927 2,838 47.2% 578%
Agriculture 37 51 26 -48.8% -29.5%
Solid Waste -224 -222 -237 6.77% 5.75%
Wastewater 226 156 159 1.93% -29.4%
Operations Support MTCDE Total 457 1,913 2,786 45.6% 509%
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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Transportation MTCDE Emissions
Direct Fleet Faculty/Staff Commuting Student Commuting
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Moving Forward
Heating from fuel has been the sector with the most significant decrease in emissions despite growth, due to increased
efforts to reduce coal use. Further reductions can be achieved with more aggressive reductions of coal use, the greater
utilization of alternative energy, additional plant efficiency projects, and continuing to expand and implement energy
efficiency projects. With electricity (and its transmission and distribution losses) accounting for 59% of the University’s
emissions, much opportunity in reductions exists. Since electricity is the entirety of Scope 2 emissions for its production is
controlled by the University’s electricity provider, Dominion Virginia Power, their fuel mix impact is significant. Currently,
plant-level (both chilled water and heating) efficiency projects, retro-commissioning projects such as Delta Force, and re-
lamping projects have kept emissions from skyrocketing due to growth.
With 9 years left to meet the 25% by 2025 reduction goal, combatting new emissions due to growth is feasible, but will
require deliberate planning, especially with a large hospital project coming online before 2025. An Environmental Footprint
Reduction Plan was written in 2011, and will be updated via a new Energy and Emissions Action Plan to be released during
the third quarter of CY2016. The new Energy and Emissions Action Plan will project growth as well as the impact of
potential GHG reduction strategies being considered for implementation at the University.
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Normalization
The University’s goal for emissions reductions are irrespective of external influences. As such, the presentation of emissions
do not consider the physical growth in building area and increased population of the University required to support the
expansion of UVA’s offerings, scope, and implementation of its mission; nor year-to-year deviations in weather. However, to
better understand the impacts of the actions taken to curb emissions, influence of growth, and impact due to variations in
weather conditions, the following section documents the changes to factors and presents the data normalized for increased
building area, increased population, and changes in weather conditions.
Building Footprint
The University of Virginia spans roughly 1,700 acres within the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Since 2009, 42 new buildings have been constructed, acquired, causing an increase in gross square footage consuming energy.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
GSF 14,971,438 15,143,773 15,469,891 15,664,160 16,300,299 16,367,753 16,671,233
Annual % Change -- 1.15% 2.15% 1.26% 4.06% 0.41% 1.85%
% Change from 2009 -- 1.15% 3.33% 4.63% 8.88% 9.33% 11.4%
With about a net increase of 1.7 million gross square feet since 2009, 11%, emissions would have been significantly higher
without projects implemented to achieve reductions.
Population Growth
With the expansion of the university, the population has also grown. Between 2009 and 2015, the University has seen a 6.3% increase in the population of students, staff, and faculty2. This steady growth is expected to continue in the future. All normalization for growth (either per capita or per GSF) uses these values:
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Population 39,700 39,226 39,835 39,761 40,195 41,880 42,197
Annual % Change -- -1.19% 1.55% -0.19% 1.09% 4.19% 0.76%
% Change from 2009 -- -1.19% 0.34% 0.15% 1.25% 5.49% 6.29%
2 Population Numbers Reported by the UVA Office of Institutional Assessment and Studies
14,971,438 15,143,773 15,469,891 15,664,160
16,300,299 16,367,753 16,671,233
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Total GSF
13
UVA’s Institutional Assessment &
Studies (IAS) is tasked with developing
projections of future enrollment. The
study completed in 2015 indicates an
even greater influx of students in the
next several years (a 3.2% increase by
2022 from 2015).
Weather
Weather generally affects energy use by increasing or decreasing the heating and cooling loads on buildings. Heating and
Cooling Degree Days (HDD, CDD) are calculated values using the average daily temperature to quantify the relative
hotness and coldness of a period of time. As displayed in the following charts, there have been a fairly significant swing in
heating and cooling intensity throughout the greenhouse gas reporting period.
1,148
1,792
1,470 1,437
1,184 1,163
1,396
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Cooling Degree Days
4,3494,256
3,899
3,567
4,4434,582
4,012
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Heating Degree Days
19,000
20,000
21,000
22,000
23,000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Stu
dent
s
Approved Fall Census Headcount On Grounds
Total On Grounds Projected
14
Effects on Emissions
Increased Building Area
The following documents how the University’s expansion has affected the energy use
2009 2014 2015 % change from
‘14 % change from
‘09
Net Total MTCDE 340,731 336,535 323,844 -3.77% -4.96%
Total GSF of Buildings3 14,971,438 16,367,753 16,671,233 1.85% 11.4%
MTCDE/GSF 0.023 0.021 0.019 -5.52% -14.6%
With about a 1.7 million square feet or 11.4% increase in the building are contained within the boundary defined for the GHG inventory since 2009, there was an additional 33,000 MTCDE of emissions-generated. This essentially represents a 9.8% increase to the overall emissions reduction goal. When analyzing emissions on a per gross square foot basis (greenhouse gas intensity), there has been a 14.7% reduction from 2009 to 2015.
Subtracting the emissions from the new facilities, the net emissions UVA would have produced is as follows:
2009 2014 2015 % change from ‘14 % change from ‘09
MTCDE With Growth 340,731 336,535 323,844 -3.77% -4.96%
MTCDE Without Growth 340,731 305,751 290,453 -5.00% -14.8%
If the building area contained within the scope of the inventory remained the same as in 2009, Total GHG emissions would have seen a 14.8% reduction.
3 Total GSF includes all owned, active, educational and medical (agencies 207 and 209), tied to the Main Grounds. Leased properties, UVA Foundation properties, the College at Wise, and UVA property in other geographic locations are not currently included.
0 551
6,864
14,70017,204
30,78533,391
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MTCDE due to Buildings added since 2009
260
270
280
290
300
310
320
330
340
350
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
ET
hous
ands
Growth vs. No GrowthMTCDE without Growth MTCDE with Growth
0.02280.0225
0.0218
0.02060.0200
0.0206
0.0194
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MTCDE/GSF
15
Population Growth
Along with building growth, population growth also has a significant impact upon greenhouse gases. When normalizing for
population growth, emissions have actually been on the decline per person.
2009 2014 2015 % change from ‘14 % change from ‘09
MTCDE Total 340,731 336,535 323,844 -3.77% -4.96%
Population 39,700 41,880 42,197 0.76% 6.29%
MTCDE/person 8.58 8.04 7.67 -4.49% -10.6%
Normalizing total net emissions to account for population, GHG intensity (per capita) has been reduced by 10.6% from
2009 levels.
8.588.67
8.48
8.13 8.128.04
7.67
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
E/P
opul
atio
n
Total GHG Emissions Per Person
16
Electricity
Analyzing the intensity of electricity use at the university to
facilitate the normalization of emissions and isolate the
change in emissions from the change in gross floor area,
electricity emissions have seen a 6.4% reduction since
2009, despite an 11.4% increase in gross square footage.
Cooling
In 2015, average daily temperatures were significantly elevated compared to 2014 and 2009 as evidenced by the number of
cooling degree days. These warmer temperatures resulted in an increased cooling load in 2015. To isolate the energy used
for cooling from the changes in weather, the cooling energy output from the chiller plants was normalized against the
cooling degree days. This normalization process shows the University has actually seen a reduction in emissions from the
chiller plants since 2009. When normalizing for the amount of energy consumed by the University (MTCDE per MMBTU),
cooling emissions continue to decrease. Comparing with 2009 levels, the 2015 emissions have seen a 15.1% reduction.
2009 2014 2015 % change '14 % change '09
Cooling Degree Days (CDD) 1,148 1,163 1,396 20.1% 21.6%
Chiller Plant Energy Sold (MMBTU) 788,804 991,466 1,029,286 3.81% 30.5%
Total Emissions (MTCDE) 33,819 37,879 37,456 -1.12% 10.8%
MTCDE/CDD 29 33 27 -17.7% -8.92%
MTCDE/MMBTU 0.0429 0.0382 0.0364 -4.75% -15.1%
However, when plotting the normalized chiller plant
emissions for the entire duration UVA has been
working to achieve the carbon reduction there is a
slight uptick in 2014 and 2015 chiller plant
emissions relative to 2011-2013, despite the
improved chiller plant efficiencies as previously
discussed.
Performing a linear regression analysis, whereby a
mathematical model is created based on the
relationship of two variables, aids in determining
whether there is a strong correlation between the
two parameters by employing the root mean square
(R-square) statistical analysis. A strong correlation
between the two parameters results in an R-square
greater than 0.75. Plotting electricity input to the
chiller plants respective to weather (defined by
cooling degree days) generates an R-square of
only 0.0233 indicating that weather is not the
primary diver of energy use. While warmer weather
increases the cooling load, the additional
connected loads as a result of the continued action
to centralize cooling operations on Grounds is the
cause of the uptick seen in the normalized cooling
emissions.
R² = 0.0233
62,000
64,000
66,000
68,000
70,000
72,000
74,000
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Chi
ller
Pla
nt E
lect
ricity
(M
Wh)
Cooling Degree Days (CDD)
Annual Cooling Energy Use Respecitve to Weather
0.04287
0.03876
0.03484 0.035400.03434
0.03821
0.03639
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
E/M
MB
TU
Chiller Plant Emissions per MMBTU Sold
0.0121 0.01240.0120 0.0118
0.0112 0.0113 0.0114
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
E/G
SF
Electricity GHG Intensity per GSF
17
Heating
2015 had less need for heating due to a warmer winter
compared with the prior two years. While weather is a partial
cause for some emissions reduction, the plurality of emissions
reductions between 2014 and 2015 was due to firing more
natural gas instead of coal at the main heating plant. Both the
absolute reduction in emissions as well as the intensity by which
the emissions, determined by isolating the effect of weather by
normalizing the fuel emissions by heating degree days, have
decreased substantially.
The following table documents these changes seen in
emissions both absolutely as well as when normalized by
heating degree days.
Heating Emissions
2009 2014 2015 % change '14 % change '09
Heating Degree Days (HDD) 4,349 4,582 4,012 -12.4% -7.75%
On-Campus Stationary (MTCDE) 117,420 105,505 87,264 -17.3% -25.7%
MTCDE/HDD 27.00 23.03 21.75 -5.54% -19.4%
Transportation
When accounting for population growth, commuting GHG emissions are generally on par with 2009, with a slight 1.8%
increase from 2009, after going through a spike between 2012 and 2014.
Since the fleet is not significantly affected by
population growth, it was not included in the
per capita analysis. Despite this, direct
transportation has seen a 6.0% increase in
emissions since 2009.
27.00 26.03
27.84
26.37
22.01
23.03
21.75
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
E/H
DD
Fuel Emissions/Heating Degree Days
0.939
0.9570.963
0.994
1.014
0.981
0.956
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
MT
CD
E/P
opul
atio
n
Commuting GHG Intensity per Capita
18
Appendix A: Total MTCDE Raw Data and Summations
All GHG Emissions for 2009:
Select Year --> 2009 Energy
Consumption CO2 CH4 N2O eCO2
MMBtu kg kg kg Metric Tonnes
Scope 1 Co-gen Electricity - - - - -
Co-gen Steam - - - - -
Other On-Campus Stationary 1,463,310.2 116,651,246.1 13,009.8 1,488.9 117,420.2
Direct Transportation 53,514.9 3,620,906.7 456.5 182.0 3,686.5
Refrigerants & Chemicals - - - - 418.4
Agriculture - - - 125.1 37.3
Scope 2 Purchased Electricity 1,195,928.7 164,810,023.3 3,319.7 2,070.4 165,510.0
Purchased Steam / Chilled Water - - - - -
Scope 3 Faculty / Staff Commuting 476,025.6 33,987,783.8 7,054.5 2,363.3 34,868.4
Student Commuting 32,524.3 2,390,607.9 197.3 79.3 2,419.2
Directly Financed Air Travel - - - - -
Other Directly Financed Travel - - - - -
Study Abroad Air Travel - - - - -
Student Travel to/from Home (OPTIONAL) - - - - -
Solid Waste - - (8,961.6) - (224.0)
Wastewater - - 532.5 712.3 225.6
Paper - - - - -
Scope 2 T&D Losses 118,278.7 16,299,892.4 328.3 204.8 16,369.1
Offsets Additional -
Non-Additional -
Totals Scope 1 1,516,825.1 120,272,152.7 13,466.3 1,796.0 121,562.4
Scope 2 1,195,928.7 164,810,023.3 3,319.7 2,070.4 165,510.0
Scope 3 626,828.6 52,678,284.1 (849.0) 3,359.7 53,658.3
All Scopes 3,339,582.3 337,760,460.1 15,937.0 7,226.1 340,730.7
All Offsets -
Net
Emissions: 340,730.7
19
All GHG Emissions for 2014:
Select Year --> 2014 Energy
Consumption CO2 CH4 N2O eCO2
MMBtu kg kg kg Metric Tonnes
Scope 1 Co-gen Electricity - - - - -
Co-gen Steam - - - - -
Other On-Campus Stationary 1,520,509.1 104,990,508.1 10,091.7 879.3 105,504.8
Direct Transportation 52,597.5 3,748,917.2 443.2 184.9 3,815.1
Refrigerants & Chemicals - - - - 1,927.4
Agriculture - - - 172.1 51.3
Scope 2 Purchased Electricity 1,209,808.7 172,803,727.5 3,358.2 2,094.5 173,511.8
Purchased Steam / Chilled Water - - - - -
Scope 3 Faculty / Staff Commuting 524,300.4 37,470,857.2 7,620.6 2,559.4 38,424.1
Student Commuting 35,518.6 2,610,749.8 214.9 86.4 2,641.9
Directly Financed Air Travel - - - - -
Other Directly Financed Travel - - - - -
Study Abroad Air Travel - - - - -
Student Travel to/from Home (OPTIONAL) - - - - -
Solid Waste - - (8,876.4) - (221.9)
Wastewater - - 369.0 493.6 156.3
Paper - - - - -
Scope 2 T&D Losses 74,775.7 10,680,624.1 207.6 129.5 10,724.4
Offsets Additional -
Non-Additional -
Totals Scope 1 1,573,106.6 108,739,425.3 10,534.9 1,236.3 111,298.7
Scope 2 1,209,808.7 172,803,727.5 3,358.2 2,094.5 173,511.8
Scope 3 634,594.6 50,762,231.1 (464.4) 3,268.8 51,724.7
All Scopes 3,417,509.9 332,305,383.9 13,428.7 6,599.6 336,535.2
All Offsets -
Net
Emissions: 336,535.2
20
All GHG Emissions for 2015:
Select Year --> 2015 Energy
Consumption CO2 CH4 N2O eCO2
MMBtu kg kg kg Metric Tonnes
Scope 1 Co-gen Electricity - - - - -
Co-gen Steam - - - - -
Other On-Campus Stationary 1,368,199.2 86,893,790.8 8,204.6 554.7 87,264.2
Direct Transportation 54,180.7 3,839,047.8 468.8 189.3 3,907.2
Refrigerants & Chemicals - - - - 2,837.5
Agriculture - - - 88.1 26.3
Scope 2 Purchased Electricity 1,244,660.4 177,781,793.1 3,455.0 2,154.8 178,510.3
Purchased Steam / Chilled Water - - - - -
Scope 3 Faculty / Staff Commuting 515,273.1 36,826,407.8 7,487.0 2,514.8 37,763.0
Student Commuting 34,679.9 2,549,024.1 210.8 84.7 2,579.5
Directly Financed Air Travel - - - - -
Other Directly Financed Travel - - - - -
Study Abroad Air Travel - - - - -
Student Travel to/from Home (OPTIONAL) - - - - -
Solid Waste - - (9,477.2) - (236.9)
Wastewater - - 376.1 503.1 159.3
Paper - - - - -
Scope 2 T&D Losses 76,929.8 10,988,307.6 213.5 133.2 11,033.3
Offsets Additional -
Non-Additional -
Totals Scope 1 1,422,379.9 90,732,838.7 8,673.3 832.2 94,035.2
Scope 2 1,244,660.4 177,781,793.1 3,455.0 2,154.8 178,510.3
Scope 3 626,882.8 50,363,739.4 (1,189.8) 3,235.8 51,298.3
All Scopes 3,293,923.0 318,878,371.1 10,938.5 6,222.8 323,843.8
All Offsets -
Net
Emissions: 323,843.8
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