The University of Pittsburgh’s 11th annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory shows a 38.8% drop in emissions since 2008, in part due to a 75% decrease in emissions from electricity since 2008. Pitt remains on track to achieve its 2030 and 2037 climate goals.
Reflecting the University of Pittsburgh’s Climate Action Plan and commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2037, the results of Pitt’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory for the Pittsburgh campus are summarized below. They showcase Pitt’s ongoing GHG reduction progress and sustained commitment to annual GHG inventories. The Pitt GHG Inventories represent a 15+ year collaboration between research, academics, and operations.
The University’s 11th GHG Inventory tallies Pitt’s Pittsburgh campus FY25 GHG emissions as 167,192 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). These results are 38.8% below our 2008 baseline, keeping the University on track to reach goal of reducing GHG emissions 50% by 2030. 
The full FY25 GHG Inventory report and Pitt Sustainability GHG dashboard detail how Pitt has tracked and reduced its carbon emissions over time, in line with the international GHG Protocol and best practices.
As Pitt actively works towards carbon neutrality by 2037 (including reaching the incremental target of 50% reduction in GHG emissions below 2008 levels by 2030), key takeaways from the FY25 University of Pittsburgh GHG Inventory for the Pittsburgh campus include:
Overall Takeaways
For FY25, 167,192 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents were associated with the University’s Pittsburgh campus, 38.8% below the FY08 baseline. FY25 GHG emissions were also 22% lower than FY19 (the last pre-pandemic-influenced GHG inventory year) and 2.6% lower than FY24.
In FY25, the Pittsburgh campus population continued to grow, experiencing a 3.3% population growth (employees + students). Due to a number of building acquisitions and inventory boundary improvements, square footage increased 13% (by 1.4 million square feet); since FY08, square footage in the boundary has grown 3.4 million square feet (a 36% increase).
The top 3 GHG emissions sources for FY25 included electricity, steam, and Scope 3 Fuel & Energy-Related Emissions. GHG emissions reductions are primarily attributable to increased renewable electricity procurement, but significant categorical reductions in refrigerants and paper use were also logged.
Scope 1 Emissions
Steam
The largest contribution to FY25 GHG emissions was from steam (combined on-campus and purchased), which accounted for 33% of the total (18% from on-campus generation alone). Primarily used for heating and generated both on-campus and purchased (Scope 1 and 2, respectively), steam use rose alongside a 14% increase in heating degree days and the 13% increase in building square footage.
Natural Gas for Buildings
Natural gas use in buildings was markedly up for the second year in a row, with a 33% growth compared to FY24 and 46% growth since FY08. Now accounting for 8% of total emissions, natural gas use increased in part due to building square footage growth, particularly for laboratory spaces and off-campus housing, which rely on natural gas for heating.
Fleet Vehicles
Though only 1% of Pitt’s current carbon footprint, fleet GHG emissions have stagnated post-pandemic. The University remains off track to meet its goal of reducing GHG emissions in this category 50% by 2030 (below 2017 baseline).
Refrigerants
In FY25, Pitt used a total of 845 pounds of refrigerants, which translated to 737 MT CO2e (0.4% of total FY25 GHG emissions). This 78% reduction compared to FY24 reflects a normalization after large maintenance projects increased refrigerant use in FY24.
Scope 2 Emissions
Electricity
After being the largest contributor to Pitt’s overall GHG emissions since FY08, purchased electricity dropped to 21% of all FY25 emissions (behind combined steam).
Despite square footage growth from FY08 to present, Pitt’s electricity emissions are down 75% since FY08. Compared to FY24, purchased electricity FY25 GHG emissions were down 43% compared to FY24 (36% including chilled water); these reductions are primarily due to both the University’s renewable electricity procurement and a regional shift toward cleaner power sources (i.e., nuclear and renewable sources combined with a shift from coal to natural gas).
Electricity Consumption
Despite growth in both building square footage and cooling degree days, campus electricity use decreased 9% from FY24 (and was 15.6% lower than FY19). This reduction is attributable to both building efficiency efforts and a calculation shift that created “Chilled Water” as its own category for the first time.
Chilled Water
Reflecting a data collection improvement, chilled water was broken out as its own emissions category for the first time in FY25; it was previously bundled with electricity. Created on-campus from electricity, thermal cooling separately contributes 2.5% of the Pittsburgh campus’s GHG emissions.
Renewables
Pitt purchased 97,285 MWh of renewable electricity in FY25, equivalent to 52% of Pitt’s annual electricity consumption in the GHG boundary; this was a 45% increase in REC procurement from FY24. The University remains on track to reach its renewable electricity goals of 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2037.
Purchased Steam
Purchased steam emissions rose to 15% of total emissions, consistent with the broader increase in steam use tied to more heating degree days and additional building square footage.
Scope 3 Emissions
Pitt’s Scope 3 GHG emissions were 11% higher than FY24, but 35% lower than FY19. Despite several Scope 3 categories being added to the GHG inventory boundary since FY08, total Scope 3 emissions are down 17% since the FY08 baseline year.
Energy Source Upstream Emissions
Two categories combined represent 12.5% of Pitt’s carbon footprint. “Electricity Transmission and Distribution” has been included since Pitt’s FY08 baseline year. A new “Fuel- & Energy-Related Activities” (FERA) category was added in FY22 to align with global reporting standards. FERA emissions capture upstream emissions associated with Scope 1 fuel combustion and Scope 2 purchased electricity; the category grew to 11% of total FY25 emissions, largely linked to increases in natural gas and steam use.
Travel
The second largest increase between FY24 and FY25 GHG emissions was from combined air and ground travel emissions (including study abroad). They increased 41% compared to FY24. While dollars spent on air travel actually decreased, improved data collection and a shift to SIMAP's updated air travel emissions factors led to higher calculated emissions.
Commuting
Pitt’s commuting emissions are 7.5% of the campus’s total – and were are up 2% compared to FY24 due to population growth; however, they still remain 65% lower than FY19. This sustained reduction in commuting emissions post-pandemic reflects avoided commutes from flex work schedules, an increase in active commuting, and an increase in on-road electric vehicles.
Food
Food-related emissions were 5% of total emissions in FY25, up nearly 11% from FY24. This change reflects more on-campus food consumption at dining halls, Pitt Eats retail locations, and catering, including meats, dairy, and grains.
In line with Pitt’s commitment to carbon neutrality for the Pittsburgh campus by 2037, GHG Inventories are completed for the Pittsburgh campus annually; the FY26 GHG inventory process has already commenced. The campus-wide process is guided by Dr. Melissa Bilec, Co-Director of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, and Dr. Aurora Sharrard, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Sustainability.
The FY25 Pitt GHG Inventory was completed by Isabella Cicco and Rafaela Goncalves de Almeida (both Civil & Environmental Engineering doctoral students), with data provided from offices and departments across the University. The reports serve as guidelines for the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Sustainability, its Carbon Commitment Committee (which has already reviewed the results), the Pitt Sustainability team, and collaborators across campus working to reduce Pitt’s GHG emissions.
If your office, department, or group would like a presentation on the findings, please email sustainability@pitt.edu.
Download the FY25 GHG Inventory Report