Hamilton College Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Fiscal Year 2009
Introduction
Hamilton College’s President, Joan Hinde Stewart, signed the American College and
University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in April 2007. Hamilton has been a leader in
developing environmental programs, and in signing, Hamilton College formalizes its commitment to
sustainable practices, conservation, and the environment.
Definitions
In accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, this inventory provides a report on the six major
contributors to global warming – carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O),
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). While
tracking and reporting each of these, this report aggregates these gases on the bases of their global
warming potential into units of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-e). For consistency purposes, these
equivalents will be measured in metric tons.
The source emissions of these gases are divided into three scopes to assist in delineating
indirect and direct emissions, and are consistent with reporting under the requirements of the Climate
Commitment. These scopes are:
Scope 1: Direct emissions occurring from sources owned or controlled by Hamilton; oncampus stationary fossil fuel use (heating, emergency generators), mobile combustion by
Hamilton owned/controlled vehicles, and fugitive emissions (HFCs)
Scope 2: Indirect emissions produced from generation of electricity that is consumed by
Hamilton College.
Scope 3: All other indirect emissions, which include commuting to and from campus by
Hamilton employees, Hamilton air travel (institutional and study abroad), waste disposal,
paper consumption and wastewater.
Inventory Methodology
To provide consistency in reporting with other signatories of the Climate Commitment,
Hamilton College will use the Clean Air-Cool Planet Campus Carbon Calculator, and contracted with
Sightlines, Inc. (Sightlines also completed Hamilton’s FY2008 inventory) to develop our FY2009
inventory, while also validating our previous emission inventories. The calculator inputs our material
use, mileage data, and electrical consumption; and calculates the requisite information on the six
greenhouse gases while converting these to the common metric of carbon dioxide equivalents in
metric tons.
Hamilton College’s inventory is based on a fiscal year (July through June). Data was
available from FY2000 to present. Hamilton’s baseline year for greenhouse gas reductions is
FY2007.
1 of 7
Updated 8 December 2009
Hamilton College Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Fiscal Year 2009
Inventory
Hamilton College has developed its inventory of greenhouse gas emissions dating back to
fiscal year 2000. The Clean Air-Cool Planet calculator developed by the University of New
Hampshire has an input worksheet and a summary worksheet, which provide the requisite pieces of
information required by the Kyoto Protocol and the Climate Commitment. The same calculator is
used by Sightlines, Inc.
The below graph illustrates Hamilton’s total emissions in metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalents by scope over the past ten years.
25000
20000
Offsets
15000
Scope3
10000
Scope 2
Scope 1
5000
0
Figure 1
Hamilton’s energy use and its subsequent increase in greenhouse gas emissions has been the
result of an increase in the size of its physical plant, student population, and programs. However,
Hamilton has worked to improve the efficiency of its facilities through green building practices, and
as a result the energy use per gross square foot has had a smaller percentage increase (Figure 2).
Hamilton College Energy Use
220,000.0
140.0
210,000.0
120.0
180,000.0
MMBTU
MMBTU/GSF
Log. (MMBTU/GSF)
170,000.0
160,000.0
MMBTU/GSF
190,000.0
MMBTU
200,000.0
150,000.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
FY00
FY01
FY02
FY03
FY04
FY05
FY06
Figure 2
2 of 7
Updated 8 December 2009
FY07
FY08
FY09
Hamilton College Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Fiscal Year 2009
Scope One Emissions
Scope One emissions at Hamilton include natural gas, heating oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, and
fugitive emissions from refrigerants used in cooling facilities and vehicles. For FY2009, Scope One
emissions accounted for 33% of Hamilton College’s overall carbon footprint.
Physical Plant maintains a record of natural gas use from National Grid meter readings. This
record has been maintained over the past ten years. Records for heating oil, gasoline and diesel fuel
deliveries to on-campus storage tanks are also available. However, inconsistency in the recording of
heating oil deliveries for FY2000 through FY2004 has required this inventory to use the three year
average (FY05-FY07) for inventory purposes.
To determine how much gasoline has been used for travel beyond that dispensed at Physical
Plant, data was collected from Hamilton’s fleet card (Mobile) and Hamilton’s corporate card. The
fleet card records the gallons purchased and information was available back to FY2004. The
corporate card, however, only provides dollars expended at a service station. To determine gasoline
purchased, the total value of purchases was divided by the average retail cost per gallon of gasoline
for that year. This average retail cost was obtained from the Energy Information Administration
Annual Energy Review. Data was available back to FY2006. Data for these areas was not
extrapolated for years that data was not available.
The second data point for diesel fuel use is athletic team bus travel. Team bus trip
information is available from the Athletic Department, which includes number of buses used and
destination. Map Quest was used to determine the roundtrip mileage for each trip, and the total
mileage was divided by the miles per gallon average of a typical diesel powered bus. This total was
added to the overall diesel consumption for direct deliveries to obtain total diesel use. Only FY2007
through FY2009 data is available. To provide a consistent development of carbon emissions over the
previous seven years prior to FY2007, the FY07 data was used for all previous fiscal years.
Fugitive emission data was determined from Physical Plant’s inventory of refrigerants. This
inventory includes recovered CFC/HFCs, product replacement for recharging systems, product
recycled, and product destroyed. Data is available since FY2006. Extrapolation back to previous
years was not performed due to the variable nature of use.
Scope Two Emissions
Scope Two emissions are those indirect emissions produced from the generation of electricity
purchased by Hamilton College. Physical Plant maintains a record of electrical use from National
Grid meter readings. This record has been maintained over the past ten years.
The basis for emissions is the fuel mix ratio for the New York Upstate Grid (NYUP) subregion. The total carbon contribution from electrical purchases for FY2009 was 38%.
Scope Three Emissions
Scope Three emissions are composed of indirect emissions from all other sources. For
Hamilton’s greenhouse gas inventory, these data are specifically related to employee commuting,
institution air travel, waste disposal, paper purchases for copiers and printers, student abroad air
travel, and Scope Two transmission and distribution losses. These comprised 29% of the total with
air travel (institutional and study abroad) being the largest component at 17% of total emissions.
3 of 7
Updated 8 December 2009
Hamilton College Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Fiscal Year 2009
A survey was conducted of employees concerning their commuting habits and their estimated
air travel for College business. This data was compiled, and used to determine the total miles
traveled, estimated gas mileage of personal vehicles and the estimated annual air travel conducted by
individuals. The survey also provided anecdotal data on commuter use of the local public transit
system.
Air travel for athletic teams is developed from records provided by the athletic department.
Student travel abroad is based on Hamilton College run programs in Spain, China and France. All air
travel mileage is from the point of departure at the students point of departure by air to the destination
and return for the three student study abroad programs.
Waste disposal records are available for the number of tons of waste taken to a landfill for all
the years associated with this inventory.
Water records are available from FY2005 forward from meter readings at every building and
from the Mohawk Valley Water Authority.
Paper purchases for copier and printer paper were obtained from Auxiliary Services. All
paper purchased in FY2009 for copiers and printers was from 100% recycled paper.
Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates
Hamilton College began purchasing renewable energy certificates for green electrical energy
in the fall of 2004 with the renovation of Skenandoa House. Since that time, Hamilton has steadily
increased it REC base.
Attachments:
1. Hamilton College Emissions by Category FY2007 (Baseline Year)
Hamilton College Emissions by Scope FY2007 (Baseline Year)
2. Hamilton College Emissions by Category FY2009
Hamilton College Emissions by Scope FY2009
3. Hamilton College Gross Carbon Dioxide Emissions FY2000 to FY2009 (Stacked and Side)
4 of 7
Updated 8 December 2009
Hamilton College Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Fiscal Year 2009
Hamilton College Emissions by Category FY2007 (Baseline Year)
Agriculture, 13,
T&D
0%
Losses,
869,
4%
Wastewater,
141, 1%
Commuting,
1467, 6%
Fleet, 679, 3%
Air Travel, 3203,
14%
Heating Fuel,
6666, 29%
Solid Waste, 922,
4%
Electricity, 8787,
39%
Refrigerant, 67,
0%
Agriculture
Fleet
Refrigerant
Heating Fuel
Electricity
Solid Waste
Air Travel
Commuting
T&D Losses
Wastewater
Hamilton College Emissions by Scope FY2007 (Baseline Year)
Scope 1,
7425, 33%
Scope 3,
6602, 29%
Scope 1
Scope 2
Scope 3
Scope 2,
8787, 38%
Attachment 1
5 of 7
Updated 8 December 2009
Hamilton College Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Fiscal Year 2009
Hamilton College Emissions by Category FY2009
141, 1% 74, 0%
810, 4%
15, 0%
MTCO2e
Electricity
Electric T&D Losses
5, 0%
Heating Fuels
Fleet Fuel
2708,
12%
Commuting
1185, 5%
8481, 38%
Direct Air Travel
735, 3%
Study Aboard Air Travel
673, 3%
Agriculture
Solid Waste
6738, 30%
Wastewater
839, 4%
Paper
Refrigerants
Hamilton College Emissions by Scope FY2009
MTCO2e
6492, 29%
7431, 33%
Scope 1
Scope 2
Scope 3
8481, 38%
Attachment 2
6 of 7
Updated 8 December 2009
Hamilton College Greenhouse Gas Inventory: Fiscal Year 2009
Hamilton College Carbon Emissions FY2000 to FY2009
25000
22500
20000
Meter Tons CO2e
17500
15000
Offsets
Scope 3
Scope 2
12500
10000
7500
5000
2500
0
Metric Tons CO2e
-2500
12500
11500
10500
9500
8500
7500
6500
5500
4500
3500
2500
1500
500
-500
-1500
-2500
Scope 1
Scope 3
Scope 2
Offsets
Attachment 3
7 of 7
Updated 8 December 2009