Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Overview



zero emissions vehicleGreenhouse gas inventories reveal that 75% of our emissions are associated with campus building energy use. The majority of the remaining emissions come from campus related travel.

UC Berkeley reports on ten emissions sources and analyzes emissions in three different categories:

  • Scope 1 - Direct Emissions: cogen natural gas, purchased natural gas, emergency generators, campus fleet, emissions from refrigerants
  • Scope 2 - Indirect Emissions: purchased electricity
  • Scope 3 - Optional Emissions: business air travel, student commute, faculty/staff commute, solid waste, water consumption, air travel

The campus reports its GHG inventory to both The Climate Registry and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Third party verification of the inventory is completed as part of the reporting process.

2019 Berkeley GHG Emissions Inventory

Emissions Sources

1990
Metric Tons
CO2e

2008
Metric Tons
CO2e

2019
Metric Tons
CO2e

2021
Metric Tons CO2e
Plant Natural Gas 60,457 66,125 130,955 117,660
Electricity 40,296 62,384 2,320 2,900
Air Travel 19,980 21,865 24,566 6,706
Faculty & Staff Commute 23,142 18,027 12,329 10,392
Nautral Gas 8,148 12,453 11,505 10,950
Student Commute 4,100 3,824 3,245 2,613
Water 783 864 304 278
Campus Fleet 1,968 1,701 1,755 1,491
Solid Waste 996 981 693 376
Fugitive-Refrigerants
237 66 469 237
De Minimis 281 281 281 281
TOTAL EMISSIONS  160,389 188,572 188,422 144,485

Emissions Profile

2019 EMISSIONS PROFILE

Normalized Energy and Climate Data

The campus analyzes emissions, energy use, and transportation scaled to campus population and square footage over time to monitor normalized progress and for comparison purposes.

2019 EMISSIONS PER CAPITA

Carbon Footprint Lifecycle Analysis

UC Berkeley recognizes that the reported emissions inventory does not fully reflect the complete carbon footprint of campus activities. A lifecycle analysis includes greenhouse gas emissions from all stages of a product/service lifecycle, including mining, manufacturing, and transportation. UC Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory has provided some lifecycle analysis of campus emissions as have students in reports like this an award winning student research project.

Zero emissions!

group of 3 employees pose on bike to work day

Cal employees participate in
Bike to Work Day,
reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and building healthy habits

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

ceramics projects from recycled materials

Did you know that waste materials
contribute to GHG emissions?
Berkeley students use recycled materials
in ceramics projects. 

students sell reusable alternatives to disposable cups and bottles

UC Berkeley staff promote reusable alternatives to
disposable cups and bottles at a CACS Summit

Research

Prof. Claudia Ostertag, Civil and Enviro Engineering, creates new concrete composites to reduce GHG emissions

Professor Claudia Ostertag,
Civil and Environmental Engineering,
creates new concrete composites to reduce GHG emissions