Compared to Colgate’s 2009 baseline inventory, the university decreased its emissions by 3,536 tons (from 17,353 in 2009 to 13,817 tons in 2012), or by 20.4 percent. This marked the lowest level of emissions since we began measuring our comprehensive greenhouse gas footprint in 2009.
Colgate’s 2012 gross emissions were 4.71 tons per full-time student and 5.90 tons per 1,000 square-feet of building space. This is a reduction in emissions of 1.52 tons per student and 1.54 tons per 1,000 square-feet when compared to our 2009 baseline inventory. Colgate’s highest sources of emissions were found to be our consumption of fossil fuels (e.g., fuel oil #6, fuel oil #2, kerosene, and propane) for heating at 32 percent of our total emissions, business-related air travel at 28 percent, electricity at 13 percent, and faculty and staff commuting at 10 percent.