Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Stony Brook University maintains on an annual basis a comprehensive report on utility cost and consumption. SBU uses 1990 as its baseline year in order to track progress towards state energy requirements. As a state entity, SBU is required to reduce GHG emissions to meet EO22 goals.

Much of the data used in the GHG Inventory was gathered from this source. We also relied on information provided by the staff at the cogeneration facility that services the university. Our Department of Transportation and Parking Operations provided us with the fuel information from the University fleet.

The below graph demonstrates the metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTE CO2) SBU has produced each year for both Scope 1 & Scope 2 emissions with a trend line of the campus square footage (SQFT). While campus has grown, emissions have slowly decreased. As of 2024, there has been a 36% reduction from the baseline emissions.

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Scope 1 emissions measure direct emissions from stationary and mobile sources (e.g. energy used in buildings) as well as fugitive emissions (e.g. use of chemicals or refrigerants).
In September of 2007, then University President Shirley Strum Kenny signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment. In doing so, Stony Brook University joined more than 650 colleges and universities throughout the country in pledging to become carbon neutral as soon as possible. The Commitment detailed several required steps in the process for obtaining and reporting on progress towards carbon neutrality, including submitting a greenhouse gas inventory and Climate Action Plan. Stony Brook University anticipates obtaining carbon neutrality by 2050.

For More Information on SBU Emissions

Visit our public SIMAP report for more information on the university's completed GHG Emissions Inventories and how conservation measures are changing our campus.

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Stony Brook Reaches EO88 Goal

SBU met its requirement of a 20% reduction in Energy Use Intensity to fulfill Executive Order 88, a year in advance of the targeted completion date.