Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

• Between 2006 and 2021, we reduced our emissions at PCC from operating our Buildings and Grounds (Scope I & II emissions) by approximately 47% with emissions of  12,156  metric tons of CO2E compared to 22,959 metric tons of CO2E in 2006.
• Building energy consumption associated with greenhouse gas emissions has seen a significant reduction of approximately 50.5% over our 2006 baseline, despite an increase of space at the college of over 33%.
• Overall, we’ve decreased our total building energy consumption use per square foot by nearly 63%. PCC’s innovative investment in LEED-certified green buildings, lighting upgrades, and behavior change programs such as Power Shift and Panther Print has helped to reduce energy use and climate change impacts.

Overall Scope III emissions made up the largest share of PCC’s emissions at 47.6%. Scope III emissions are tied to our enrollment levels as they are based on our spending patterns and student commuting patterns.

The largest contributor to scope III in FY 2021 was purchases made by the college. Commuting emissions made up less than 2.5% of the Scope III emissions, while emissions from purchases (aka our supply chain) made up the majority of the remainder of Scope III emissions. Business travel and solid waste combined made up less than 1% of emissions. Commuting, business travel, and solid waste were significantly reduced due to the ongoing pandemic. We are also working closely with the Purchasing Department and other college buyers to advance sustainable purchasing practices.

The global pandemic affected our operational footprint significantly for the period during FY 2021, in which PCC operated almost entirely remotely. In FY 2021, PCC’s Scope I & II emissions were approximately 12,156 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, nearly the same as the year prior to the pandemic.

PCC’s Scope III emissions dropped by approximately 74% over FY 2019 Scope III emissions, the last year PCC was fully open. In addition to a huge reduction in college travel, we were able to estimate changes in commuting habits. Categories of emissions in Scope III have always been heavily estimated. This year’s estimate was created from estimates of the following three items 1) the number of students enrolled in courses that required hands-on learning, 2) the number of essential college employees needed for remote operations (e.g. custodial, maintenance, grounds, and public safety staff) and 3) FTE visits to campus from a log that Public Safety keeps. In addition, spending on water, food, and travel has dropped.

Notably, PCC is increasing its support for renewable energy substantially over the next two to three years. Agreements to purchase renewable energy through PGE’s Green Future Enterprise and Green Future Impact programs will reduce our carbon footprint through 2040, at which time Oregon’s 100% renewable electricity standard is expected to be in full effect. In addition, PCC is a subscriber to community solar through participation in community solar through Oregon Shines, which also reduces our carbon footprint.

The college is working on a wide variety of initiatives to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint. Many of these efforts are outlined in  PCC’s 2021 Climate Action Plan: Resiliency, Equity, and Education for a Just Transition [pdf] and Sustainability Leadership Council annual work plans. If you would like to learn more or are interested in getting involved, email sustainability@pcc.edu [opens in new window].