British Thermal Unit (BTU and MMBTU)
A measurement of the amount of energy needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. MMBTU is short for Million British Thermal Units and is the baseline unit of measurement for Vassar’s combustion-based fuel usage.
Carbon Neutral
Net-zero release of greenhouse gas emissions, either through undertaking no activities that emit greenhouse gas or offsetting your release by sequestering an equivalent amount of greenhouse gas
Carbon Sink
Something that directly sequesters greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere, like trees or carbon capture and sequestration technology.
Climate Action & Sustainability Committee (CASC)
The Governance Committee that acts as a forum for the discussion of administrative and educational policies related to sustainability. It presents for approval to the faculty policies that are related to educational policy and is advisory to the president on administrative policies. Any policy changes approved by the faculty is submitted to the trustees for final approval.
Climate Action Team (CAT)
A topical working group focused on reviewing and implementing a subject area from the Climate Action Plan
Climate Positive
Going beyond carbon neutrality to give back more to the environment than you take from it (for example, pulling more greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere through trees and shrubs on campus than is produced through campus operations).
Embodied Carbon
The carbon emissions associated with the life cycle of a product, from its production through its site of use. For a steel beam, for example, this includes the emissions to mine the ore, smelt the metal, and transport the product to the construction site.
Greenhouse Gases
Carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases that trap heat within the atmosphere by absorbing infrared radiation. This is also sometimes abbreviated CO2e, short for “Carbon Dioxide Equivalent.”
Mobile Emissions
Emissions resulting from mobile sources owned or controlled by Vassar, such as the campus fleet. Leased vehicles are included in this category; rented vehicles for business travel are not.
Renewable Electricity
Electricity generated through a carbon-neutral fuel source like wind turbines, photovoltaic solar panels, or small-scale hydropower dams. Starting in 2021, all electricity purchased by Vassar will be renewable.
Renewable Fuel Oil (RFO)
Fuel oil produced from waste timber and sawdust that would have otherwise released its carbon through decomposition. The life-cycle emissions of the RFO identified for use at Vassar are ~80% lower than natural gas.
Scope 1 Emissions
Direct greenhouse gas emissions and reductions from Vassar’s owned and controlled resources. This includes all of Vassar’s Stationary Emissions, Mobile Emissions, and Carbon Sinks.
Scope 2 Emissions
Emissions resulting from purchased electricity. Starting in 2021, Vassar will have net zero Scope 2 Emissions due to our conversion to 100% Renewable Electricity.
Scope 3 Emissions
Indirect greenhouse gas emissions and reductions resulting from Vassar operations. Commuting, Junior Year Abroad, university-financed travel, and purchased carbon offsets all contribute to this total.
Stationary Emissions
Emissions generated through stationary equipment and facilities, such as Vassar’s central heating plant and smaller building-level heating systems.
Sequestration
Pulling greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere and into a solid or liquid form. The most common form of carbon sequestration is planting trees, which pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and use it to grow.
Solar-Thermal Water Heating
A water heating system that uses the direct energy of sunlight to heat water for use within a facility.