New Climate Program Manager Now on Board!

Submitted by Toni Nelson on September 4, 2008 - 11:55pm
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As the new CPM for AASHE, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and begin my communications with the Implementation Liaisons. It's been an exciting first week at AASHE, especially with the reporting deadline for charter signatories less than two weeks away, and I'm learning a lot from the questions you are sending. Perhaps the issue of most imminent concern is the reporting deadline and the new extension process. Extensions may be granted one time for up to a 4-month period; please send applications directly to me at toni@aashe.org. One question that has been surfacing regards scope 3 emissions required for the inventory. Two sources of scope 3 emissions are required: airline travel sponsored by the institution, and commuting by faculty, staff, and students. For guidance in calculating these Scope 3 emissions please see two recent posts (Guidance on Commuting and Guidance on Air Travel). An interesting approach to calculating emissions from commuting is described by Walter Simpson of Buffalo in a webinar on "Reducing Greenhouse Gases and Achieving Climate Neutrality," available free of charge until September 19. My goal is to assist Implementation Liaisons with their efforts to fulfill the requirements of the ACUPCC, and I hope you will contact me with any questions or concerns you have either by email or by phone at 859-940-2545. Starting next week, I will begin calling schools that are having difficulties meeting the reporting deadlines to see how AASHE might be able to provide assistance. You can also look forward to monthly communications beginning in October that will provide information, tools, and resources you may find helpful. I hope to meet many of you in person at AASHE 2008. Toni

Comments

Walter Simpson's webinar is

Submitted by Niles on September 17, 2008 - 7:14pm.
Walter Simpson's webinar is very useful - at around 39 minutes into the presentation he speaks to the issue of calculating commuter emissions (responding to a viewers question). He essentially says that at Buffalo certain assumptions had to be made - calculating the average distance students and staff live from campus, the number of days they travel to and from campus and the average efficiency of the vehicles they drive. The important lesson is to record any assumptions that are made (for example if you assume that those living within 1/4 mile of campus will walk/bike) so when completing future inventories the uncertainties can hopefully be improved and known. Surveys have been one useful method that campuses (and even corporations) have used to get more accurate commuting emissions data. Working with the Parking & Transportation office on campus can sometimes also yield useful data (parking pass data for example).