Greenhouse gas inventory definitions and source information
An A-Z summary of categories included in our current emissions measurement.
Accommodation - Work related
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Visitor night (v.ngt) |
| Definition | Work-related hotel stays booked and paid for by the University |
| Measurement | The number of hotel room nights booked and paid for in the specified country, within the calendar year, for the University and UniServices |
| Data source | Hotel reports provided by supplier through Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 3: Indirect emissions from transportation / Business travel - Accommodation |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 - Additional |
Air travel - Work related
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Person kilometres (pkm) |
| Definition | Air travel for work-related activities by staff, including students employed at the University |
| Measurement | Person kilometres travelled for flights boarded within the calendar year, for the university and UniServices Domestic flight emissions are calculated based on aircraft type or similar |
| Data improvements | Prior to June 2021, all flight data (2019-2021) were based on flights booked. Post June 2021, reports were based on flights boarded Since 2022, multi-segment trips (e.g., AKL-SFO-LHR-SFO-AKL), are separated into domestic, short-haul, and long-haul travel types and pkm is calculated for each segment |
| Assumptions | If the aircraft type is unknown, the national domestic average emission factor is used |
| Data source | Air Travel reports provided by supplier through Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 3: Indirect emissions from transportation / Business travel - Transport (non-company owned vehicles) |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 |
Air travel - International students
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Person kilometres (pkm) |
| Definition | Subset of students with international residency in the calendar year, cross-referenced with moderate confidence campus location data |
| Measurement | Assumed person kilometres for international students that travel to New Zealand within the calendar year |
| Assumptions | 80% of international students known to be in New Zealand within the calendar year are assumed to take a return trip to their countries of citizenship within the same year An overall adjustment is applied of 20% reduction to account for students that remained in New Zealand Airport of origin is assumed based on the student country of citizenship |
| Data source | Planning and Information Office and International Office |
| ISO standard | Category 3: Indirect emissions from transportation / Client and visitor transport |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 Additional |
CH4
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | Chemical formula for methane (a greenhouse gas), used as a refrigerant |
| Measurement | Kilograms of methane gas losses within the calendar year |
| Assumptions | Where top-up amounts are not provided by a supplier, purchases of gas and refrigerants are reported as losses It is assumed that purchases are made for top-ups or replacement of gas stocks |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Leakage of refrigerants |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
CO2
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | Chemical formula for carbon dioxide (greenhouse gas), used as a refrigerant |
| Measurement | Kilograms of carbon dioxide gas losses within the calendar year |
| Assumptions | Where top-up amounts are not provided by a supplier, purchases of gas and refrigerants are reported as losses It is assumed that purchases are made for top-ups or replacement of gas stocks |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Leakage of refrigerants |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
Composting
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | Composting refers to food scraps collected in kitchens (pre-consumer) and dining areas (post-consumer) and green waste from grounds, sent for processing at commercial composting facility Includes accommodation and some retail operators |
| Measurement | Kilograms of food and green waste composted within the calendar year |
| Data source | Waste reports are provided by suppliers |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Disposal of solid waste - Not landfilled |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 Additional |
Decontamination of medical waste - Autoclaving
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | Autoclaving uses high temperature, high pressure steam to decontaminate certain types of medical waste before it is sent to landfill (also included in the landfill inventory) |
| Measurement | Weight of medical waste decontaminated before being sent to landfill within the calendar year |
| Data source | Waste reports are provided by suppliers through Waste Minimisation Specialist |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Disposal of solid waste - Not landfilled |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 Additional |
Diesel stationary combustion
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Litre (L) |
| Definition | Diesel stationary combustion refers to diesel fuel used in an unmoving engine, such as a generator or power plant |
| Measurement | Litres of stationary diesel used within the calendar year for backup power generators and fire pumps that serve University buildings |
| Data source | Stationary fuel report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Stationary combustion |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
Diesel mobile combustion
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Litre (L) |
| Definition | Diesel mobile combustion refers to transport fuels used in an engine to move a vehicle, including cars, vans, tractors and farm vehicles |
| Measurement | Litres of mobile combustion diesel used within the calendar year for work-related vehicles owned by the University |
| Data source | Fuel card reports provided by suppliers through Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Mobile combustion (incl. company owned or leased vehicles) |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
Electricity
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilowatt hours (kWh) |
| Definition | Electricity purchased from the national grid (excludes carbon zero certified energy) |
| Measurement | Kilowatt hours of energy produced from electricity purchased within the calendar year for buildings within the operational boundaries of the University |
| Data source | Invoices provided by the suppliers through the Energy Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 2: Indirect emissions from imported energy / Imported electricity |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 2 |
Electricity distributed T&D losses
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilowatt hours (kWh) |
| Definition | Losses in the transmission of electricity between the sources of supply and points of distribution |
| Measurement | Kilowatt hours of electricity lost through transmission and distribution for electricity purchased from the national grid within the calendar year for buildings within the operational boundaries of the University |
| Data source | Invoices provided by the suppliers through the Energy Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Transmission of energy (T&D losses) |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 |
Electricity Toitū Carbon Zero certified factor – supplier specific
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilowatt hours (kWh) |
| Definition | Toitū Carbon Zero certified electricity purchased from renewable sources (including wind, solar and hydro generation sources) |
| Measurement | Kilowatt hours of energy, purchased from Toitū certified Carbon Zero electricity provider, within the calendar year, for buildings within the operational boundaries of the University |
| Data source | Invoices provided by the suppliers through the Energy Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 2: Indirect emissions from imported energy / Imported electricity |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 2 |
Electricity Toitū Carbon Zero certified factor T&D losses - supplier specific
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilowatt hours (kWh) |
| Definition | Losses in the transmission of renewable electricity (including wind, solar and hydro generation sources) between the sources of supply and points of distribution |
| Measurement | Kilowatt hours of electricity lost in transmission and distribution for electricity purchased from Toitū certified Carbon Zero electricity provider, within the calendar year for buildings within the operational boundaries of the University |
| Data source | Invoices provided by the suppliers through the Energy Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Transmission of energy (T&D losses) |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 |
Enteric fermentation
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Head |
| Definition | Livestock head is defined as one animal for the 12-month measurement period. Livestock types are counted separately (cattle or sheep), and sheep includes lambs, ewes and rams |
| Measurement | Number of livestock grazing on land owned or leased by the University |
| Data source | Data provided by Livestock and Facility Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Enteric fermentation |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
Freight
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Tonne-kilometre (tkm) |
| Definition | Freight refers to goods transported by car, van, truck, rail, ship or aircraft |
| Measurement | Tonne-kilometres of freight transport for packages paid for by the University within the calendar year, via domestic, long haul and short haul air transit and road vans |
| Assumptions | Air transit: For freight requiring domestic or international air transport, the main airport nearest the sender and recipient cities is used and passenger kilometres is calculated between the airports (data source: Toitū Travel Calculator) Road transit for international freight: Distance is estimated by calculating the road kilometres from the sender city to airport as well as road kilometres from recipient city airport to recipient city (data source: Google Maps) Road transit: Distance is estimated by calculating the road kilometres between the sender and recipient cities (data source: Google Maps) |
| Data source | Freight reports provided by suppliers through Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 3: Indirect emissions from transportation / Upstream freight - Paid for by the organisation |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 |
HCFC-22
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | HCFC-22 is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (greenhouse gas with high global warming potential), generally used for air conditioning |
| Measurement | Kilograms of HFC-22 losses within the calendar year due to usage and possible leakages during top-ups, extraction, transport, storage and/or processing |
| Assumptions | Where top-up amounts are not provided by a supplier, purchases of gas and refrigerants are reported as losses It is assumed that purchases are made for top-ups or replacement of gas stocks |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Leakage of refrigerants |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
HFC-134a
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | HFC-134a is a hydrofluorocarbon (greenhouse gas) generally used for air conditioning |
| Measurement | Kilograms of HFC-134a losses within the calendar year due to usage and possible leakages during top-ups, extraction, transport, storage and/or processing |
| Assumptions | Where top-up amounts are not provided by a supplier, purchases of gas and refrigerants are reported as losses It is assumed that purchases are made for top-ups or replacement of gas stocks |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Leakage of refrigerants |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
HFC-32
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | HFC-32 is a hydrofluorocarbon (greenhouse gas) generally used for air conditioning |
| Measurement | Kilograms of HFC-32 losses within the calendar year due to usage and possible leakages during top-ups, extraction, transport, storage and/or processing |
| Assumptions | Where top-up amounts are not provided by a supplier, purchases of gas and refrigerants are reported as losses It is assumed that purchases are made for top-ups or replacement of gas stocks |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Leakage of refrigerants |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
Incineration of clinical waste
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | Clinical or medical anatomical waste sent to a local crematorium for incineration |
| Measurement | Kilograms of anatomical clinical waste destroyed through incineration within the calendar year |
| Data source | Waste reports are provided by suppliers through Waste Minimisation Specialist |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 |
LPG stationary commercial
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | LPG refers to liquified petroleum gas |
| Measurement | Kilograms of LPG losses within the calendar year |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Stationary combustion |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
N2O
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | N2O is the chemical formula for nitrous oxide (greenhouse gas) |
| Measurement | Kilograms of N2O losses within the calendar year due to usage and possible leakages during top-ups, extraction, transport, storage and/or processing |
| Assumptions | Where top-up amounts are not provided by a supplier, purchases of gas and refrigerants are reported as losses It is assumed that purchases are made for top-ups or replacement of gas stocks |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Leakage of refrigerants |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
Natural gas distributed commercial
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilowatt hour (kWh) |
| Definition | Natural Gas distributed commercial refers to reticulated gas delivered through a piped gas system |
| Measurement | Kilowatt hours of energy from natural gas purchased within the calendar year for buildings within the operational boundaries of the University |
| Data source | Invoices provided by the suppliers through the Energy Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Stationary combustion |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
Natural gas distributed commercial T&D losses
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilowatt hour (kWh) |
| Definition | Losses that occur in the transmission of natural gas between the sources of supply and points of distribution |
| Measurement | Kilowatt hours of losses of energy for natural gas purchased within the calendar year for buildings within the operational boundaries of the University |
| Data source | Invoices provided by the suppliers through the Energy Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Transmission of energy (T&D losses) |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
Paper use - default
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | Paper reams, converted to weight |
| Measurement | Kilograms of paper purchased by the University |
| Data source | Paper reports provided by suppliers through Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Purchased goods and services |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 Additional |
Petrol
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Litre (L) |
| Definition | Transport fuel used for work-related travel (cars, vans, tractors, farm vehicles) |
| Measurement | Litres of mobile combustion petrol used for work-related travel in vehicles owned or leased by the University |
| Data source | Fuel card reports provided by suppliers through Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Mobile combustion (incl. company owned or leased vehicles) |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
R-404A
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | R-404A is a zeotropic refrigerant blend (greenhouse gas), used in low and medium temperature refrigeration applications |
| Measurement | Kilograms of R-404A losses due to usage and possible leakages during top-ups, extraction, transport, storage and/or processing |
| Assumptions | Where top-up amounts are not provided by a supplier, purchases of gas and refrigerants are reported as losses It is assumed that purchases are made for top-ups or replacement of gas stocks |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Leakage of refrigerants |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
R-407C
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | R-407C is a zeotropic refrigerant blend (greenhouse gas), used in air conditioning and heat pump applications |
| Measurement | Kilograms of R-407C losses due to usage and possible leakages during top-ups, extraction, transport, storage and/or processing |
| Assumptions | Where top-up amounts are not provided by a supplier, purchases of gas and refrigerants are reported as losses It is assumed that purchases are made for top-ups or replacement of gas stocks |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Leakage of refrigerants |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
R-410A
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | R-410A is a zeotropic refrigerant blend (greenhouse gas), used in air conditioning and heat pump applications |
| Measurement | Kilograms of R-410A losses due to usage and possible leakages during top-ups, extraction, transport, storage and/or processing |
| Assumptions | Where top-up amounts are not provided by a supplier, purchases of gas and refrigerants are reported as losses It is assumed that purchases are made for top-ups or replacement of gas stocks |
| Data source | Refrigerant/Gas report provided by suppliers through Campus Services Manager or Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 1: Direct emissions and removals / Leakage of refrigerants |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 1 |
Rental car
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilometres (km) |
| Definition | Rental cars booked and paid for by the University |
| Measurement | Kilometres of work-related travel in a rental car, for work-related travel of the University and UniServices, categorised by type of fuel used (diesel, petrol, hybrid, and electric) |
| Data source | Rental Car reports provided by suppliers through Strategic Procurement Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 3: Indirect emissions from transportation / Business travel - Transport (non-company owned vehicles) |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 |
Steam generation
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Tonne (t) |
| Definition | Steam purchased from Auckland District Health Board, converted from kilowatt hours to tonnes (disconnected May 2023) |
| Measurement | Tonnes of steam purchased for buildings within the operational boundaries of the University |
| Data source | Invoices provided by the supplier through the Energy Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 2: Indirect emissions from imported energy / Imported energy |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 2 |
Taxi
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | New Zealand dollars ($) |
| Definition | Taxi travel booked and paid for by the University |
| Measurement | Dollars spent on work-related taxi travel booked and paid for by the University, including reports from suppliers and staff reimbursements data |
| Data source | Taxi reports provided by suppliers through Strategic Procurement Manager, staff reimbursement data provided by Compliance Analyst |
| ISO standard | Category 3: Indirect emissions from transportation / Business travel - Transport (non-company owned vehicles) |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 |
Recycling process
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | Waste disposal recycling refers to aluminium, glass, paper, plastic, and steel cans collected for recycling |
| Measurement | Kilograms of materials collected in bottle and can recycling bins and paper recycling bins and sent for recycling (excludes transport to waste recovery facility; see waste disposal recycling) |
| Assumptions | 2019 waste analysis percentages were used to estimate the portions of waste that were aluminium, glass and plastic for 2020 - 2022 inventories |
| Data source | Waste reports are provided by suppliers through Waste Minimisation Specialist. |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Disposal of solid waste - Not landfilled |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 Additional |
Waste disposal recycling transport
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | Waste disposal recycling transport refers to aluminium, glass, paper, plastic, and steel cans collected for recycling |
| Measurement | Kilograms of recyclable materials transported to an energy recovery or materials reclamation facility |
| Assumptions | 2019 waste analysis percentages were used to estimate the portions of waste that were aluminium, glass and plastic for 2020 - 2022 inventories |
| Data source | Waste reports are provided by suppliers through Waste Minimisation Specialist |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Disposal of solid waste - Not landfilled |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 Additional |
Waste landfilled
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Kilogram (kg) |
| Definition | Waste disposed at specific landfills and remaining waste that is not recycled, diverted, or composted |
| Measurement | Kilograms of waste collected from indoor and outdoor bins located in and around university buildings and grounds for sending to landfill. Includes decant waste that cannot be diverted |
| Data source | Waste reports are provided by suppliers through Waste Minimisation Specialist |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Disposal of solid waste - Landfilled |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 |
Wastewater for treatment plants
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Cubic metre (m3) |
| Definition | Wastewater sent to domestic treatment plants |
| Measurement | Cubic metres of wastewater sent to treatment plants |
| Data source | Wastewater reports are provided by the supplier through Energy Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Disposal of liquid waste - Wastewater |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 Additional |
Water supply
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Cubic metre (m3) |
| Definition | Water purchased for buildings |
| Measurement | Cubic metres of water purchased for buildings within the operational boundaries of the University |
| Data source | Water reports are provided by suppliers through Energy Manager |
| ISO standard | Category 4: Indirect emissions from products used by organisation / Purchased goods and services |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 Additional |
Working from home
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Unit | Employee per day (epd) |
| Definition | Full-time equivalent staff member employed at the university |
| Measurement | Estimated employee per day working from home or off campus |
| Data source | Staff poll of senior professional staff leaders (7 September 2022) |
| ISO standard | Category 3: Indirect emissions from transportation |
| GHG Protocol | Scope 3 Additional |