Transcript Electricity

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
– Achieve climate
neutrality (date TBD)
– Initiate tangible
actions to reduce
greenhouse gas
emissions
– Publish the climate
action plan,
emissions inventory,
and periodic
progress reports
What is eCO2?
• Equivalent carbon dioxide emissions
• Standard measurement for global warming
potential
– Carbon Dioxide
– Methane
– Nitrous Oxide
– Halocarbons
– Sulfur Hexafluoride
2010 Total eCO2 Emissions
Heating
11%
35%
21%
Electricity
Transportation
33%
Solid Waste &
Chemicals
Total Emissions: 38,870 metric tons eCO2
o Electricity produces 12,707 MT 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
Electricity Usage
• Second largest contributor to UW-Eau Claire
eCO2 emissions
• Powers cooling systems, computers, lights,
and appliances
• Becoming more energy efficient is one of the
easiest and least expensive ways to lower UWEau Claire’s emissions
Where does our electricity come from?
• Xcel Energy
• Renewable and nonrenewable sources
comprise Xcel’s energy
portfolio
• Unable to determine
exact source of
electricity because of
the integrated powersource grid
Sources of Xcel's Energy
5% 1%
1%
Coal
8%
12%
Natural
Gas
49%
Nuclear
Wind
24%
Hydro
Biomass
Improvements since 2008 Report
• Individual electrical meters installed on each
building
• Replacement of light bulbs with energy
efficient models
• Installation of motion detectors
• Induction lighting in Towers Parking Lot
• Replacement of outdoor wallpacks and
canopy lights
• Energy audit by Performance Contractors
Electrical Consumption
Total Electrical Usage
30
28.3
24.7
kWh (In millions)
25
24.4
23.1
21.7
20
15
10
5
0
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
Fiscal Year
2008-2009
2009-2010
Electricity eCO2 emissions have decreased by 23% since 2005!
Electricity Recommendations
•
•
•
•
Fund a digital dashboard system
Reduce energy usage
Increase Infrastructure Efficiency
Generate Renewable Electricity
on Campus
Fund a Digital Dashboard System
UW-Eau Claire should implement a campus-wide digital dashboard system which tracks energy
usage and presents the data in a visual manner. Energy use on campus can be viewed in various
ways, for example: by residence hall, by individual residence hall floors, by academic buildings, etc.
A digital dashboard system makes energy consumption tangible and may inspire individuals to
reduce their own GHG emissions. Additionally, data from the dashboard system can be used to
guide policy changes and create targeted learning experiences. Some progress has already been
made toward this goal, which is anticipated to result in availability of real-time data of electricity
usage for each building on campus.
Example: http://www.oberlin.edu/sustainability/portfolio/energy.html
Reduce Energy Usage
Promoting energy-saving behaviors can ultimately reduce our usage of electricity. Some appliances
draw a small amount of electricity (called “Ghost Power”) even when that appliance is turned off.
All of this Ghost Power could be eliminated if these appliances were connected to a power strip
that students turn off when they leave their residence hall rooms. Students with cell phones can
use their phones as alarm clocks, and only turn on appliances when needed. In 2008, a campuswide survey determined that nearly 10% of students living on campus had two or more minirefrigerators in their residence hall room, and 1% of students had at least two microwaves in their
residence hall room. In addition, 1% of faculty, staff, and administrators had two or more minirefrigerators, and 2% had two or more microwaves in their office. While there are University
restrictions regarding what types of appliances can be brought into residence halls, there are
currently no restrictions on the quantity of approved appliances. We strongly recommend, as did
the 2008 report, that the University set and enforce appliance limitations. In addition to limitations,
the University could work with local businesses to provide students with coupons to purchase
Energy Star Certified Appliances.
Reduce Energy Usage
Educating students, faculty, and staff about simple behavioral changes, such as unplugging unused
appliances or using power strips, will lead to a reduction in the University’s consumption of
electricity. We recommend that Residence Hall Directors and Assistants, as well as Department
Chairs, provide information about proper energy saving techniques each semester. In addition, the
University should subsidize power strips and energy-efficient light bulbs for personal lamps for the
University community to purchase in the University Bookstore and in each residence hall. In 2008, it
was recommended that campus computers and printers be turned off when not in use. Since then,
Learning and Technology Services has installed NightWatchman software on campus computers, a
program that puts the computers into a lower power sleep mode after 6 p.m. and when the
computer has not been in use for at least 20 minutes. The University should continue to use power
management features on electronic devices and explore expanding their use. Students and faculty
should be encouraged to use sleep mode on personal computers if the computer is not in use and
cannot be unplugged.
Increase Infrastructure Efficiency
Heating and electricity are UW-Eau Claire’s two largest eCO2 contributors; together,
they account for 68% of the University carbon footprint. To reduce these emissions, the
University must increase building efficiency, install energy generating facilities, and
explore carbon-neutral fuel alternatives appropriate to the region. The 2008 report
recommended that University windows be replaced with more efficient glass, which
could result in an up to 25% decrease of heating emissions for each. In addition to
installing more efficient windows, improving the insulation of buildings can reduce the
amount of heat loss that increases utility bills and adds to the carbon footprint. The
temperature controls in many campus spaces also need to be updated and improved.
Effort and funds need to be directed toward developing and installing more efficient
temperature control and monitoring systems in buildings. We recommend that the
University continue to improve the efficiency of all existing campus buildings and to
choose energy-saving designs and materials in all new construction.
Generate Renewable Electricity
on Campus
The University should actively pursue the installation of photovoltaic, wind, or
other renewable energy facilities, or co-generation of electricity with steam heat.
Installation of 500 kWh of energy production capacity every five years would offset
only 2.5% of the total amount currently consumed, since electricity use now totals
approximately 20,000 kWh per year, 33% of the UW-Eau Claire carbon footprint.
The planned increase in instructional and housing space on campus over the next
10-20 years will require that the University offset the additional carbon footprint
of those buildings with energy generation, incorporated into new construction
projects. This is considered an ongoing goal because it can be enacted gradually, as
additional electricity generating facilities are brought online, but the overall goal to
substantially reduce electricity usage will clearly require long-term commitment
over decades.
Additional Information
• For more detailed information, please view
the 2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
Report & Recommendations for Achieving
Carbon Neutrality in full at:
http://www.uwec.edu/Sustainability/plans/index.htm