GGAP Emissions Measurement

PURPOSE:

All New Jersey colleges pledged to participate in the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan (see NJHEPS press release). You may not know your current greenhouse gas emissions so you will need to establish a baseline. NJHEPS has a worksheet that can help you create a baseline measurement of your greenhouse gas emissions. This worksheet will enable you to measure your progress and make energy plans to enable your institution to attain GGAP levels of emissions reductions. It is easy to reduce your energy intensity (as measured by tons of emissions per sq. ft. or population size) by 3.5% below 1990 levels: 80% of the 24 New Jersey institutions reporting to us have done so. It’s also not very difficult to achieve a 3.5% reduction in emissions, notwithstanding size and population expansion — 46% of reporting colleges have achieved this, so your institution can too!

PROCEDURE:

• You can download our Excel Worksheet* to perform the emissions calculations and generate the baseline emissions data. Either click on the link, and the spreadsheet will be displayed in your browser window, or right-click on the link and select “Save Target As” to download the Excel worksheet to your hard drive). Please save the completed spreadsheet for your records and email it to NJHEPS.

*A Pop-up may apear asking for a password depending on your browser. Simply close this box as no password is needed to save or download the spreadsheet.

Data you will need for this effort (for 2010 and current year):

• Total purchase of electricity (required).
• Total electricity sold (required)
• Net electricity purchased (required)
• Emissions-free electricity purchased — e.g., wind energy (required)
• Total purchase of fuel oil (required)
• Total natural gas purchased (required)
• Total purchase of gasoline (required)
• Total other (propane, sold heat/steam, etc.) (required)
• Total campus climate-controlled area (required) — the total square footage of the campus that is climate-managed. (If this is impossible to obtain, please let us know that you are sending the campus’ gross square footage.)
• Total campus population (full-time equivalent staff + full-time equivalent students) (required)
• Total recycling solid waste tonnage (in short tons)

Note: please subtract out any electricity or fuel consumed by tenants unaffiliated with your institution.

What The NJHEPS Spreadsheet Will Calculate:

• Changes in Campus Emissions between Baseline year and Change year
• Changes in Campus Emissions per Sq. Ft.
• Changes in Campus Emissions per FTE (i.e., campus population)
• Avoided Emissions (both sq. ft. and FTE basis)

Sources: US Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (see: http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/reportingform_prelaunch.html), 1991 NJ Energy Master Plan, 1990 PSE&G Electric Tariff, and EIA Electric Power Annual 1999, Volume 2, Table 24; US EPA E-Grid; NJ DEP and NJ BPU; PJM Interconnection, LLC.

DISCLAIMER:

While “greenhouse gases” include more than just CO(2) (methane, among others, is also strongly implicated), we have focused exclusively on this gas due to its prevalence in the inventory of emissions, its role as an indicator of climate altering gases, and its predominance in global climate change science. Measurement of CO2 is particularly useful because emissions can be calculated as a direct ratio of fossil fuel use.

The data and calculations recommended in this “protocol” are insufficient to offer a full accounting of any given institution’s contribution to climate alteration. The science of global climate change remains inexact. Our measures of CO(2) emissions are incomplete. We believe, however, after careful consideration, that the measurement tools provided here are capable of establishing benchmarks as a basis for informed decision-making, improved energy management and infrastructure design.

NJHEPS Greenhouse Gas Calculator

We provide the NJHEPS calculator for institutions that do not currently have baselines for their greenhouse gas emissions. Our calculator provides your institution with baselines to help you on your way to reducing emissions.

Upon reaching Step 3: Calculate Total Recycling, please refer to theEPA Project Warm Calculatorin order to generate recycling solid waste GHG emissions saved. Follow the directions on the worksheet and input the generated Baseline and Alternative (change year) GHG emissions data in Step 3 of the NJHEPS GGAP Protocol calculator to receive your results.

Once you have generated your baseline data please use the Environmental Protection Agency reporting tools and calculators on this website. The EPA tools will enable you to track your trends in greenhouse gas emissions and the associated economic impact.

Download the NJHEPS GGAP Excel Calculator*

Need help with these tools? Click here for a tutorial to assist you

EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tools and Calculators

Once you have baselines for your greenhouse gas emissions data please follow these steps:

Step 1: Transfer your baseline data into the EPA’s University Green Tracking spreadsheet.

Step 2: Conduct and assess any energy efficiency / greenhouse gas measures (if you have not already done so).

Step 3: Use the calculation tools below to measure your greenhouse gas reduction and associated economic impact or save energy and waste reduction:

EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalent
EPA Project Warm Calculator
P2 Cost Calculator

Step 4: Please enter the results of these calculations into the EPA’s University Green Tracking spreadsheet to see the changes in greenhouse gas emissions and associated economic impact compared to your your baseline data.

Step 5: When you have completed the EPA’s University Green Tracking spreadsheet please email it to NJHEPS.

Step 6: Whether or not you used the NJHEPS calculator for baseline data please download and complete this Quality Assurance / Quality Control form and email it back to us at NJHEPS.

EPA P2 Grant Workshop Presentations

• NJHEPS/NJAPPA EPA Workshop 1/20/12 Energy Project Implementation Process
• NJHEPS/NJAPPA EPA Workshop 1/20/12 Keynote by NJBPU President Hanna-NJ Clean Energy Programs 
• NJHEPS/NJAPPA EPA Workshop 1/20/12: Renewable Energy -“Do’s and Don’ts” of Successful Projects
• NJHEPS/NJAPPA EPA Workshop 1/20/12:Using The Local Government Energy Audit as a Starting Point for Project Funding and Incentives
• The NJHEPS Design Guide: A Comprehensive Tool for Your Campus by Joe Porrovecchio, Carbon-Key & USGBC