BHCC's GreenPact - ACUPCC Reports - Climate Commitment

Campus Emissions3. Campus EmissionsThe primary method of tracking our College’s progress toward environmental stewardship is totranslate the majority of our activities into metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents emitted. Byusing this standard unit of measurement, we can monitor our “carbon footprint” reduction, or totalmetric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted, and communicate our progress using the samemetrics as other participants in the ACUPCC initiative.To define and understand our College’s current carbon footprint, the Facilities ManagementDepartment conducted a comprehensive examination of campus operations and activities for thecalendar year 2008. By generating this exhaustive greenhouse gas inventory, the total metric tonsof carbon dioxide equivalent established for the year 2008 will be used as a baseline to trackprogress against in the years looking forward.The greenhouse gas inventory was also used to identify mitigation strategies to reduce theCollege’s “carbon footprint.” For example, it was determined that the greatest contributors to ourtotal footprint were: purchased electricity, fuels consumed for HVAC systems, and air travel offaculty and students. Data center and computing activities were found to be significantcontributors to the College’s electricity consumed. Mobile combustion and waste disposal relatedemissions were also identified as carbon footprint contributors that could be mitigated by changingthe community’s commuting and recycling practices. These findings helped prioritize strategies forreducing our “carbon footprint” and identifying a realistic action plan towards a net zero emissioncampus.The following sections provide details of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the resulting goals andmitigation strategies.3.1 Greenhouse Gas InventoryOn September 15, 2008, BHCC generated and submitted a comprehensive Greenhouse GasInventory in compliance with the ACUPCC commitment. Led by the President’s ClimateCommitment Committee, the inventory is a cumulative effort of College staff, faculty, and students.The data collection was obtained through collaboration with the Executive Dean of InstitutionalEffectiveness, Directors of Fiscal Affairs, Public Safety, Human Resources, Facilities Management &Engineering Services, Business Office, Registrar’s Office and a Sustainability Coordinator.Based upon the data submitted and entered into the Clean Air Cool Planet Campus CarbonCalculator 2 , BHCC generates approximately 6,531 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents peryear, broken down as follows:2 Clean Air Cool Planet, http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/toolkit/index.phpBHCC Green Pact pg 7 of 98