Transcript Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory & Recommendations for

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
& Recommendations for Achieving
Carbon Neutrality
2010
Faculty Coordinator: Dr. Kate Hale Wilson
Faculty Support: Dr. Jim Boulter and Dr. Kim Pierson
Student Researchers: Carbon Neutral Team, 2010
Student Presenters: Jason Hansen, Laura Headrick, Steph Mabrey,& Andi Krunnfusz
ACUPCC
• Presidents Climate
Commitment
– Work toward climate
neutrality
– Initiate tangible
actions to reduce
greenhouse gas
emissions
– Publish the climate
action plan, emissions
inventories, and
periodic progress
reports
AASHE Reporting Page
2010 Total eCO2 Emissions
Heating
11%
35%
21%
Electricity
Transportation
33%
Solid Waste &
Chemicals
Total Emissions: 38,870 metric tons eCO2
Total eCO2
eCO2 Production by Sources
2008 & 2010 (MT)
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
-5,000
39,278 38,870
20,002
16,075
13,771
2008
12,707
8,247
5,380
2010
4,142
105
-2,284 0
Recommendations
Moving toward climate neutrality
Select Two Year Goals
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Remove Bottled Water from Vending Machines
Expand Composting
Reduce Paper Use
Improve our Performance in RecycleMania
Promote Alternative Modes of Transportation
Fund a Digital Dashboard System
Purchase Carbon Credits for Study Abroad Travel
Support and Create Environmentally Focused Initiatives
and Organizations
• Keep Detailed and Efficient Records to More Accurately
Calculate eCO2 Production and Sources
Five Year Goals
• Increase Infrastructure Efficiency
• Generate Renewable Electricity on Campus
• Create a Sustainability Initiatives Fundraising
Campaign for Alumni
Ten Year Goals and Beyond
• Pursue Alternatives to Coal
Thank You
Any Questions?
Carbon Neutral Team
• Collected data
• Calculated emissions
• Generated campus
recommendations
• Compiled
comprehensive report
Carbon Neutral Team, 2010
What is eCO2?
• Equivalent carbon dioxide emissions
• Standard measurement for global warming
potential
– Carbon Dioxide
– Methane
– Nitrous Oxide
– Halocarbons
– Sulfur Hexafluoride
• Offsets
Solid Waste and Chemicals
eCO2 Emissions from Solid Waste Sources
4%
21%
Trash
41%
Paper
• Compost is
carbon neutral
• The benefits of
proper recycling
• Chemicals’
footprint
Commingle
Cardboard
34%
• 4,171 MT eCO2
Transportation
eCO2 Emissions from Transportation Sources
Non-reimbursed
4% 1%
9%
Study Abroad
Directly Financed Air
Travels
15%
50%
21%
Commuting
Direct Transportation
Directly Financed
Outsourced Travel
• Minimizing trips
• Improving
efficiency
• Improvements
since 2010
• 8,247 MT eCO2
Electricity
Total Electrical Usage
30
kWh (in millions)
25
28.35
24.72
24.38
22.98
21.92
20
15
10
• 23% reduction
since 2005
• More renewable
sources
• Improvements
since 2010
5
0
2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
Fiscal Year
• 12,707 MT eCO2
Digital Dashboard Example
• Oberlin College
• http://www.oberlin.edu/sustainability/portfoli
o/energy.html
Heating
• Functions of the heating plant
• Sources of steam production
• Alternate sources?
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
Oil
15,000
Natural Gas
10,000
Coal
5,000
0
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
What is an offset?
An offset is a specific project created to
reduce emissions. Generally, offsets are
purchased by an institution to reduce
emissions and achieve carbon neutrality
when it is no longer possible for the
institution to reduce their emissions any
further. They are purchased to offset each
metric ton of eCO2 emitted.
Qualifications
There are 11 qualifications for a program to be considered an offset:
1. Real
2. Additional
3. Transparent
4. Measurable
5. Permanent
6. Verifiable
7. Synchronous
8. Account for leakage
9. Not double
counted
10. Registered
11. Retired
If a program meets the first 9 qualifications, then it
will be registered by a qualified institution and
“retired” meaning that it can no longer be counted
as an offset.
For further explanation of these qualifications see:
http://www2.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/documents/ACUPCCVoluntaryCarbonOffsetProtocol_Nov08.pdf
Cost and Recommendations
The cost of an offset can range from as little as $2
to more than $50 per metric ton of eCO2.
There are many methods that the University
could employ to reduce its carbon emissions
without purchasing offsets. However, there are
certain activities such as traveling that will never
be carbon-neutral. Therefore, it is recommended
that the University consider purchasing offsets to
offset the emissions from these activities.
Additional Resources
For more information regarding offsets:
• Carbon Offsets Daily
– http://www.carbonoffsetsdaily.com/
• Carbon Offset Research and Education (CORE)
– http://www.co2offsetresearch.org/
• President’s Climate Commitment Resources
– http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/re
sources/guidance-documents/offset-protocol
Additional Information
• For more detailed information, please view
the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory &
Recommendations for Achieving Carbon
Neutrality in full at:
http://acupcc.aashe.org/site_media/uploads/
ghg/4238-2010-inventoryreports_1.pdf