2012
UNC Charlotte Green House Gas
Inventory
David Jones
In October 2009, UNC Charlotte Chancellor Phil Dubois signed the
American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment,
thereby confirming that UNC Charlotte will strive to become green
house gas neutral. The commitment means a number of actions must
be undertaken, including an inventory of green house gasses. This
report is the second GHG inventory and will identify what progress has
been made by the University to reduce GHG emissions.
UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC USA
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
3
2. Emissions Inventory Methodology
6
3. Reporting Guidance & Principles
6
4. Reporting Boundaries
6
5. Data Collection Methodologies
6
6. 2009 -2012 Comparisons
8
7. Scope 2 Emissions
9
8. Scope 3 Emissions
10
9. Next Steps
12
2
1. Executive Summary
This 2012 GHG inventory is the 2nd GHG inventory conducted as part of the UNC Charlotte
commitment to the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. This
second GHG report will not focus on the procedures of completing the GHG inventory but rather
will compare the results from the 2009 and the 2012 inventory and identify if and where
progress has been made in reducing GHG emissions.
The inventory was conducted by quantifying emissions in three categories known as scopes.
Emissions from all six internationally recognized greenhouse gasses are quantified in this
assessment.
 Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned by UNC Charlotte.
 Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased electricity.
 Scope 3: indirect emissions from commuting, air travel and waste disposal.
Based on 2012 practices UNC Charlotte emits 111,680 metric tons of CO2e annually a 7%
reduction over the 2009 GHG Inventory.
 Scope 1: 21,101 metric tons of CO2e
 Scope 2: 57,606 metric tons of CO2e
 Scope 3: 32,974 metric tons of CO2e
Emissions % by Scope
2012
Scope 1
20%
Scope 3
30%
Scope 2
50%
3
Emissions % by source:
Directly Financed
Air Travel
1%
Scope 2 T&D Losses
5%
Other On-Campus
Stationary
18%
Student
Commuting
17%
Faculty / Staff
Commuting
6%
Refrigerants &
Chemicals
1%
Purchased
Electricity
51%
Emissions growth profile
250,000
Total Emissions (Metric Tonnes eCO2)
Scope 2 T&D Losses
200,000
Directly Financed
Outsourced Travel
Commuting
150,000
Purchased Electricity
Refrigerants &
Chemicals
Direct Transportation
100,000
On-Campus
Stationary
50,000
0
2009 2012 2015 2018 2021 2024 2027 2030 2033 2036 2039
4
Total Emissions 2009 vs. 2012
Total Emissions 2009 vs 2012
122000
120000
MtCO2e
118000
116000
114000
112000
110000
108000
106000
2009
2013
5
2. Emissions Inventory Methodology
This green house gas inventory will report data for fiscal year from July 1, 2011, to June 30,
2012. All six internationally recognized green house gasses will be reported on in this
assessment.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Methane (CH4)

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Hydroflurocarbons (HFCs)

Perflurocarbons (PFCs)

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
3. Reporting Guidance and Principles
In order to produce a green house gas inventory that is robust and verifiable, guidance in
completing this inventory has been taken from the Climate Action Registry and the Clean Air
Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator. In addition, the inventory is based on recognized green
house gas accounting and reporting principles, as defined in the Climate Action Registry.
 Relevance: Ensuring the inventory reflects our green house gas emissions.
 Completeness: Accounting for all emissions within the defined inventory boundary.
 Consistency: Use of consistent methodologies to allow for comparisons over time and
document changes to data, inventory boundaries and data collection methods.
 Transparency: All issues are addressed in a factual manner and an audit trail exists.
 Accuracy: Ensure that the quantifications of emissions are true and that uncertainties
and omissions are clearly stated.
4. Reporting Boundaries
The same operational and organizational boundaries used in the 2009 GHG inventory are used
in this 2012 inventory, the operational control approach. Under this approach, UNC Charlotte
will account for GHG emissions from operations that are under the University’s authority to
introduce, direct and implement policies that control an entity's activities, purchases and other
operations within the following scopes;
 Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned by UNC Charlotte.
 Scope 2: Indirect emissions directly linked to on campus energy use.
 Scope 3: indirect emissions related to the institution that would not arise if the
institution did not exist.
5. Data Collection Methodologies
Where possible, relevant units of activity data will be collected, such as gallons of fuel used,
kilowatt hours, Btus, miles driven and weight of materials used. The emissions factors used,
6
associated with activity data, will be those used in the Clean Air Cool Planet Campus Carbon
Calculator.
The data collected may be categorized into tiers reflecting accuracy and completeness.
 Tier 1 Data is defined as that collected from sources that report to external agencies
and use accounting protocols.
 Tire 2 Data is defined as that collected from internal maintenance and operations
records, purchase requisitions and surveys.
Appendix 1 identifies sources of date used in the inventory.
7
6. 2009 – 2012 Comparisons
Using the data collected from the 2012 GHG inventory this report will compare 2009 and 2012
emissions data to identify if progress has been made in emission reductions.
Scope 1 Emissions
Scope 1 emissions are defined as those emissions that are owned or controlled by the institution
and are categorized as stationary and mobile. Stationary combustion refers to the burning of
fuels to produce electricity, steam, heat or power using equipment in a fixed location such as
boilers, burners, heaters, furnaces, incinerators, kilns, ovens, dryers and engines. Mobile
emission are emissions associated with the campus motor fleet, excluding motor pool vehicles.
Emissions eCO2
On campus stationary
Direct transportation
2009
2012
% Change (+/-)
18,360 20,524 % 12 +
392
444
% 13 +
Refrigerants & Chemicals 1,651 25
% 98 Agriculture
106
107
%0
Total emissions
20,509 21,101 % 3 +
Scope 1 emissions have increased a modest 3%. The increases of on campus stationary may be
attributed to the addition of 2 million square feet of building space since the 2009 inventory and
an increase in student enrolment.
Scope 1 Emissions
21200
21100
21000
20900
20800
20700
20600
20500
20400
20300
20200
2009
2012
8
7. Scope 2 emissions
Scope 2 emissions are 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 such as purchased electricity.
In FY 2012, UNC Charlotte consumed 121 million Kwh of electricity supplying approximately 8
million square feet of academic and residential space on campus, giving rise to about 57,000
metric tons of carbon dioxide, representing about 51% of carbon dioxide equivalent of total
campus emissions. Since 2009 emissions from purchased electricity have reduce by %12. This
reductions may be attributed to energy performance measures implemented by campus energy
management team, the construction of LEED buildings and efficiency programs in electrical
generation enacted by Duke Energy.
Scope 2 Emissions 2009
2012
% Change (+/-)
65,686 57,606 % 12 -
Scope 2 eco2 Emissions
68,000.00
66,000.00
64,000.00
62,000.00
60,000.00
58,000.00
56,000.00
54,000.00
52,000.00
2009
2012
9
8. Scope 3 Emissions
Scope 3 emissions are described as “Other emissions attributed to your institution, deemed
“optional” emissions by corporate inventories. This includes emissions from sources that are
neither owned nor operated by your institution but are either directly financed (i.e. commercial
air travel paid for by the institution) or are otherwise linked to the campus via influence or
encouragement (i.e. air travel for study abroad programs and regular faculty, staff and student
commuting). UNC Charlotte shall report on the following scope 3 emissions:
 Commuting emissions from regular commuting by faculty, staff and students.
 Directly financed outsourced from air travel paid for by the institution.
 Solid waste emissions
Commuting
Scope 3 Commuting emissions data gathering
Commuting habits and percentages of commutes using different modes of transportation were
taken from the transportation survey competed for the 2009 campus maters plan. To determine
total miles students commute to campus, GIS technology to identify address of students and to
calculating mileage to campus.
To calculate the mileage data, the following assumptions were made:
 Faculty commuting 5 days a week for 40 weeks a year with an average commute of 17
miles.
 Student commuting 4 days a week for 40 weeks a year with an average commute of 11
miles.
 Staff commuting 5 days a week for 48 weeks a year with an average commute of 16
miles.
Table 4: Commuting Mode by Population Group
User group
Students
Faculty
Staff
Total
Drive
alone
63%
92%
89%
84%
Car pool
Transit
4%
3%
6%
5%
2%
1%
1%
1%
Source: Modified form UNC Charlotte Master Plan Transportation Report
Data collection to determine the total indirect GHG emissions resulting from air travel paid for
by or through the institution was collected by obtaining information from the UNC Charlotte
10
accounts payable department. Flight departure and destination points were logged with
corresponding mileage when available.
Overall scope 3 emissions have decreased by 4%. There have been minimal reductions in faculty
and staff commuting due to increases in fleet efficiency and minimal assumed increased in
alternative transport. The slight increase in student commuting associated emissions may be
associated with the increased student enrollment.
Scope 3 emissions
Faculty/Staff commuting
Student commuting
Air Travel
Solid waste
T&D losses
Totals
2009
7,556
18,237
1,678
302
6,496
34,269
2012
7,348
19,016
970
-57
5,697
32,974
% Change (+/-)
%3%4+
% 63 %118 % 12 %4-
Scope 3 Emissions
34500
34000
33500
33000
32500
32000
2009
2012
11
9. Next steps
This 2nd GHG inventory has identified that UNC Charlotte has had some success in reducing
campus emission by 7%. These reductions can be attributed to efforts made by the University
to increase energy efficiency, the implementation of demand reduction programs such as the
performance contract and the construction of energy efficient buildings. Recognition also has to
be given to education and awareness programs rolled out on campus resulting in the campus
faculty, staff and students being aware of energy consumption and changing habits.
The UNC Charlotte Climate Action Plan outlines a suite of comprehensive mitigations strategies
that if implemented will see the continued trend of emissions reductions continued.
12
Appendix 1: Data Sources
Data for the greenhouse gas inventory were collected from numerous departments and
individuals at the University.
Table 1 Sources of data
Data
Budgets
Population
Physical Campus
Campus
stationary
emissions
sources
Transportations
sources
Refrigerants and
chemicals
Agriculture
Purchased
energy
Commuting
Air Travel
Sources
Operating budget was obtained from the University Budget
Office.
Research budget was obtained from the Department of Research
and Federal Relations.
Energy Budget was obtained from the Facilities Management
Business Office.
Data on full and part time student enrollment and faculty size is
taken from the Office of Institutional Research UNC Charlotte Fact
Book, found at http://ir.uncc.edu/irmainpage2/fbindex.html.
Faculty and staff population obtained from Human Resources.
Data on size of the institution taken from Facilities Management
Archibus
Space management module and can be found at
https://archibus.uncc.edu/archibus/schema/abcore/views/process-navigator/navigator-details.axvw.
Will be quantified by obtaining data on fuel used for on-campus
station sources through direct metering or gallons used as
determined through operating logs. This information is compiled
for external reporting to Mecklenburg County Air Emissions
Report.
Fuel Master System and Athletics vehicle service records.
Maintenance and operations records.
Pounds of fertilizer purchased and nitrogen content information
provided by Grounds Department.
Annual electrical bills.
Parking passes and banner ID.
Transport Survey for Commuting Habits.
CATS Ridership numbers.
Travel reimbursements.
13
Solid waste
Composting
Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling Annual Report
submitted to N.C. State.
Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling Annual Report
submitted to N.C. State.
14
Appendices
Institutional data
Information
category
Operating
budget
Research budget
Energy budget
Information
needed
All sources of
funding the
university has
financial control
of and is
considered as the
cost to operate
the institution
The amount of
money the
institution
receives in
research grants
from external
sources
Combined
budget for
purchased
electricity,
natural gas, oil,
other stationary
sources. Does
not include
Information source
Data collection
method
Financial services
provided all data
which was directly
entered into the
CACP
Data collection
issues
None
Assumptions
made
None
Suggested
improvements
None
Ellen E. Zavala Director of
Research Services
UNC Charlotte Research and
Federal Relations 314 Cameron
Hall eezavala@uncc.edu
Research services
provided all data
which was entered
in CACP
None
None
None
Melanie EG Witherspoon, MPA
Business Officer
UNC Charlotte Facilities
Management
mewither@uncc.edu
Business office
provided data
entered in CACP
Had to strip
None
water purchasing
out of total utility
budget
None
Sherrie R. High, CPA University
Budget Director
UNC Charlotte Financial
Services Reese 317
srhigh@uncc.edu
Population
Physical size of
campus
Full and part
time students
transport or
water
Enrollment data
of full and part
time students
Office of Institutional research
http://ir.uncc.edu/irmainpage2/
Student population obtained
from Spring Semester degree
headcount enrollment data by
full and part time students
Office of Institutional research
http://ir.uncc.edu/irmainpage2/
And Human Resources
department.
Accessed IR
website and looked
at campus Fact
Book
None
None
None
Accessed the IR
Fact Book
Used the two
sources of IR Fact
Book and HR
department to
confirm accurate
count of Faculty
and Staff
None
None
None
Accessed
ARCHIBUS Space
Management tab
and generated
building
information report.
Transferred report
to excel removed
properties that do
not fall under the
operational control
boundary
Stripped out
None
building designated
None
None
None
None
Faculty and staff
Number of full
and part time
faculty and staff
Total building
size
Building square
feet
Information obtained from
Facilities Management
ARCHIBUS System. Also
confirmed with Beverly Setz
Director of Risk Management as
risk management report to
Raleigh on all campus
properties.
Total research
space
Same as above
16
Scope 1
Stationary
Emissions
On campus
stationary
sources
Annual on
campus
stationary fuel
use
Information obtained from
Facilities Management
as
research/education
to arrive a total
Identified fuels
combusted at UNC
Charlotte –
Information
obtained from
Facilities
Management UNC
Actual Emissions
Report to
Mecklenburg
County and
Historical Utilities
Workbook.
Determined annual
fuel used by fuel
type measured in
gallons, MBTUs
measured by meter
reading at fuel
input point.
Information
obtained from
facilities
management.
Fuel data entered
to CACP Campus
Have to look at
various spread
sheets. Oil use
for generations
found in UNC
Actual emissions
submitted to
Mecklenburg
counts. Other
data on natural
gas use, acquired
from Historical
Utilities Usage
Workbooks –
Summary by
utility worksheet
None
None
17
Scope 1 mobile
emissions
University fleet
Gallons fuel used
Facilities Management Fleet
manager and Athletics
department
Emissions
Calculator for
conversion to CO2e
tons
Information was
obtained from the
petroleum
Displacement
report that the
Fleet Manager has
to submit to
Raleigh annually.
The PDP report
tracks fuel used in
all campus vehicles.
Excluded from the
PDP report are
police and motor
fleet vehicles which
fall outside the
operational control
of the university.
Athletics leased
vehicles are not
included in the PDP
report, so this data
gas to be added in.
As well as off road
diesel.
None, just to be
aware have to
add in off road
diesel, and
athletes fuel
consumption into
the PDP report
figures.
Chancellor
vehicles also
excluded from
this data.
Athletics fuel use
is an estimation
based on service
records indicating
miles use per
year. Hen
government fuel
economy figures
used to calculate
estimated gallons
used.
Better tracking of
fuel used in
Athletics vehicles.
18
Scope 1 Fugitive
Emissions
Refrigerants and
chemical
Pounds of
refrigerant
releases
Facilities Management
Maintenance and Operations
and Housing departments, and
EH&S
Fertilizer
applications
Lbs fertilizer
applied and
nitrogen content
Grounds Department
Scope 2:
Purchased
Electricity
Purchased
electricity
Fiscal year kwh
consumption
Scope 3:
Campus
Commuting
Faculty Staff
commuting
Facilities Management
Mechanical Engineers.
Information obtained from
campus historical energy usage
tacking report, that is basis for
annual university energy report
to the State of North Carolina
Gary Caton Parking Services,
Eric Delmelle Geography And
Earth Sciences, Diane S. Bizzell
Manager of Student Systems
Total refrigerants
added to campus
systems based on
work order records
and external
vendor
maintenance
records
Lbs of fertilizer
applied on campus
based on annual
amount of fertilizer
purchased
Accuracy and
completed of
data. Unable to
get data from
housing
Total refrigerants
use, based on
work orders no
real accounting
Implement a
refrigerant
management plan
Accuracy of
application rates
Actual application
rate tracking
Kwh data taken
directly from
Energy usage
report
None
17% nitrogen
content based on
average content
nitrogen content
of fertilizer
applied
None
Faculty and staff
commuting
emission were
calculated by
determining
average commute
to campus, based
on Geo coding
None
Assumptions
were made on
the number of
journeys made to
campus each day
and days per
year. Faculty
assumptions
Banner IDs with
associated
parking details
obtained.
Addresses with
Banner ID
obtained.
Addressed
To use actual
Duke Energy CO2
emissions data
and not eGRID
conversions.
19
mapping
completed by
Geography and
earth sciences.
made on a 40
week year, 5 days
a week 2 one way
trips a day, Staff
assumptions
made on a 48
week year 5 days
a week 2 one way
trips a day.
Assumptions on
percentage of
commuters taking
different modes
of transport takes
from campus
master plan
transportation
survey.
mapped using
GIS. Average one
way commute
from address to
university
obtained in miles.
This method was
initially used to
determine GHG
gasses associated
with student
commuting.
However, there
was a major
discrepancy
between this data
finding and the
findings of the
campus master
plan commuter
survey. For
future GHG
inventories travel
surveys should be
done at the time
of obtaining
parking decals.
Questions to be
asked living
20
Campus
commuting
Student
commuting
Gary Caton Parking Services,
Eric Delmelle Geography And
Earth Sciences, Diane S. Bizzell
Manager of Student Systems
Data to determine None
emissions
associated with
student commuting
was calculated as
follows;
The first calculation
was to determine
% of students using
personal vehicles,
carpooling and
taking the bus. The
2009 Master Plan
survey provided %
of students using
personal vehicles,
carpooling and
taking the bus.
However this
survey was based
on the commuting
population only.
Addresses
outside the
Mecklenburg
county region
omitted as it was
assumed that
these are home
parent home
addresses of
students and not
semester
addresses.
Students were
assumed to
commute for 38
weeks a year.
Summer school
was not included.
Each student is
assumed to make
two one way trips
a day 4 days a
address vs. billing
address, and
modes of
transport to
commute and
frequency of
commute.
Banner IDs with
associated
parking details
obtained.
Addresses with
Banner ID
obtained.
Addressed
mapped using
GIS. Average one
way commute
from address to
university
obtained in miles.
This method was
initially used to
determine GHG
gasses associated
with student
commuting.
However, there
was a major
21
Therefore the %s in
the master plan
survey were
recalculated as
percentages of
total campus
population and
entered into the
spread sheet. The
second calculation
was to determine
total miles students
commute to
campus. This was
done by the UNC
Charlotte
geography and
earth science
departments using
GIS technology to
identify address of
students and to
calculating mileage
to campus.
Student addresses
obtained from
addresses provided
for campus parking
decals. Those
week. The GEO
coding exercise
did not pick up
the 24% of
students living on
campus.
Therefore this
number of
students was
added into the to
the overall
number to get a
percentage of
students living
within 1 miles of
campus.
discrepancy
between this data
finding and the
findings of the
campus master
plan commuter
survey. For
future GHG
inventories travel
surveys should be
done at the time
of obtaining
parking decals.
Questions to be
asked living
address vs. billing
address, and
modes of
transport to
commute and
frequency of
commute.
22
Commuting
On campus
shuttle
Air Travel
Air Miles
Passenger miles for campus
shuttle. Information from
parking services and CATS
AAA Travel
addresses outside
the Charlotte
Region designated
by the Charlotte
Chamber of
Commerce were
omitted as those
were considered to
distant to be daily
commuting.
Passenger miles
AAA provided an
itinerary of all
Campus air travel
booked by through
AAA. Each origin
and destination
with flight mileage
has been provided.
None
None
None
Did not include
travel paid
booked and paid
for outside AAA
on personnel
credit cards, and
direct to airlines.
None
Complete
electronic
tracking of all air
travel data
through BANNER
system.
23