Inventory Overview
The Office of Sustainability oversees the annual greenhouse gas inventory, which is completed on the fiscal year cycle. UVM has been measuring and publicly reporting greenhouse gas emissions since 2007. While there have been significant emissions reductions since then, the Comprehensive Sustainability Plan outlines strategies to achieve carbon neutrality.
The inventory process represents collaboration with many stakeholders across campus to ensure accurate data collection and analysis. Once all relevant data is collected, our emissions are calculated utilizing SIMAP, a powerful tool developed by our peers at the University of New Hampshire. UVM's annual emissions are also reported through the SIMAP public reporting tool as part of our commitment to the Second Nature Climate Leadership Network.
Emissions Trends
Below you can view emissions trends since 2007. For the best user experience, open the dashboard in a new window by clicking on the arrow icon in the bottom right corner.
Scope 1
This category includes direct emissions from sources owned or operated by UVM including:
On-campus stationary emissions from natural gas, oil, and propane consumption.
This category represents our largest source of emissions, primarily from the Main Campus District Energy Plant which heats approximately 75 campus buildings and cools approximately 32 buildings. Decarbonizing our campus buildings is a top priority laid out in the Comprehensive Sustainability Plan.
Mobile emissions from our campus fleet vehicles, shuttle buses, and grounds equipment.
There are numerous ongoing strategies to reduce emissions from this category. This includes fleet vehicle sharing, electric fleet vehicles with fleet specific charging, and uptake of electric grounds equipment.
Fugitive emissions from refrigerants.
Unintended gas leaks from the processing, transmission, and/or transportation of refrigerants. We began tracking this in FY 2024.
Animals and Fertilizers
This category includes emissions from fertilizer used on the main campus, Miller Research Farm, and the Horticultural Research Farm. It also includes emissions from the poultry, cows, goats, and horses here at UVM.
Scope 2
This category includes:
Purchased electricity from Burlington Electric Department (BED) and Green Mountain Power (GMP)
UVM's Scope 2 emissions have been carbon neutral since 2015. From 2015 to 2020, UVM purchased Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) to cover all purchased electricity. Beginning in 2021, UVM began using supplier-specific emissions factors rather than regional, which is best practice for scope 2 according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. BED and GMP are both carbon neutral, therefore UVM’s Scope 2 emissions are carbon neutral using this methodology. Although this is best practice for institutional carbon accounting, UVM uses regional emissions factors to estimate impacts of implementing energy efficiency measures to better understand the reductions that are possible.
Scope 3
Scope 3 includes indirect emissions that occur as a result of UVM operations. These emissions are the most difficult to control and reduce. Beginning in FY 2023, UVM has committed to purchasing high-quality, local Carbon Offsets in partnership with the Vermont Land Trust to cover all Scope 3 emissions each year.
These are the subcategories in Scope 3 that UVM currently measures and reports on:
Paper Purchasing
We began tracking this category in 2017.
Waste Generated in Operations
This includes wastewater and solid landfilled waste.
Business Travel
This includes student study abroad air travel. It also includes air travel for university business such as conferences, trainings, student group travel such as Student Government Association and athletic teams, and mileage reimbursement for personal vehicle use for business purposes.
Commuting (Staff, Faculty, Students)
This data is estimated using results from the annual CATMA survey and includes modes such as internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles, carpooling, bus, and telework.
Scope 2 Transmission & Distribution Losses
These are indirect emissions associated with the loss of electricity during its transmission and distribution from the point of generation to the end-user.