UC Los Angeles Campus & Medical Center Strategic Energy Plan ...

12. ENERGY & GHG FORECAST
The University of California 2007 Policy of Sustainable Practices sets the goal of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2014 and to 1990 levels by 2020. Each campus
will need to develop complete greenhouse gas emissions calculations for the baseline years of
1990 and 2000. In order to determine the potential impact of energy efficiency and renewable
energy projects identified in the Strategic Energy Plan, current, past, and future greenhouse gas
emissions from purchased electricity and natural gas have been estimated based on
information provided on energy purchases for fiscal years 1999-2000 and 2006-2007.
Greenhouse gas emissions savings for the projects identified have also been calculated in order
to compare their impact with the greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. While these
emissions calculations do not include all sources of campus greenhouse gas emissions, they do
provide a way of measuring the impact of the projects identified in the SEP in relation to
electricity and natural gas usage.
12.1 Electricity Emissions Factors
Although some California utilities publish greenhouse gas emissions factors for their delivered
power, a complete record of historical and current factors is not available. Therefore, in
accordance with the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) General Reporting Protocol,
EPA’s eGRID emissions factor for the CALI – WECC California subregion for 2000 of 0.000366
metric tons of CO2e/kWh was used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions from purchased
electricity. This number includes greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and
nitrous oxide and uses global warming potential factors published in the IPCC’s Third
Assessment Report to convert methane and nitrous oxide emissions to carbon dioxide
equivalents. The emissions factor is reported in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per
kWh (CO2e/kWh) of electricity purchased. While the emissions factor does normally vary by
year based on the actual fuel mix used, a constant value was used to isolate the impacts of
energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Each campus may choose to develop utility
and year specific emissions factors when filing their greenhouse gas emissions with the
California Climate Action Registry.
12.2 Gas Emissions Factors
The emission factors provided in the California Climate Action Registry General Reporting
Protocol, Tables C.5 and C.6 were used to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated
with natural gas purchases. This number is 0.005295 metric tons of CO2e per therm.
12.3 Current Energy Usage and Emissions
Current emissions from purchased utilities are shown in Table 1.1
12.4 2014 Goals
The University of California has set the goal of meeting 2000 greenhouse gas emission by
2014. In 2000 many campuses were purchasing their energy from Enron which relied on a
different power mix than the state-wide average. This information is not accurately reflected in
the average state-wide emissions factor and therefore actual greenhouse gas emissions for
campuses purchasing Enron power will be much higher than calculated. In addition to the
campus wide greenhouse gas emissions goal, the campus also needs to meet the goal of
2413.01/Reports/UC SEP Final Report – UCLA.doc 12-1 December 31, 2008
Newcomb | Anderson | McCormick