Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory &
Recommendations for Achieving Carbon
Neutrality
2010
Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Kate Hale Wilson
Faculty Support: Dr. Jim Boulter and Dr. Kim Pierson
Student Researchers: Carbon Neutral Team, 2010
Student Presenters: Jason Hansen, Laura Headrick, Steph Mabrey,& Andi Krunnfusz
ACUPCC
• Presidents Climate
Commitment
– Achieve climate
neutrality (date TBD)
– Initiate tangible
actions to reduce
greenhouse gas
emissions
– Publish the climate
action plan,
emissions inventory,
and periodic
progress reports
What is eCO2?
• Equivalent carbon dioxide emissions
• Standard measurement for global warming
potential
– Carbon Dioxide
– Methane
– Nitrous Oxide
– Halocarbons
– Sulfur Hexafluoride
2010 Total eCO2 Emissions
Heating
11%
35%
21%
Electricity
Transportation
33%
Solid Waste &
Chemicals
Total Emissions: 38,870 metric tons eCO2
eCO2 Production by Sources
2008 & 2010 (MT)
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
-5,000
39,278 38,870
20,002
16,075
13,771
2008
12,707
8,247
5,380
2010
4,142
105
-2,284 0
What is an offset?
An offset is a specific project created to
reduce emissions. Generally, offsets are
purchased by an institution to reduce
emissions and achieve carbon neutrality
when it is no longer possible for the
institution to reduce their emissions any
further. They are purchased to offset each
metric ton of eCO2 emitted.
Qualifications
There are 11 qualifications for a program to be considered an offset:
1. Real
2. Additional
3. Transparent
4. Measurable
5. Permanent
6. Verifiable
7. Synchronous
8. Account for leakage
9. Not double
counted
10. Registered
11. Retired
If a program meets the first 9 qualifications, then it
will be registered by a qualified institution and
“retired” meaning that it can no longer be counted
as an offset.
For further explanation of these qualifications see:
http://www2.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/documents/ACUPCCVoluntaryCarbonOffsetProtocol_Nov08.pdf
Cost and Recommendations
The cost of an offset can range from as little as $2
to more than $50 per metric ton of eCO2.
There are many methods that the University
could employ to reduce its carbon emissions
without purchasing offsets. However, there are
certain activities such as traveling that will never
be carbon-neutral. Therefore, it is recommended
that the University consider purchasing offsets to
offset the emissions from these activities.
Additional Resources
For more information regarding offsets:
• Carbon Offsets Daily
– http://www.carbonoffsetsdaily.com/
• Carbon Offset Research and Education (CORE)
– http://www.co2offsetresearch.org/
• President’s Climate Commitment Resources
– http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/re
sources/guidance-documents/offset-protocol
Additional Information
• For more detailed information, please view
the 2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Report & Recommendations for Achieving
Carbon Neutrality in full at:
http://www.uwec.edu/Sustainability/plans/index.htm