University City Greenhouse Gas Report

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Emission Factor - A unique value for determining an amount of a GHG emitted on a per unit activity basis (for example, metric tons of CO emitted per million Btu’s of coal combusted, or 2 metric tons of CO emitted per kWh of electricity consumed). 2 Entity - Any business, corporation, institution, organization, government agency, etc., recognized under U.S. law and comprised of all the facilities and emission sources delimited by the organizational boundary developed by the entity, taken in their entirety. Facility - Any property, plant, building, structure, stationary source, stationary equipment or grouping of stationary equipment or stationary sources located on one or more contiguous or adjacent properties, in actual physical contact or separated solely by a public roadway or other public right-of-way, and under common operational or financial control, that emits or may emit any greenhouse gas. Fossil Fuel - A fuel, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, produced by the decomposition of ancient (fossilized) plants and animals. Fugitive Emissions - Emissions that are not physically controlled but result from the intentional or unintentional release of GHGs. They commonly arise from the production, processing, transmission, storage and use of fuels or other substances, often through joints, seals, packing, gaskets, etc. Examples include CH from solid waste landfills. 4 Global Warming Potential (GWP) - The ratio of radiative forcing (degree of warming to the atmosphere) that would result from the emission of one mass-based unit of a given GHG compared to one equivalent unit of carbon dioxide (CO) over a given period of time. 2 Global Warming - The increase in the near surface air and ocean average temperature that has th occurred since the mid 20 century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has concluded that an increase in greenhouse gas concentration resulting from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, have caused most of the increase in average temperature that have occurred. Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) - Any of several gases, including (but not limited to) carbon dioxide (CO), water vapor, methane (CH), ozone (O), and nitrous oxide (NO), hydrofluorocarbons 2432 (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF), that when released into the 6 atmosphere, absorb and emit radiation (heat). Indirect Emissions - Emissions that are a consequence of activities that take place within the organizational boundaries of the reporting entity, but that occur at sources owned or controlled by another entity. For example, emissions of electricity used by a manufacturing entity that occur at a power plant represent the manufacturer’s indirect emissions. Inventory - A comprehensive, quantified list of an organization’s GHG emissions and sources. 2010-2011 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, City of University City, MO 39