Greenhouse Gas Emissions 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.
We use information provided by the staff at the cogeneration facility that services the university for our calculations. Our Department of Transportation and Parking Operations also 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 2025, there has been a 37% reduction from the baseline emissions.
FAQS
SBU uses SIMAP (Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform) that was developed by the University of New Hampshire. See our full emissions profile here.
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).
Scope 2 emissions measure purchased electricity and purchased or sold renewable energy.
The Office of Sustainability is currently looking into research strategies to effectively and accurately calculate Scope 3 emissions.
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.