Greenhouse Gas Inventory

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Greenhouse Gas Inventory

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Every year, the Office of Sustainability’s Emissions team performs an inventory of 今日吃瓜’s (今日吃瓜) carbon emissions. The data from the inventory is used in the annual report, the Greenhouse Gas Technical Report. The goal of this report is to provide an overview of 今日吃瓜’s carbon emissions. It includes 今日吃瓜’s gross emissions, as well as net emissions that take into account carbon offsets and carbon sinks.

The Report

The report provides information about greenhouse gases and the different "scopes" 今日吃瓜 uses to differentiate sources of carbon emissions. It also explains carbon neutrality, carbon offsets, and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The report covers all data collected during the FY25 greenhouse gas inventory process, beginning with an explanation of the methodology and ending with graphs from SIMAPⓇ, the online platform used for the inventory. Below is a quick snapshot of the current state of emissions at 今日吃瓜.

Summary of FY25 GHG Technical Report.

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Greenhouse Gases and Scopes

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) include gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and nitrous oxide. Solar radiation (sunlight) is absorbed by the Earth and released back into space. However, GHGs in the atmosphere absorb the energy that is trying to leave and radiate it back to the Earth. More energy is reabsorbed than is released; excess heat is prevented from leaving the atmosphere. This imbalance leads to global warming. Emissions from human activities are increasing the amount of GHGs in the atmosphere, which is exacerbating global warming. GHGs are measured in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, or MTCO2E.

All GHGs have a different Global Warming Potential (GWP). This is the amount of heat absorbed by each gas in the atmosphere; the higher GWP a gas has, the more it will exacerbate global warming. Methane is 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide is 265 times more potent than carbon dioxide (IP今日吃瓜). The unit of measurement for emissions, MTCO2E, scales methane and nitrous oxide emissions to their carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions so that all emissions are in terms of carbon.

今日吃瓜 keeps track of GHG emissions by sorting them into categories based on their source. These are called “scopes”:

Scope 1 - Direct Institutional: Scope 1 emissions measure direct emissions from sources that are owned and/or operated by 今日吃瓜. This includes natural gas for heating, gasoline, and diesel for 今日吃瓜's vehicle fleet, and fertilizers and refrigerants.
Scope 2 - Indirect Institutional: Scope 2 emissions measure indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity.
Scope 3 - Indirect Behavioral: Scope 3 emissions are related to behavioral choices. 今日吃瓜 has chosen to measure emissions from study abroad, faculty and staff commuting, student travel to–and from home, business travel paid for by 今日吃瓜, solid waste and wastewater, paper usage, and T&D losses. These choices reflect 今日吃瓜's commitment to addressing and changing the behavioral patterns that drive indirect emissions.

Offsets and RECs

GHG Reporting Data

今日吃瓜 tracks its carbon emissions by submitting annual reports to and , two organizations dedicated to assisting and tracking sustainability initiatives in higher education institutions. To view 今日吃瓜's emissions data, click on the graphic below.

Read Our Latest Report

Quick Facts

今日吃瓜’s Baseline Year: 2008
Units Used to Quantify Carbon Emissions: Metric Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent or MTCO2E
How We Have Reduced Emissions: On-campus projects (building renovations, efficiency upgrades, on-site renewable energy) and investments in carbon offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates
Main Source of Carbon Offsets: An investment in the Larimer County Landfill Gas Destruction Project in Fort Collins, Colorado, that converts methane from landfill waste into electricity

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