Campus carbon neutrality by naresh

Pitch

Action of organizations, businesses and individuals taking action to remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as each put in to it.

Description

Summary

Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference. It is used in the context of carbon dioxide releasing processes, associated with transportation, energy production and industrial processes.

The carbon neutral concept may be extended to include other greenhouse gases (GHG) measured in terms of their carbon dioxide equivalence—the impact a GHG has on the atmosphere expressed in the equivalent amount of CO2. The term climate neutral is used to reflect the fact that it is not just carbon dioxide (CO2), that is driving climate change, even if it is the most abundant, but also encompasses other greenhouse gases regulated by the Kyoto Protocol, namely: methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

Best practice for organizations and individuals seeking carbon neutral status entails reducing and/or avoiding carbon emissions first so that only unavoidable emissions are offset.

What actions do you propose?

MIT Campus implement 5 years carbon neutrality program with the help of Campus administration/management unit as well as student, staff and other related stakeholders:

Campus First year Program:

Builds a rule (one day program) every student turned off their computers, lights, appliances and heat before leaving campus.
Held an event (7 days program) where all the key buildings went dark for one-half hour to promote awareness of energy conservation.
To conduct Eco-Reps program (3 days program) helps increase overall student awareness of environmental issues and promotes green campus initiatives.
Recycling Awareness (7 days): To help decrease the solid waste management at campus.
Energy Awareness Campaign (7 days): Placed adhesive stickers on light switches to remind everyone to conserve energy by turning off the lights.

Campus Second year Program:

Light Bulb Replacement Program: Replacing traditional incandescent bulbs with CFLs can cut lighting costs by up to 75%.
Electric Vehicle awareness program (2 days) to encourage students and staff to use electric vehicles.
Building Metering: installed meters on all of their campus buildings.Using consumption data to monitor flows of electricity, water, chilled water, and steam allow campus to determine areas of inefficiency.
Campus replaced CRT monitors with LCD monitors, which use only about a third to one half the energy of a CRT.

Campus Third year Program:

Computer Energy Savings Program: The campus installs and uses Computer Management Software that shuts down computers when they are not in use.
Using Native Plants in Campus Landscaping In order to combat invasive species threats and to maintain adaptive plants.
Composting system on campus take buckets from the dorm kitchens and bring the food waste to compost bins.

Minimizing Bottled Water Use campus removed bottled water from certain dining hall locations and distributes polycarbonate bottles to students for water refills.

Campus Fourth year Program:

Purchases and distributes reusable aluminum water bottles to all first year students. The new students are expected to bring the bottles to all orientation events in order to reduce plastic bottle and cup waste.
Recycled Notebooks campus is taking steps to reduce paper consumption by starting a student project that is turning discarded paper printed on one side into 100-page notebooks. Each notebook is bound with a cover made from a cereal box which is being supplied by empty cereal boxes from residence halls.
MIT campus installed solar energy.
Introducing hybrid cars into its patrol fleet as older vehicles are retired, with a goal of eventually replacing the entire fleet. The hybrid vehicles offer more than 70% better city fuel economy than the department's older vehicles.

Campus Fifth year Program:

Rainwater Harvesting collects rainwater from a rooftop storm drain and stores it for reuse according to needs.

All dormitories with flat roofs have been upgraded to reflective white roofs, thus decreasing the solar heat gain of the facility and reducing demand for cooling.
Build daylighting and practice windows, or other transparent media, and reflective surfaces in buildings so that, during the day, natural light provides effective internal illumination for building users.
Build green roofs for building: Cost depends up on the available areas of the roof and type of plant.

Who will take these actions?

MIT campus administration,staffs, students and other related stockholders.

How much will emissions be reduced or sequestered vs. business as usual levels?

90%-98% emissions will be reduced or sequestered.

What are other key benefits?

Healthy, sustainable and low carbon campus environment.

What are the proposal’s costs?

Calculation of the 5 years campus program and equipments installation cost based on Nepal scenario. MIT campus cost of the yearly program may be increased or decreased depending upon program type and technology installed in the campus.

Campus First year Program:

Builds a rule = US$10,000.00
Held an event buildings went dark for one-half hour: US$20,000.00
Eco-Reps program: US$20,000.00
Solid waste recycling awareness program : US$10,000.00
Energy Awareness Campaign : US$10,000.00

Total cost: US$70,000.00

Campus Second year Program:

Light Bulb Replacement Program: In Nepal 1 CFLs cost up to US$8.00/-.Total budget allocated initially 1000 CFLs = 1000x8 = US$8000.00
Electric vehicles awareness program, encourage students and staff to use electric vehicles : $5,000.00
Building Metering:. US$20000.00
Replaced CRT monitors with LCD monitors: US$20000.00

Total cost: US$53,000.00

Campus Third year Program:

Computer Energy Savings Program: Computer Management Software : US$20000.00
Native Plants in Campus Landscaping : US$5000.00
Purchasing composting bucket:US$50000.00
Minimizing Bottled Water Use campus: US$10000.00

Total cost: US$85,000.00

Campus Fourth year Program:

Purchases and distributes reusable aluminum water bottles: Cost depends up on number of students enroll in the campus : US$20000.00
Recycled Notebooks campus : US$5000.00
Solar panel installation: It depends up on the quantity of energy required to run equipments. US$100000.00
Hybrid cars : Calculation based on 10 cars = US$500000.00

Total cost: US$625,000.00

Campus Fifth year Program:

Rainwater Harvesting : US$20000.00

All dormitories with flat roofs upgraded: Cost depends upon upgrading areas: US$500000.00
Build daylighting and practice windows : US$500000.00
Build green roofs program : US$1000000.00

Total cost: US$2,020,000.00

Five years program cost = US$2,853,000.00

Five years overhead cost = US$200000.00

Five years Overall program cost = US$3,053,000.00