Carbon Footprint

CalCAP recognizes that its 2006 emissions inventory does not fully reflect the complete carbon footprint of campus activities. Upon the Steering Committee’s Request, we have calculated emissions based on lifecycle analysis for emissions sources such as purchased electricity (applying faculty research on the lifecycle emissions of power plants in lower Colorado), university procurement (accounting for goods, services and food procuremed by the University), and construction activities (accounting for emissions related facilities goods and services required for construction). The lifecycle analysis includes greenhouse gas emissions from all stages of a product/service lifecycle, including mining, manufacturing, transportation, etc.

In 2006, the campus carbon footprint according to lifecycle analysis is at least 482,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.  In comparison, the campus Emissions Inventory using non lifecycle methodology is approximately 209,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent.  The lifecycle calculation of additional emissions sources for procurement and construction adds another 337,000 metric tons of CO2e to our total carbon footprint, which could be interpreted as a 108% emissions increase (from 210,000 to 438,000 metric tons.)

To be consistent with current industry practices, we have chosen to base our analysis and target recommendations on the Emissions Inventory.  However, in coming years, CalCAP’s goal is to continue measuring the true carbon footprint and prepare actionable recommendations for the administration that will address university purchasing and consumption decisions.  

Lifecycle Calculation Methodology 

Procurement and Construction

Economic Input-Output Life Cycle Assessment (EIOLCA) Approach (UC Berkeley):
Calculations performed by Chris Jones – Berkeley Institute of the Environment

Estimating the environmental impact of goods and services requires a "lifecycle assessment" (LCA) approach. LCA methodologies allow for the incorporation of environmental impacts, including greenhouse gases, from all stages of a product's lifecycle, including mining, refining, manufacturing, transportation, retail, the "use" phase and end of life. From the standpoint of procurement for this greenhouse gas inventory, we are interested in all emissions occurring prior to the purchase of goods and services consumed by the University. A standard approach to capture these emissions uses Economic Input-Output Lifecycle Assessment (EIO-LCA) to determine emissions coefficients for categories of purchase.

The UC Berkeley Office of Procurement Services prepares an annual report of campus purchases in 130 categories of goods and services.  This calculation mapped these categories of purchases to appropriate sectors of the U.S. economy and input dollars spent into the EIO-LCA calculator. Using greenhouse gas emission values provided by EIO-LCA we get a reasonable first approximation of emissions from campus procurement. Professor Arpad Horvath of Civil and Environmental Engineering was one of the original co-developers of EIO-LCA.

Lifecycle Electricity

Electricity emissions factor was calculated from 40 years of plant operations from different power plants in lower Colorado basin. Pacca, S., and Horvath, A. (2002), Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Building and Operating Electric Power Plants in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Environmental Science & Technology, ACS, 36(14), pp. 3194-3200.