Emissions Report
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GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY Kennesaw State University (KSU) has conducted a baseline environmental inventory of green house gas emissions. The inventory includes a carbon footprint analysis, energy assessments of buildings owned or operated by the University or the Kennesaw State University Foundation, and quantitative data of a variety of campus operations. The ongoing goals of this study are to compile current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data and to identify methods for improved data collection for future inventories. Data for the fiscal year 2008 (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008) were used for this baseline audit. The Cool Air-Clean Planet (CA-CP) tool was used to generate most of the greenhouse gas emissions figures. The inventory includes GHG emissions associated with the University’s energy use, transportation (university-sponsored automobile or bus travel and commuting), solid waste, and energy used in general campus operations. In 2007 90% of our students were commuters, and emissions resulting from transportation make up a large proportion of our overall total. One notable omission in the data set is emissions produced due to university-sponsored air travel. Calculations and spreadsheets are available upon request. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Personnel from the Kennesaw State University Foundation and from numerous KSU offices contributed data for this report. KSU contributors include: Plant Operations METHODS Emissions sources include purchased electricity, stationary production of heat by natural gas, transportation, solid waste disposal, and the release of refrigerants. In addition to buildings owned by KSU, buildings owned by the KSU Foundation and leased by KSU as well as the KSU Foundation’s student housing buildings were included in the inventory. The CA-CP tool was used to calculate most of the GHG emissions. Emissions due to university-related automobile and bus travel were calculated separately by estimating gallons of fuel used from mileage reimbursement records and then calculating GHG emissions produced by the fuel consumption. Commuter emissions were determined by estimating the percentages of students, staff, and faculty residing in counties neighboring KSU and calculating the average commute distance based on the distances to each of the county seats. The CA-CP tool then generated emissions estimates. Solid waste figures consist partly of actual measured tonnage and partly of estimates of tonnage collected from front-load disposal bins. These estimates are based on typical load size (in yards), typical weights per load, and numbers of pick-ups scheduled per week. The CA-CP tool generated emissions estimates based on GHGs emanating from solid waste placed in landfills equipped with methane recovery and flaring.
GRAPH OF GHG EMISSIONS 2007 - 2008
FUTURE ACTION Our methods of record keeping need to be improved, particularly in the area of transportation. The data will be somewhat improved as the University System of Georgia institutes more detailed record keeping instruments in the area of university-related travel. We will seek out ways to more accurately determine commuter mileage figures as well. KSU has formed a Climate Commitment Council with representatives from all campus constituencies: administration, faculty, staff, and students. Over the following year we will investigate ways to lower our GHG emissions and develop a Climate Action Plan. This report has been submitted to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment web site: http://www.aashe.org/pcc/reports/
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