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Greenhouse Gas Data Dashboard

Welcome to our Greenhouse Gas Data Dashboard, a comprehensive tool designed to provide insights into Penn's complex inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. As we navigate the challenges of climate change, understanding and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions is paramount to developing effective mitigation strategies. Our dashboard offers a user-friendly interface, bringing together data from various sources to offer a holistic view of greenhouse gas emissions across different scopes and categories. Whether you're a student, researcher, or concerned citizen, this platform serves as a valuable resource for exploring trends, identifying hotspots, and tracking progress towards a carbon-neutral university. Join us as we delve into the data driving our understanding of climate change and work towards a greener, healthier planet for generations to come.

Our dashboard showcases the annual greenhouse gas emissions of Penn for fiscal years 2009-2023. Penn's fiscal year spans from July 1 to June 30. The dashboard presents both gross emissions, which represent the total greenhouse gas emissions generated by the campus before accounting for any offsets, and net emissions, which reflect the remaining emissions after applying offsets.

You have the option to click on different elements of the graph, adjust the displayed years of data, share the dashboard with others, or download the data.

Please note that the data presented may undergo changes as we continuously strive to enhance data quality and provide a comprehensive overview of our campus footprint.

Greenhouse Gas Inventory (Main Campus)

Scopes

Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions categorize different sources of greenhouse gas emissions within an organization's or operational framework. 

  • Scope 1 emissions encompass direct emissions produced by activities under an organization's control, such as those from the combustion of fossil fuels in owned facilities or vehicles. These emissions are typically the most straightforward to measure and manage.
  • Scope 2 emissions involve indirect emissions generated from purchased electricity, heat, or steam used by the organization. While not directly produced by the organization, they are a consequence of its energy consumption and are thus within its sphere of influence.
  • Scope 3 emissions, on the other hand, represent a broader scope, encompassing all other indirect emissions associated with an organization's activities, including those from its supply chain, business travel, waste generation, and product use. These emissions can be more challenging to quantify and control but are crucial for achieving a comprehensive understanding of an organization's carbon footprint and driving sustainability initiatives throughout its entire operation.
Offsets

It is important to note that, currently, the University cannot achieve carbon neutrality without offsets. For FY23, 23% of the carbon footprint was offset. 

  • Steam Offsets: Penn’s steam offsets program is critical in reducing the university’s greenhouse gas emissions by addressing emissions associated with purchased steam. Steam, primarily used for heating and other campus operations, significantly contributes to Scope 2 emissions due to its reliance on fossil fuel combustion, specifically the grid, at external facilities.
  • CLIO Offsets: Air travel comprises 5-10% of Penn’s main campus carbon emissions. Penn faculty, staff, and students who travel on university business are encouraged to choose more sustainable transportation methods when possible, but it is acknowledged that some level of air travel will continue within the Penn Community.  A Climate Impact Offset charge (CLIO) funds the Travel Sustainability Fund to procure offsets for University air travel.
  • Green-e® RECs: In FY24, the University purchased Green-e® Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to support its greenhouse gas reduction efforts. These RECs were strategically employed to address emissions during the initial rollout of the University’s Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which began generating electricity in January 2024 but did not reach full production until later in the fiscal year. Green-e® RECs also helped offset emissions following a shift in steam offset strategy – realigning steam offsets to cover emissions solely from chilled water production, consistent with the program’s original intent. Because Green-e® National RECs represent solar energy produced on the electrical grid, they serve as a strong proxy for the Solar PPA and contribute to reductions in both Gross Market-based and Net emissions of the Main Campus.
Methodology

While the University internally reports its gross greenhouse gas emissions using both location-based and market-based methods, the visualization above presents emissions using the market-based approach. 

  • Market-based accounting reflects the specific sources of purchased electricity, enabling the use of supplier-specific emission factors. In contrast, location-based accounting relies on average emissions from the regional electricity grid. Using the market-based method is especially important in the case of the University's Solar PPA, as it provides a more accurate representation of emissions directly associated with campus electricity consumption.
Limitations
  • The Greenhouse Gas Inventory presented on this dashboard represents Penn’s main campus operations only and excludes several key properties and entities, including the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Morris Arboretum, New Bolton Center, and the University's Real Estate Portfolio.
  • Certain emission sources, such as refrigerants and chemicals, were not historically tracked and were only integrated into the carbon footprint starting in 2022. As a result, data for these sources prior to 2022 is unavailable.
  • Additionally, not all Scope 3 emissions are currently measured or reported. Scope 3 emissions encompass a wide range of indirect emissions, many complex and challenging to quantify. While categories such as air travel, faculty commuting, and refrigerants and chemicals have been included, the University continues to explore methodologies to assess additional Scope 3 categories and incorporate them into the inventory.

Resources

More Resources

Emissions Category Definitions

  • Refrigerants & Chemicals: Greenhouse gas emissions from the use of refrigerants in cooling systems and other chemicals used in campus operations. These emissions are tracked due to their significant global warming potential.
  • Fertilizer & Animals: Emissions produced from the use of synthetic or organic fertilizers on campus grounds and methane emissions from animals housed on campus for research, education, or other purposes.
  • Direct Transportation: Emissions from vehicles owned and operated by the University, including shuttles, buses, and other fleet vehicles that rely on fossil fuels.
  • Other On-Campus Stationary: Emissions from fuel combustion of natural gas in on-campus equipment and facilities, such as emergency generators, boilers, pottery kilns, and gas fireplaces that are not classified under other categories.

  • Electricity - Chilled Water: Scope 2 emissions from electricity generated off-site and purchased by the University to power chilled water plants that provide cooling to campus buildings.
  • Steam - Chilled Water: Scope 2 emissions from the use of steam produced by external providers, specifically used for steam in chilled water systems to cool campus buildings.
  • Purchased Steam: Scope 2 emissions from the use of steam produced by external providers and used for heating and other operations on campus.
  • Purchased Electricity: Scope 2 emissions from electricity generated off-site and purchased by the University to power campus facilities and infrastructure.

  • Directly Financed Air Travel: Emissions resulting from air travel funded by the University for business or academic purposes. These emissions are part of Scope 3 and include flights taken by faculty, staff, and students for University-related activities.
  • Faculty Commuting: Emissions generated by the transportation of faculty and staff members traveling to and from campus for work. This category falls under Scope 3 and includes various modes of commuting, such as personal vehicles, public transit, and biking.
  • Solid Waste: Emissions resulting from the treatment and disposal of campus-generated waste, including landfilling, incineration, and composting processes.

For additional definitions on all scope 3 emissions, refer to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Technical Guidance for Calculating Scope 3 Emissions. 

FAQs

Yes. In 2009, Penn announced its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2042, referred to as the 100% by 42 goal. Through initiatives like energy efficiency, building recommissioning, carbon offsets, and leveraging a cleaner electricity grid, Penn has made significant strides toward this goal. By the end of FY23, Penn had reduced its gross emissions by 46% compared to the FY09 baseline.

No. The Scope 3 emissions associated with the University's endowment are not included in the campus carbon footprint. However, the Office of Investments has committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions for Penn’s endowment investments by 2050. For more information, visit the University's Climate Investments webpage.

You don’t need to request access, you already have it. As part of Penn’s commitment to transparency, the greenhouse gas inventory and annual updates are published publicly in line with the University’s membership in Second Nature's Climate Leadership Network.

You can download data directly from the dashboard using the icons in the bottom-right corner of the figures. For some datasets, you may need to click on the specific visualization to activate the download option. The same data is also available on SIMAP®.

Not all Scope 3 emissions are currently measured or reported, but many are included. Scope 3 emissions, which encompass a wide range of indirect emissions, are often complex and challenging to quantify. Scope 3 categories such as air travel, faculty commuting, and refrigerants and chemicals are already included in Penn’s footprint. The University is actively working to expand its Scope 3 reporting and incorporate additional categories as methodologies and data collection improve.

Penn is on track to achieve significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions in line with its 100% by 2042 goal. As of FY24, overall emissions have been reduced by 47% compared to the FY09 baseline. However, like other institutions, Penn faces challenges such as supply chain disruptions, labor market constraints in construction, and operational complexities. While these factors may affect the pace of progress, Penn remains committed to pursuing ambitious targets and continuously elevating its sustainability efforts to meet or exceed its goals.

Penn’s path to carbon neutrality involves a multi-faceted approach that includes:

  • Solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): Sourcing renewable energy through long-term agreements to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
  • Building Recommissioning and Renovations: Improving energy efficiency in existing infrastructure through upgrades, retrofits, and recommissioning.
  • Cleaner Electricity Grid: Benefiting from and contributing to regional efforts to transition the energy grid to renewable and low-carbon sources.
  • Offsets: Using high-quality carbon offsets, including for emissions from air travel, to neutralize emissions that cannot currently be eliminated.

While these strategies alone cannot fully achieve carbon neutrality without the aid of offsets, Penn recognizes that innovation, ambition, and future advancements in technology will play a critical role in meeting its long-term goals. The University is committed to staying adaptable and embracing new opportunities for sustainability.