1. Operations
  2. Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories
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Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory

The UConn Office of Sustainability performs an audit every year to determine our annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory. The data from this inventory is used in annual reporting for AASHE Stars Reporting, Sierra Club Cool Schools, and Second Nature President's Carbon Commitment. A team of OS interns compiles data provided by many sources within UConn, including Facilities Operations, and uses the University of New Hampshire SIMAP Calculator to store and track greenhouse gas information. The OS has been completing the UConn GHG inventory for more than ten years, starting in 2010. Learn more about the three scopes of the GHG inventory below. 

Scope 1: Direct Energy Usage

Scope 1 emissions refer to direct emissions that occur "from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization," such as the emissions from combustion in boilers or car exhausts (US EPA). At UConn, scope 1 emissions data include the following:

  • Animal Husbandry
  • Fertilizer (Farm, Research Farm, Athletics, Outsourced)
  • Stationary Fuels
  • Motor Pool
  • Refrigerants
  • CoGen Efficiencies

Scope 2: Indirect Energy Usage

Scope 2 emissions refer to indirect emissions "associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling," (US EPA). These emissions do not occur on site at the university, but still need to be accounted for because they are a result of UConn's energy usage. The only Scope 2 metric for UConn is purchased electricity.

Scope 3: Other Indirect

Scope 3 emissions account for much of the GHG emissions on campus; they are "the result of activities from assets not owned or controlled by the reporting organization, but that the organization indirectly affects in its value chain," (US EPA). In different words, the scope 3 emissions at UConn are the scope 1 and 2 emissions of a different organization. Anything not included in the scope 1 and 2 emissions boundary is part of scope 3 emissions. Some examples of scope 3 emissions include business travel, employee commuting, transportation and distribution, and more. UConn Scope 3 metrics include:

  • Commuting
  • Floriculture Compost
  • Paper
  • Solid Waste
  • Wastewater

2023 GHG Inventory

The OS intern team is currently working on completing the GHG Inventory for 2023. Check back soon! Past GHG inventories are available at the link below.