On Oct. 29, Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Jim Dees presented an outline of Guilford’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the upcoming years by 2.5 percent. The presentation is among the first available forum for faculty, staff and students to respond to the evolving Climate Action Plan (CAP).
Purchased electricity, transportation, and on-campus use of propane and natural gas comprise over 95% of Guilford’s greenhouse gas emissions. Ideas for eventual carbon neutrality range from purchasing “green energy” to banning first-year vehicles on campus. Improving building efficiency and habits such as turning off lights are also mentioned in the CAP.
Transportation
The proposal to ban first-year vehicles is probably the most controversial solution on the table.
“It is commonly done at other schools, but we’re not sure how much that will really effect greenhouse gas emissions here at Guilford,” said Angela Moore, assistant professor of geology and earth sciences and member of the Sustainability Council.
The culture of cars on campus and throughout the U.S. will not easily be displaced, but driving less might be a preferable alternative and illustrates the role behavioral changes will play in reducing gas emissions community-wide.
“Behavioral changes will be the greatest challenge, but also have the most potential to affect great change on campus,” Moore said. “The car issue is one problem at which we can’t simply throw money.”
“We’ve got to wean ourselves off of (driving) while maintaining our lifestyle,” Dees said.
Junior Casey Thomas expressed concern over the hybrid parking incentive, which would bestow preferential parking on hybrid owners, similar to handicap parking.
“This kind of proposal is problematic because not everyone’s family can afford to purchase hybrid cars,” Thomas said. “It’s a parking incentive based on class distinction.”
Coordinating with the Greensboro transit authority to provide a more comprehensive public transit system is also a possibility. Developing programs that inform the Guilford community of Greensboro transportation options is integral to reducing transportation emissions.
Natural Gas
Purchasing green energy would possibly impose an additional tuition fee that would go toward supporting renewable energy sources. Although the renewable energy would not be quantifiable per month, Guilford’s power supplier Duke Energy forwards this fee toward funding green energy both state and nationwide. Such fees would help offset the cost of producing green energy from wind, sun and organic sources.
Decreasing use of natural gas for heating can be achieved by improving building insulation (i.e. window replacements) and creating stringent set-points for thermostats.
Electricity
Between 2006 and 2007, Guilford produced 7,245 tons of emissions in purchased electricity alone. To reduce purchased electricity, Guilford can purchase energy efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs, as well as occupancy sensors that automatically shut off lights.
Solid Waste
In comparison, Guilford produces only 349 tons of carbon from solid waste. Increasing efforts to recycle and reuse on campus, in addition to creating an on-site waste disposal facility, could effectively eliminate the carbon impact of solid waste and meet Guilford’s goal or a 365-ton reduction per year.
Construction
“Five thousand square feet of any new construction on campus is subject to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications,” said Rex Harrell, project manager of operations and facilities.
The LEED rating system provides a set of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. The recent Archdale Hall renovations, subject to LEED specifications, included a rainwater cistern system that helps cool the building.
Although the Sustainability Council administered the CAP initiative, several student-led independent studies and faculty involvement have brought this project to the forefront of the community’s priorities. The waterless urinals now used in most restrooms illustrate that student projects can significantly affect Guilford policies.
A draft of the Commitment Plan will be submitted to Guilford’s board of trustees in February 2009, and the final draft will be submitted to the ACUPCC for approval in September 2009.
What is the Climate Action Plan (CAP)?
CAP is part of an overarching agreement pledged by 588 colleges and universities all over the U.S.
The agreement, entitled The American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), “is a high-visibility effort to address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions” according to CAP.
ACUPCC stresses the importance of institutions becoming carbon neutral.
“Carbon neutrality is defined as being in a state that produces zero-net-carbon emissions,” said Environmental Sustainability Coordinator Jim Dees.
Guilford was beholden to the Climate Commitment in May of 2007, when President Kent Chabotar signed on to the agreement. Guilford conducted its first greenhouse gas inventory in the spring semester of 2008.
The inventory enabled students and faculty to target areas where Guilford could most improve. Currently, the three largest contributors to emissions are purchased electricity, transportation, and stationary sources such as natural gas and propane, which are used to produce steam heat and hot water on campus.