What is a carbon footprint? A carbon footprint is the total amount of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from a person or organization in a given year. (NPC.gov) So why is it important for Northwest Vista College to aim to try and limit it's footprint? It is important for every person and organization to play their part for a more sustainable future where we aim towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in order to protect the health of our environment from climate change. The more action we take, though it may seem small, starts becoming the normal, and makes for an area's total carbon footprint to decrease.
As the principal student science advisor, I have created a list of some of the actions we can take at Northwest Vista College to reduce our carbon footprint:
The biggest and most direct way the college can reduce their carbon footprint is by replacing our system of energy usage. As of right now, most electricity is generated with steam turbines using fossil fuels such as gases like coal, oil, and natural gas, and nuclear, biomass, geothermal, and solar thermal energy. (EIA.gov)
Percentages of resources used for electricity generation
“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” Electricity in the U.S. - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php#:~:text=Most%20electricity%20is%20generated%20with,wind%20turbines%2C%20and%20solar%20photovoltaics.
Most places, including NVC, use energy from the grid, which is generated by fossil fuels. If we could convert to using our own solar powered energy on the campus, then we could cut down the energy the city's grid uses. Our college's net carbon footprint would cut down dramatically considering energy usage like electricity and thermal energy is our main contributor. Solar panels are a great way to do this because they could be out of sight on top of all of our buildings, and not get in the way of the campus activity's or atmosphere. Solar panels work by capturing the sun's solar radiation and turning it into energy that we can use. (energy.gov) They are a great substitute and a must need if we as a campus are working towards cutting down our carbon emissions. Not to mention, after investing in solar panels, our financial bill will also cut down since we would stop buying energy from the grid. (Keep in mind, this is assuming we have enough funds available to put this into place)
2. Adjust Thermostat
Another way we can lower our carbon footprint is by adjusting the thermostat more often as needed. For example, whenever I walk into certain buildings, it is freezing cold in some classrooms when there is no reason for it. The thermostat is turned so low and constantly blowing air that it uses so much energy and raises our spending. We need to stop allowing the thermostat to be set too low/too high and check up on it based on what's needed for the weather outside and the comfort of the students. This will be a way we can save energy and eventually cut down our carbon emissions.
3. Reduce/ Eliminate Single Use Plastics
The school already does have things in place to cut down on their waste which is good. For example, the air dryers for drying hands in the bathrooms instead of the single use paper towels. But we could expand on this more. There are more ways we can reduce our waste and therefore indirectly reduce our carbon footprint. This is through reducing our usage of single use plastics. These are things like food packaging, plastic bottles, plastic bags, straws, etc. "In 2019, the CIEL estimated that production and incineration of plastic would add 850 million metric tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere - equivalent to 189 coal-fired power plants. By 2050 this could rise to 2.8 gigatons of carbon dioxide per year - or 615 coal plants' worth. (weforum.org) "Our reliance on plastic therefore prolongs our demand for these dirty fuels. Burning plastics in incinerators also releases climate-wrecking gases and toxic air pollution." Plastic not only contributes massively to climate change, but also "sticks around in the environment for ages, threatening wildlife and spreading toxins." (friendsoftheearth.uk) In our café area we can stop handing out single-use utensils and plates, and instead offer alternatives that the students can return.
4. Education
The main way we can indirectly lower our carbon footprint is by educating our staff and students. As a college, we don't have a very large campus, everything is right next to each other, so we don't have to worry about transportation emissions of gas. But the emissions that do happen are from cars driving to and from the campus. The only thing the college can do is educate people about their carbon footprint and encourage them and give them ways to try their best to lessen it. We can do this by teaching kids about greenhouse gases and the environment, telling them to be mindful about what they're doing, and encouraging students to reduce their own carbon emissions anywhere they are. Informing and educating people is the best way to get towards the goal of a future where the nation has as low emissions as possible, and we at NVC can start that by playing our part and spreading those values.
Here's one college that has shown success in it's climate achievements:
“University Halves Carbon Emissions Ahead of Schedule.” Maryland Today, https://today.umd.edu/university-halves-carbon-emissions-ahead-schedule-5a997df7-b736-4d72-b938-3fa5ff8e94c2
Helmers, Eckard, et al. “Carbon Footprinting of Universities Worldwide: Part I-Objective Comparison by Standardized Metrics - Environmental Sciences Europe.” SpringerOpen, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 11 Mar. 2021, https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-021-00454-6.
Sources:
“How You Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Home.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.nps.gov/pore/learn/nature/climatechange_action_home.htm.
“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” Electricity in the U.S. - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php#:~:text=Most%20electricity%20is%20generated%20with,wind%20turbines%2C%20and%20solar%20photovoltaics.
“How Does Solar Work?” Energy.gov, https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/how-does-solar-work.
Written by Charlotte Edmond, Senior Writer. “We Know Plastic Pollution Is Bad – but How Exactly Is It Linked to Climate Change?” World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/01/plastic-pollution-climate-change-solution/.
“Plastic Pollution How to Reduce Plastic in the Ocean.” Friends of the Earth, https://friendsoftheearth.uk/plastics.
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