Developments in de-carbonizing Sophia

2020

Sophia introduced the Premium Zero Plan, an electricity procurement scheme that allows us to use 20 million kWh per year of renewable energy, which amounts to 95% of the electric power used at our main Campus in Tokyo.

*100 Renewable　No greenhouse gases are emitted as power is sourced from renewable energy, such as solar, wind and biomass, and does not include nuclear or fossil sources. (We do not use Non-fossil Fuel Certificates (NFCs) to offset fossil fuels.)

2021

We switched our entire natural gas consumption to carbon-neutral LNG*.

We use city gas that offsets the greenhouse gas equivalent emitted  from natural gas extraction to combustion with the greenhouse gas equivalent  absorbed through forest conservation and afforestation, etc ; and therefore, we virtually emit no greenhouse gases.

2022

The remaining buildings using non-renewable power were converted to 100% renewable power. As a result, 100% of the electricity consumed on our main campus in Tokyo is sourced from renewable power.

　

　

Total energy consumption and decarbonization at Sophia  

Sophia University has decarbonized 99% of its energy consumption with renewable power accounting for 78% of its total energy use, and CN(carbon neutral) city gas, for 21%.

Comparison with other academic institutions

Updated feedback from Tokyo Metropolitan Gov. Cap and Trade Scheme (2019)

Sophia University emits a relatively large amount of CO2 compared to the average for academic institutions in Tokyo (AC av.). However, estimates for FY 2020, show that its emissions will be less than the top 25% emitters.