Appendix 1: Emissions Report

Executive Summary

The purpose of this appendix is to provide a transparent accounting for the GHG emissions reported in the CECAP report including the scope, boundaries, data sources and activities currently included in the reporting.

This year, written guidance for the calculation of the GHG emissions footprint of BU was produced to align reporting more closely with best practice. This is to support objective 8 of the CECAP and several of the data management CECAP actions. The main sources for this work was the CECAP, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and the UK government’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines. A number of changes and recalculations have been made following this (see changes section).

In 2018/19, BU’s GHG emissions across all scopes were 6,772 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) for the year. This year the total is 4,335 tCO2e

Introduction

Principles

The aim of this report is to align BU’s GHG emissions reporting to best practices (e.g. the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard and the UK government’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines) and improve data management along the following principles (based on the GHG’s standard):

• Relevance: the inclusion of appropriate sources that reflect the emissions of BU and supports decision making by BU

• Completeness: an inventory of GHG sources that covers as much of the GHG emissions produced by BU as possible

• Consistency: the use of consistent data sources and calculations with any changes made to methods, activities or boundaries documented.

• Transparency: the recording of data sources for audit and addressing all issues clearly in reports

• Accuracy: the reduction of estimates and uncertainties around emissions amounts by collection of the appropriate data.

Boundaries

The CECAP recommends the use of the UK Government Environmental Reporting Guidelines to define organisational boundaries. As per Annex A of the Reporting Guidelines (and noted in the CECAP) BU is using an operational control boundary. Under the operational control approach, a company accounts for 100% of emissions from operations over which it or one of its subsidiaries has operational control. This allows BU to measure and control emissions that the organisation can take steps to reduce. The GHG standard notes that having operational control “does not mean that a company necessarily has authority to make all decisions concerning an operation. Operational control does mean that a company has the authority to introduce and implement its operating policies.”

Reporting dates and base year

This report covers the year 1st August 2021 to 31st July 2022. The base year is 1st August 2018 to 31st July 2019. BU’s actual emissions targets are SBT targets created with the SBTi tool V1.1 “well below 2 degrees” model.

Operational Boundary and Scopes

In order to fully account for BU’s GHG emissions and identify future opportunities for reduction, activities across scopes 1, 2 and 3 need to be accurately recorded. Scope 1 to 3 are defined in the Table 3. Methods of data collection and calculation of emissions have been defined for each emissions source that BU reports on (see Emissions by Source for 2021/21 section, below).

Scopes 1 and 2 are currently recorded fully and the table indicates which areas of Scope 3 are only partially recorded, or not recorded at all. BU is working to expand the inventory of scope 3 activities that are being reported. In particular, we are working to calculate emissions from purchased goods and services and these have been identified as a priority, given the likely amount of emissions and the opportunity for BU to engage with suppliers to reduce these significantly.

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Changes this year and impact on GHG emissions calculation

In order to ensure accurate tracking of emissions over time, in line with CECAP recommendations and Chapter 5 of the GHG Corporate Accounting Standard, recalculation of the base year and previous years will be completed at the time of calculating the annual GHG footprint for the below reasons if those changes (either alone or cumulatively) are equal to the threshold for recalculation. This threshold is 1% of the original base year total emissions (5,880 tCO2e). The reasons for recalculation are listed below:

• Structural changes to the organisation (mergers/ acquisitions/ outsourcing) that impact activities responsible for GHG emissions

• Changes to methodology:

• Improvements to carbon factors or activity data collection or calculation methods,

• Improvements to the footprint by addition of activities not currently reported on,

• Correction of significant errors (above the threshold amount).

The reasons for these changes, along with the impact of these changes on the CECAP baseline have been summarised in the Data Management section of the report. This has increased the accuracy and completeness of the GHG footprint calculation by increasing the activities reported on and the quality of the data. The SBTi targets are recalculated from the new baseline based on the percentage reduction amounts from V1.1 of the SBTi tool outlined in the CECAP appendices.

Some recommendations for future improvements in data management are shown in Table 4 just mileage. that kWh data would be adjusted for boiler efficiency and used to convert to tCO2e (tonnes could be used but this would also require an estimate of the weight impact of moisture content in the fuel).

CECAP appendix 4 recommends the inclusion of leased assets e.g. St Mary’s, Portsmouth in the GHG footprint e.g. purchased electricity, gas and water at this site, unless it can be shown that BU has no operational control over the building.

Calculation of electricity emissions from end users using BU’s electricity, where those end users pay BU for the electricity. This figure should be moved from Scope 2 to Scope 3 (downstream) as per the GHG Scope 3 Corporate Accounting Chain Reporting Standard.

Emissions by Source for 2021/21

Scope

1 and Scope 2

Natural Gas

Data management:

The BU Sustainability Team (Energy Manager/ Sustainability and Energy Analyst) are responsible for recording the natural gas data. This is recorded in the SystemsLink Energy Manager software as part of the ISO50001 certified Environment and Energy Management System (EEMS).

Data sources:

1. Preferred data source: direct manual reads of all billing level meters as recorded by the BU Facilities Team and/ or the Sustainability team,

2. If the preferred data source is not available for all or part of the estate, Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) data either from BU’s AMR system or the utility supplier will be used,

3. If the AMR data is unreliable or incomplete for all or part of the estate, financial (billing) data may be used.

Calculation:

1. Meter readings (in m3 or ft3) are converted to kWh.

2. The kWh total for the year is converted to tCO2e using carbon factors from DEFRA (the kgCO2e factor for natural gas conversion from gross CV). The version of the DEFRA carbon factors to be used is the last version published before the start of the reporting year (July 2021).

Results in 2021/22:

1,347tCO2e, an increase from the baseline year (1,240tCO2e). Natural gas is the main heating fuel for the BU Estate. Factors that are external to the Energy Management System that increase or decrease natural gas usage include the size of the BU estate, the Covid-19 pandemic and the weather. Controllable factors affected by BU’s operational decisions include the amount of onsite renewable/ low carbon generation (GSHPs and the biomass boiler) and the operation and monitoring of the BMS and AMR systems as part of the ISO50001 Energy Management System. This reporting year, there was a higher need for heating and ventilation compared to the base year for Covid-19 safety.

LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)

Data management:

The BU Sustainability Team (Energy Manager/ Sustainability and Energy Analyst) is responsible for recording the LPG data. This is recorded in the SystemsLink Energy Manager software as part of the ISO50001 certified Environment and Energy Management System (EEMS).

Data sources:

1. Preferred data source: direct manual reads of all billing level meters as recorded by the Chapel Gate Operations Manager and/ or the Sustainability team,

2. If the meter readings are unreliable or incomplete for all or part of the estate, financial (billing) data may be used.

Calculation:

1. Meter readings (in m3) or delivery amounts (in litres) are converted to kWh.

2. The kWh total for the year is converted to tCO2e using carbon factors from DEFRA (the kgCO2e factor for LPG conversion from gross CV). The version of the DEFRA carbon factors to be used is the last version published before the start of the reporting year (July 2021)

Results in 2021/21: 75.42tCO2e, an increase from the baseline year (68.62tCO2e)

LPG is the heating fuel for the Chapel Gate Sports ground because this is not connected to the natural gas network. Similar to natural gas, the weather and changes to operations due to Covid-19 have impacted the emissions amount.

Biomass (non-CO2 only)

Data management:

The BU Sustainability Team (Energy Manager/ Sustainability and Energy Analyst) is responsible for recording the biomass data. This is recorded in the SystemsLink Energy Manager software as part of the ISO50001 certified Environment and Energy Management System (EEMS).

Data sources:

1. Preferred data source: AMR from the primary heat meter (generation) of the biomass boiler.

2. If the AMR is incomplete or unreliable, a meter read (taken quarterly or annually) can be used.

Data sources:

1. The AMR records the usage in kWh.

2. The kWh total for the year is converted to tCO2e (non-CO2 only) using carbon factors from DEFRA (the kgCO2e factor for woodchip biomass). The version of the DEFRA carbon factors to be used is the last version published before the start of the reporting year (July 2021). The non-CO2 factor is used due to the lifecycle of the woodchip; during the life of the trees that the woodchip is derived from, as much CO2 is removed from the atmosphere as is added from its combustion.

Results in 2021/22: 6.17tCO2e, a decrease from the baseline year (7.95tCO2e).

The biomass boiler in Poole House is responsible for low carbon generation of heat; it is carbon dioxide neutral as growing the trees for the woodchip removes as much CO2 as is emitted into the atmosphere from its combustion. However, there are other GHG gases released into the atmosphere during combustion, so it is not carbon dioxide equivalent neutral. This reporting year, there was a similar but slightly decreased need for the biomass boiler compared to the base year and 2019/20, due to a reduction in the heating requirements in Poole House for the year, due to weather and heating controls.

Fleet Data management:

Vehicles directly owned by the university for transport

• Diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles a. The BU Sustainability Team (Travel and Transport Manager) are responsible for recording the mileage, fuel and cost data for the 4 diesel fleet vehicles and 1 petrol hybrid we have as reported by the users of the vehicles. This is recorded in an Excel worksheet and held in the university’s internal computer drives.

• Electric vehicles a. The electricity used to charge the 8 fleet EVs are reported as part of the scope 2 grid electricity emissions (fleet vehicles are charged on site). There is a recommendation to separate this out in future reporting.

Grounds vehicles

The BU Sustainability Team fuel and cost data for the grounds vehicles as reported by the users of the vehicles. This is recorded in an Excel worksheet and held in the university’s internal computer drives.

Data sources:

Vehicles directly owned by the university for transport

• Diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles

1. Preferred data source: litres of petrol or diesel purchased.

2. If the preferred data source is not available, mileage data per vehicle is recorded.

Grounds vehicles

1. Litres of fuel totalled for the year is converted to tCO2e using carbon factors from DEFRA (the kgCO2e factor for diesel or petrol fuel). The version of the DEFRA carbon factors to be used is the last version published before the start of the reporting year.

Results in 2021/22:

16.5 tCO2e, a decrease from the baseline year (19.5tCO2e). The amount of electric fleet vehicles has increased, and this has been reflected in the decrease in emissions. We now have 62% electric fleet vehicles. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there has also been a decrease in non-Estates fleet usage also.

F gas (Fugitive emissions)

Data management:

The contractor for refrigeration maintenance provides an annual report that includes the type of refrigerant and amounts lost to leaks.

Data sources:

Leaks from refrigeration in kg and type of refrigerant as recorded by contractor.

Global Warming Potential information for refrigerants (from DEFRA).

Calculation:

• Leaks: total refrigerant lost in in kg

• Leak tests: total refrigerant added minus total refrigerant removed in kg

• Kilograms of each leak or leak test totalled for the year is converted to tCO2e using GWP from DEFRA. The version of the DEFRA carbon factors to be used is the last version published before the start of the reporting year.

Results in 2021/22: 30tCO2e, a decrease from the baseline year (309tCO2e). The large base year amount was due to the result of three large leaks from air conditioning units occurring on Talbot Campus, which was an anomaly. Completeness of data has been improved this year, compared to the original CECAP report, which gave the original baseline amount of 135tCO2e. Data quality for this source can still be improved to align with the method in the UK government reporting guidelines.

Electricity

Data management:

The BU Sustainability Team (Energy Manager/ Sustainability and Energy Analyst) is responsible for recording the electricity data. This is recorded in the SystemsLink Energy Manager software as part of the ISO50001 certified Environment and Energy Management System (EEMS).

Data sources:

1. Preferred data source: direct manual reads of all billing level meters as recorded by the Facilities Team and/ or the Sustainability team,

2. If the meter readings are unreliable or incomplete for all or part of the estate, financial (billing) data may be used.

Calculation:

1. Meter readings are converted to kWh.

2. The kWh total for the year is converted to tCO2e using carbon factors from DEFRA (the kgCO2e conversion factor for electricity generation). The version of the DEFRA carbon factors to be used is the last version published before the start of the reporting year.

3. The DEFRA factor used will be for the consumption amount only; the Transport and Distribution amount will be recorded in Scope 3

4. BU purchases REGO certified green electricity from renewable sources, however the GHG reporting is from a location based (based on the grid emissions), not market based (based the electricity purchased). This may be reviewed if future electricity purchases are made as part of a Power Purchase Agreement.

Results in 2021/22:

1,980 tCO2e, a decrease from the baseline year (2,662 tCO2e)

There is a reduction in emissions from electricity from the base year, mostly due to reduction in DEFRA carbon factors, a reduction in activity on campus compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic and an increase in renewable generation on site from solar PVs. The increase in ventilation has impacted electricity less than natural gas, although there has been an increase in usage in areas that use electrical heating (e.g. EBC) or are mechanically ventilated or use GSHPs.

In 2021/22 we continued to purchase electricity through REGO backed green tariffs. This means that 100% of our electricity comes from renewable sources. However, we report our grid electricity emissions using the emission factors from the national grid (location based-reporting).