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Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Carbon Footprint: 2010-2022

Total Emissions during FY2022 are less than the 2010 Greenhouse Gas Inventory “Business As Usual” projection for total emissions in 2022. 

  • Total emissions increased from 36,700.23 MTCO2e in 2010 to 37,845.61 MTCO2e in 2022; an increase of 1,145.38 MTCO2e or approximately 3%. 
  • The “Business as Usual” projection for 2022 was over 55,000 MTCO2e, an increase of approximately 18,300 MTCO2e, or approximately 33%.  

Carbon Footprint per 1000 square feet: 2010 - 2022

Buildings are the primary consumer of electricity and steam on the Radford University campus. Together and combined with Transmission & Distribution Losses, these account for nearly 80% of the University’s total emissions. Since 2010, the gross square footage of total building space has increased 423,541 square feet, a 14% increase. Since 2016, much of this new building space is “energy intensive” space in laboratories in Center for the Sciences (115,000 square feet) and the College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences (143,600 square feet), and in FY 2019, the addition of 77,660 square feet of off-campus apartment space.

In 2010, net greenhouse gas emissions per 1000 gross square feet was 14.04 MTCO2e, as compared to 12.34 MTCO2e in 2022, a 12% decrease. 

Carbon Footprint by Scope: 2010 - 2022

Emissions sources can be categorized based on their origin and are referred to as Scopes 1, 2, and 3.  Scope 1 emissions are produced on campus and are directly related to operations. This includes on-campus steam production, mobile fuel usage, refrigerants, and fertilizers. Scope 2 refers to off-campus emissions sources that are directly linked to campus operations, primarily purchased electricity. Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions linked to university activities. These emissions include university travel, solid waste disposal, water treatment, and employee and student commuting.