• Short Term: Mitigate Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent MTCDE to 2005 levels by 2014 • Medium Term: Return to 1990 emission levels 125,000 MTCDE by 2021 • Long Term: Become net
Current and Historical Emission Levels by Scope
Emissions Projections
Assumptions
Natural gas consumption at the University of Arkansas is highly correlated with building space, so a normalization by building-space projection was adopted to improve future forecasts The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system, which began operation halfway through FY2016, reduced natural gas use below the historic average, leading to the FY2017 natural gas-to-building-space ratio being selected as the basis for all future projections.
The on-campus stationary electric and steam output emission factor is determined by the projected electricity produced by the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system, which is categorized under Scope 1 emissions This projection assumes the CHP system operates at full capacity for FY2016 and remains constant for all subsequent years.
Gasoline Fleet: This document assumes a constant growth rate of 2% for the University’s gasoline fleet
Diesel Feet: This document assumes a constant growth rate of 2% for the University’s diesel fleet
E85 Fleet: The University’s E85 fleet is assumed to maintain a constant consumption at
Figure 10 shows that emissions from refrigerants and chemicals are highly volatile, making projections based on constant growth rates or fixed ratios unreliable To provide a stable estimate, the model uses the average of the most recent five years of data and assumes a constant emission level equal to that average.
Agricultural sources use the same projection methodology applied to refrigerants and chemicals, ensuring consistency across emission categories Refrigerants and chemicals collectively represent only a small percentage of total Scope 1 emissions, so any projection error is negligible.
Figure 10 University of Arkansas Scope 1 Emission Projections (MTCDE)
A sharp increase in Scope 1 emissions from 2014 to 2016 on its surface should be a cause for concern; however, this increase in Scope 1 emissions caused a far greater decrease in
Scope 2 emissions which will be further explored in the next section This sharp increase is not projected to continue In fact, Scope 1 emissions exhibit a relatively small growth rate of roughly 0.2% from FY2018 to FY2040.
Assumptions and Results
Purchased electricity declined sharply from 2015 to 2017, but the downward trend in Scope 2 emissions is expected to reverse in FY2018 At the University, Scope 2 emissions are the fastest-growing category, since projected increases in electricity demand will be reflected as Scope 2 emissions The projection for Scope 2 emissions uses a linear approximation based on the last 15 years of data. -**Support Pollinations.AI:** -🌸 **Ad** 🌸Powered by Pollinations.AI free text APIs [Support our mission](https://pollinations.ai/redirect/kofi) to keep AI accessible for everyone.
Electricity demanded by the University is projected to increase 537,178 Kwh year over year, translating into an increase of approximately 375 MTCDE every year
Figure 11 University of Arkansas Scope 2 Emission Projections (MTCDE).
Assumptions and Results
Faculty and staff commuting is projected using the normalization by student method, based on the last 15 years of historical data The projection assumes that commuting modes and distances for faculty and staff remain unchanged.
Student Commuting: Student commuting normalized by student population growth holding modes of transportation and average distance constant
Directly Financed Air Travel: Directly financed air travel is normalized by student population growth using the last 15 years of data
Study Abroad Travel: Study abroad travel is normalized by student population growth using the last 15 years of data
Solid Waste: All solid waste at the University of Arkansas is deposited into EcoVista
Springdale, Arkansas's landfill installed a gas-to-energy system in fiscal year 2011 that captures methane and converts it into energy, reducing emissions from solid waste Solid waste is projected to increase by about 2% annually, indicating the continued impact of this system on emissions management.
Waste Water: Emissions due to waste water are projected using a linear regression over the last fifteen years of data
Emissions from paper purchasing are assessed by analyzing different influencing factors, using either a linear methodology or normalization by student population growth, depending on the factor and how well the data fit the method Some factors show a proportional relationship that is best captured with a linear scaling, while others are more accurately represented when emissions are normalized by student population growth to reflect changes in demand The methodological choice hinges on the data fit for each factor, ensuring that the chosen approach accurately estimates paper-purchasing emissions and supports targeted reduction strategies.
Scope 2 T&D Losses: Scope 2 T&D losses are directly correlated with purchased electricity; no projection methodology was used for this category
Figure 12 University of Arkansas Scope 3 Emission Projections (MTCDE)
Figure 13 Total Emissions Projections (MTCDE)
Figure 14 Total Emissions Projections (MTCDE)
Without aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation strategies, the University will continue to see gradual increases in emissions, as shown in Figure 13 If current trends persist with no mitigation actions, FY2040 emissions are projected to reach about 138,500 MTCDE, well above the University’s long-term carbon neutrality goals.
The issue of growing emissions is consistent among each scope at the University of
These findings demonstrate that achieving carbon neutrality in Arkansas will require sustained commitment from a broad spectrum of stakeholders To reduce the University of Arkansas’s environmental footprint, aggressive mitigation strategies are needed across the full range of campus activities, from operations and facilities to academics and student life Progress will depend on coordinated action, transparent reporting, and ongoing investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable procurement.
Achieving Short and Medium Term Mitigation Goals
As outlined previously, the University of Arkansas committed to three target emission levels with different time frames by signing the Presidents Climate Commitment:
• Short Term Target: Mitigate Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MTCDE) to
• Medium Term Target: Return to 1990 emission levels (125,000 MTCDE) by 2021
• Long Term Target: Become completely carbon neutral by 2040
Figure 15 Total Emissions Levels Relative to Targets (MTCDE)
As outlined in Figure 15, the University achieved both its short-term and long-term emission goals well before their self-imposed deadlines The University met the 2014 short-term emissions target just a year after signing the Presidents Climate Commitment.
The University of Arkansas committed to its emissions-reduction goals seven years early in FY 2007, and by FY 2017 it had met its 2021 target, driving emissions below the 1990 baseline While these milestones are notable, the university still has a long way to go before achieving complete carbon neutrality and reaching its 2040 emissions target.
FY2016: Combined Heat and Power System Implemented
FY2017: Achieved 2021 Target Emission Levels
FY2011: Chemical Leak Causing Sharp Emission Increases FY2007: Achieved short term goal of 2005 emission levels
Figure 16 Projected Emissions vs Required Reductions to Meet 2040 Target (MTCDE)
If no mitigation strategies are pursued and conditions remain constant, the University would increase its emissions by approximately 750 MTCDE per year, a rise of just under 1% from FY2017 levels To achieve a 2040 carbon neutrality goal, emissions must be reduced by about 5,200 MTCDE in total, equating to a 4% reduction each year through 2040 The University of Arkansas will not reach its carbon neutrality target by maintaining the status quo; achieving it will require aggressive mitigation strategies.
Achieving Neutrality and Implementation of Projects
Combined Heat and Power System:
Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems are vastly more efficient than traditional electricity generation In a CHP setup, fossil fuels still generate electricity, but the exhaust heat is captured and used to heat water for the system, effectively recapturing waste heat that would otherwise be lost This cogeneration approach significantly reduces the university’s electricity needs for day-to-day operations and enhances overall campus energy efficiency.
During half of FY2016, the CHP system operated, and the University immediately observed a decline in emissions Although the CHP may increase Scope 1 emissions, it substantially reduces Scope 2 emissions The diverted greenhouse gas emissions from this system are projected to total approximately 35,000 MTCDE.
University of Arkansas could eliminate all Scope 2 emissions and reduce its total carbon footprint by 44% by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through the Wind Catcher Program The Wind Catcher project, a wind farm to be built in Oklahoma’s panhandle, will span 300,000 acres and would be the largest wind turbine project in North America to date.
Under a 10-year fixed-price agreement, the University of Arkansas would purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) at a low marginal cost Retiring these RECs would eliminate all Scope 2 emissions for the university and could reduce its carbon footprint more than any other program to date.
Fully eliminating Scope 2 emissions would shift the University of Arkansas's emission reduction focus toward Scope 1 and Scope 3 strategies, potentially transforming its overall approach to cutting greenhouse gases The Wind Catcher program could cumulatively mitigate nearly 1.1 million MTCDE by 2040, representing a significant step toward the university’s 2040 emissions target.
Projected Emission Reductions from Existing Programs:
Figure 18 Mitigation Program Effects on University Emissions (MTCDE)
Since FY2021, UA’s emissions reduction strategies have taken full effect, necessitating a comprehensive analysis of UA emissions to identify additional measures that can further reduce the university’s carbon footprint With the complete mitigation of all Scope 2 emissions, new strategies and programs must be implemented to abate the remaining emissions By 2025, Scope 2 emissions are expected to be zero, while Scope 1 emissions are projected to total approximately 42,000 MTCDE and Scope 3 emissions approximately 32,000 MTCDE.
Figure 19 Projected U of A 2025 Emissions Breakdown by Scope
Reducing Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions presents substantial challenges, but a unified commitment from the University of Arkansas’ administration, faculty, and students can drive meaningful mitigation and move the campus toward carbon neutrality With coordinated governance, robust data tracking, and a suite of strategies—energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy adoption, low-emission transportation, and sustainable procurement—the university can cut direct and value-chain emissions while preserving academic excellence Achieving carbon neutrality will require ongoing collaboration, clear targets, and transparent reporting across operations, research, and campus life.
The Green Revolving Fund (GRF) finances energy-efficient, sustainable, and cost-saving projects on campus, turning the resulting savings into a revolving source of capital for future initiatives Savings from these projects are tracked and reinvested to replenish the fund or finance additional projects The GRF’s primary goal is to engage students, faculty, staff, and donors in the University’s vision of becoming a global leader in sustainability education, research, innovation, and campus facilities.
Projects that have been implemented by the Green Revolving Fund are outlined below
The LED lighting retrofit of Billingsly Music Hall, a GRF-funded project proposed by UA students, demonstrates that energy-efficient LEDs are economically viable LEDs use significantly less energy than traditional bulbs, delivering projected savings with a payback period of 3.5 years and an ROI of 21% This initiative was spearheaded by the Office for Sustainability and Campus Planning and Design, which tested three LED bulb options to select the option with the best color, light quality, and compatibility with the building design Over the lifetime of the installation, at least 800 MTCDE will be abated.
This project was nearly identical to that of the retrofitting of Billingsly Music Hall The project has a payback period of 6.8 years and an ROI of 6.3 %
The Grounds Crew Goes Green (GRF) program converts University leaf blowers and lawn trimmers from two-stroke gasoline engines, which emit more pollution than a standard car, to electric-powered units These electric-powered tools are not only more environmentally friendly than their diesel counterparts, but also more economical, with a payback of roughly 3 years and an ROI of 18.2%, while abating over 70 MTCDE over the life of the project.
7 For more information on the Green Revolving Fund visit: https://sustainability.uark.edu/get-involved/green-revolving-fund.php
Further Areas of Reduction to Achieve Carbon Neutrality
Mitigation Strategies
On-campus combined heat and power (CHP) systems generate electricity and steam, and the resulting emissions are a necessary trade-off because CHP reduces emissions from purchased electricity and yields positive economic benefits for the University This example highlights an emission factor that cannot be reasonably mitigated and therefore must be offset by carbon sequestration.
Direct transportation from university-owned vehicles accounts for about 3,500 MTCDE annually Replacing university fleet vehicles and buses with electric, hybrid, or compressed natural gas (CNG) options could dramatically reduce these emissions The Office for Sustainability is currently conducting a feasibility study to assess the economic and environmental costs of retrofitting the university’s transportation system, with findings planned to guide a cleaner, more efficient campus mobility strategy.
Continued retrofitting of campus HVAC systems can dramatically reduce emissions from on-campus stationary sources Expanding the number of LEED-certified buildings on campus will further lower the university’s carbon footprint in this category.
Mitigation Strategies
Alternative transportation by the University of Arkansas community—students, staff, and faculty—contributes to the University’s Scope 3 emissions Expanding infrastructure for carbon-neutral transportation options not only lowers campus emissions but also benefits the wider university community by promoting student health and boosting the attractiveness of the UA campus.
Current emissions from commuting stand at about 3,000 MTCDE for FY2017 and are projected to increase as the University’s student population grows Currently, only 2% of students commute to campus by bike, signaling a lack of bicycle infrastructure on campus By increasing the share of students who bike or walk as their primary mode of transportation, the University can mitigate emissions from this category However, these emissions will never be reduced to zero, since 100% carbon-free transportation is not feasible for a campus of this size; therefore this emissions category will also rely on carbon sequestration as carbon-neutral commuting reaches a ceiling.
Carbon offset schemes enable individuals and companies to balance their carbon footprint by investing in environmental projects locally or globally These projects reduce emissions either by preventing future emissions or by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, allowing participants to support certified offset programs and advance climate resilience.
The University’s carbon offset strategy concentrates on Scope 3 emissions, specifically directly financed air travel, study abroad air travel, and paper purchasing These categories accounted for about 9% of University emissions in FY2017 and are projected to represent about 17% in FY2021 once all Scope 2 emissions have been mitigated.
Implementing carbon offset policies for Scope 3 emissions—specifically travel and paper purchasing—addresses the environmental impact of these activities The goal of offsetting Scope 3 travel emissions and paper purchases is twofold: offsets mitigate the environmental effects of these activities, and the cost of offsets incentivizes stakeholders to reduce or avoid them to minimize offset expenses When these effects act together, they can produce meaningful reductions in a university's Scope 3 emissions.
Achieving carbon neutrality at the University of Arkansas by 2040 is realistic when tackled from a systems perspective Long-term atmospheric carbon management will require sweeping emissions reductions achieved through efficient consumption technologies and the deployment of alternative power-generation options Design approaches such as net-zero energy buildings and innovations like gasification of food waste can substantially cut petrochemical fuel use, accelerating progress toward the goal while reinforcing the University’s leadership in global sustainability.
The University of Arkansas will unavoidably create emissions Therefore, active sequestration of GHG, particularly CO2, must be part of the overall strategy for the
University of Arkansas to move to carbon neutrality Carbon sequestration can be achieved using a number of strategies, including purchasing carbon credits from GHG brokers.
Overview of Current UA Sustainability Systems
Since its introduction in 2011, the University of Arkansas has offered the interdisciplinary Foundations of Sustainability undergraduate minor The program's requirements include completing the gateway course SUST 1103 Foundations of Sustainability and the follow-up course SUST 2103.
The program introduces sustainability through two foundational courses and a capstone experience, with the first two courses teaching fundamental concepts organized into four interdisciplinary systems areas—natural, social, built, and managed—and each course featuring a community service component Electives are drawn from a broad list of approved courses across all undergraduate colleges and schools at the University, with selections guided by the Sustainability Curriculum Steering Committee to ensure significant sustainability content (tier 1) or to cover background knowledge (tier 2) Students must complete at least 6 of the 9 elective credits from tier 1 courses, enabling them to tailor learning to their interests The capstone experience brings coursework to life through an internship, research project, or service project, as students spend a semester planning and executing their project under faculty supervision and then articulate their experience and its connections to sustainability principles in a written report and poster presentation.
Enrollment in the sustainability minor has grown steadily since its inception, with the program’s elective offerings expanding to reflect rising engagement from both students and faculty campus-wide Students pursuing the minor are equipped with the knowledge and motivation to become informed advocates for sustainability, helping to advance the University’s sustainability goals.
The University has also implemented a graduate certificate in the sustainability program, which is targeted at graduate students in other programs who would like to add sustainability competencies to their program, as well as professionals within the workforce who wish to obtain a sustainability credential The certificate consists of 15 credit hours, met through one required course, WCOB 5023 Sustainability in Business, and four elective courses identified by the Sustainability Curriculum Steering Committee
In 2013, a proposal was submitted for the launch of an undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Sustainability program The proposed major is built upon the minor, most notably with the addition of a strong emphasis on sustainability metrics and research methods
Similarly, there is a goal of developing a master’s sustainability program in the future based upon the graduate certificate
The University of Arkansas is developing the University of Arkansas Resiliency Center (UARC) to inspire current generations to understand the interconnectedness of economic, social, and environmental systems This interdisciplinary Resiliency Center will coordinate graduate-level education, undergraduate sustainability coursework, research at all levels, and active outreach programs in sustainable food, water, community, and landscape systems.
The UARC will enable the Office for Sustainability to build on its proven success in engaging students in sustainability-focused research, expanding opportunities for rigorous projects that connect with multiple university systems Currently, the Office for Sustainability supports 10-15 undergraduate students who pursue sustainability research and projects across a wide range of campus departments, and this collaboration will broaden impact and deepen student involvement.
Among all stakeholder groups discussed, students have the greatest range of opportunities to participate in and advance the university’s sustainability goals They can pursue sustainability through curriculum, research, active campus engagement, informing policy, personal choices, and peer leadership, making students a key driver of the university’s progress toward its sustainability targets.
Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) play a key role in developing new project initiatives Razorback Food Recovery works to reduce food waste in dining halls Net
Impact connects students with sustainability professionals and advocates for a broad range of environmental issues on campus, driving practical action and policy change The Cycling Club calls for expanded bicycle infrastructure on campus to make cycling safer and more accessible These are just a few of the sustainability-focused registered student organizations (RSOs) on campus, and they will play a pivotal role in advancing carbon neutrality across the university.
The Associated Student Government (ASG), which channels student concerns to the university administration, has appointed a Sustainability Director to its cabinet who will also serve as the student representative on the UA Sustainability Council The Residents’ Interhall Congress has similarly elected a sustainability director for UA Residence Halls This position collaborates with the Office for Sustainability, ASG, and other campus entities to implement sustainability projects and educational campaigns in University of Arkansas dormitories.
More students are needed to actively participate in sustainability initiatives because their involvement drives outcomes across every metric The Office for Sustainability serves as a launching point for student engagement and research, providing a central hub to access opportunities, collaborate on projects, and accelerate impactful sustainability work.
The support of the University administration is crucial to the success of this plan By becoming a charter signatory of the ACUPCC and forming the advisory body of the
The Sustainability Council and the UA administration have demonstrated a strong commitment to the institution’s sustainability goals Ongoing support will be pursued through formal approval of future initiatives, ensuring continued progress toward environmental stewardship and responsible resource management across the university.
Projects that require funding from fees will require approval from relevant campus committees, the University System President, and the Board of Trustees
The chancellor’s executive committee, consisting of the Chancellor, Provost, Vice
Chancellors and vice provosts review policy proposals from the Sustainability Council and other campus committees The executive committee endorses the plan’s strategies as a clear direction for the University of Arizona (UA) campus and supports this plan as a framework to meet the responsibilities outlined by the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
Within a higher education institution, faculty members drive the implementation of this plan through their dual influence as educators and researchers They advance sustainability goals by guiding learning, conducting relevant research, and shaping campus initiatives that translate theory into practice Faculty members play a valuable role in mobilizing students by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to engage with sustainability issues in meaningful ways, thereby connecting academic inquiry to real-world impact and fostering a culture of responsible stewardship across the institution.
Mentoring engaged students, faculty provide essential guidance that nurtures learning and growth Across disciplines, faculty research contributes critical knowledge that shapes campus key performance indicators used to assess the university’s success This ongoing research also builds the institution’s reputation for innovation and leadership in emerging fields.