Calvin College Carbon
Neutrality Project
Biology 354:
Investigations in
Plant Ecology
Engineering 333:
Advanced Thermal
System Design
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Calvin College Carbon
Neutrality Project
Introduction
Brian Medema
Class Mandate
What would it take to make
Calvin College Carbon Neutral?
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Outline
• What is Carbon Neutrality?
• What is Calvin’s current footprint?
• What can we do to achieve Carbon
Neutrality?
• Present our plan to be Carbon
Neutral in 11 years.
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
What is Carbon Neutrality?
• Carbon footprint is a net term.
 Footprint = emissions – sequestration
 Reduce emissions or increase
sequestration
 Carbon Neutrality is when emissions
are equal to sequestration
 When the footprint = 0
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Why Carbon?
• Carbon Dioxide is the primary Green
House Gas (GHG) emitted.
• All other GHGs can be thought of as
equivalent to Carbon Dioxide.
– 1 ton CH4 has equivalent global
warming potential to 23 tons CO2
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Climate Change
http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/greenhouse.GIF
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Why Carbon Neutrality?
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change
– Fifth Report issued Nov 17th, 2007
– Climate change is unequivocal
– Human activity has caused most of the
warming in the last 50 years
•
From http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ipcc2007.html#cite1
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Effects of an Overall Warmer Earth
•
•
•
•
Loss of sea ice.
Rising sea levels.
Shrinking Coastlines.
Shifting vegetation zones.
• Effects Developed and Developing
Nations differently.
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Global Warming – Global Effects
http://www.index-china.com/index-english/china_map_index.htm
http://www.sweetmarias.com/coffee.asia.india.html
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
American College and University
Presidents Climate Commitment
• Signatories commit to:
– Inventory their CO2 emissions
– Set target date to become Carbon Neutral
– Take immediate steps to reduce GHG
emissions
– Integrate sustainability into curriculum
– Make action plan, inventory and progress
reports publically available
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
American College and University
Presidents Climate Commitment
• 448 college presidents have signed
– At start of semester, less than 80
signatories
http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Project Scope
• Calvin College is responsible for:
– All building operations (utilities)
– Construction of new buildings
– Food and Waste disposal
– Daily commuter traffic
– Service vehicle traffic
– Calvin sponsored air travel
• Not responsible for vacation travel
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Calvin College Carbon
Neutrality Project
Emissions
Jessica Driesenga
What is Calvin College’s
“Carbon Footprint?”
http://mingled.co.uk/designs/images/large-icons-carbonfootprint.gif
• Create an inventory of
Emissions and Sequestration
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Emissions Summary
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Emissions Breakdown
Heating
Electricity
(MTCE/yr)
Air
Commuting
Service Vehicles
2090
10080
5852
14839
31920
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Sequestration Breakdown
Carbon Sequestration in Metric Tons CO2 per year
9.4
17%
21.7
39%
8.2
15%
Maintained Lawn
Prairie Grassland
Shrub
Edge
Mature Forest
10.1
18%
5.8
11%
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Comparison
Carbon Sequestration
(MTCE/yr)
Carbon Emissions
(MTCE/yr)
Waste, 258
Edge, 8.2
Mature
Forest, 9.4
Shrub, 10.1
Water , 1,756
Construction,
1,134
Maintained
Lawn, 21.7
Transport,
20,900
Energy,
42,352
Prairie
Grassland, 5.8
Total Sequestration: 51 MTCE
Total Emissions: 66,400 MTCE
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Calvin College Carbon
Neutrality Project
Emissions Reductions
Dan VandenAkker
Comparison
Carbon Sequestration
(MTCE/yr)
Carbon Emissions
(MTCE/yr)
Waste, 258
Edge, 8.2
Mature
Forest, 9.4
Shrub, 10.1
Water , 1,756
Construction,
1,134
Maintained
Lawn, 21.7
Transport,
20,900
Energy,
42,352
Prairie
Grassland, 5.8
Total Sequestration: 51 MTCE
Total Emissions: 66,400 MTCE
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Reduction Options
Carbon Reduction
Cost
ratio
[MTCE/year]
[$]
[$/MTCE/year]
Monthly EV gift for students
1.25
$240,000.00
$17,454.55
Campus Safety in EVs
0.96
$80,000.00
$7,575.76
Calvin owned bikes
1.258
$3,000.00
$2,385.38
Adding Lake Dr. Bike lane and path
14.93
$21,000.00
$1,407.00
Full Rapid Subsidization
264
$94,492.00
$358.53
Renewable Energy Production
5548
$820,000.00
$76.00
Green Energy purchase*
-19571
$724,000.00
$37.00
Carbon Offset purchase
∞
$9.00
Temperature Drop
3555
($172,000.000)
($48.00)
Daily commuter fees with increased rates
678
($83,000.00)
($122.58)
* Renewable Energy is not completely carbon free
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Reduction Options
•
•
•
•
Green Energy Purchasing
Carbon Offset Purchasing
Conservation
Renewable Energy Production
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Reduction Options
• Green Energy Purchasing
– Green energy has a 5¢/kW-hr surcharge.
This is in addition to the 10¢/kW-hr fee.
– To completely offset Calvin’s carbon
footprint due to electricity usage would
cost 1.1 million dollars. This is 1.2% of
Calvin’s annual budget ($92 million).
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Reduction Options
• Carbon Offset Purchasing
– EU is trading carbon offset credits at
about 32.95 US$ per metric ton of CO2
– However, TerraPass.com sells carbon
offsets for 11 US$ per metric ton of CO2
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Reduction Options
• Conservation
– Decreasing temperature in all buildings
by 3 degrees Fahrenheit during the
winter and 10 degrees during Christmas
break would save about $172,000 and
3,555 MTCE (5.4% of total emissions)
– Reduce electrical consumption
• Turn off computers at night
• Shut off lights when leaving a room
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Reduction Options
• Wind Turbine Installation
– 800 kW of Power Capability
– Estimated annual power
production of 2053 MWhr/yr
– Unaided Payoff Period of
10.9 years
– Net Present Value $820,000
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Neutrality Plan
• Install 4 Wind Turbines
• Offsets the emissions from energy purchasing
and use.
• Awareness
• Implement options to minimize
commuter traffic
• Purchase Carbon Offset Credits to
cover remaining emissions
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Neutrality Plan
4 Wind Turbines
Year
Activity
E55 Wind Turbine Number 1
E55 Wind Turbine Number 2
E55 Wind Turbine Number 3
E55 Wind Turbine Number 4
Option of Continual Wind
Turbine Replacement
2008
2013
2018
2023
*
2028
2033
2038
2043
**
*
**
*
**
*
**
* = Year of Installation
** = End of 20 Year life Cycle
This plan calls for a new wind turbine to be built every 5 years. The wind
turbines will be paid off in 5 year periods using money saved from lower heating
bills and a small amount of upfront capital.
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Neutrality Plan
Increase Awareness
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Neutrality Plan
Minimize Commuter Traffic
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Neutrality Plan
Carbon Offset Credits
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Comparison
Carbon Sequestration
(MTCE/yr)
Carbon Emissions
(MTCE/yr)
Waste, 258
Water , 1,756
Construction,
1,134
Edge, 8.2
Mature
Forest, 9.4
Shrub, 10.1
Maintained
Lawn, 21.7
Transport,
20,900
Energy,
42,352
Prairie
Grassland, 5.8
Total Sequestration: 51 MTCE
Total Emissions: 66400
51 MTCE
MTCE
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Calvin College Carbon
Neutrality Project
Financing
Joe Englin
Total Neutrality Costs
• An upfront investment of $8,500,000 would
be required to make Calvin College carbon
neutral for 35 years.
• This would be done primarily though the
wind turbine project and carbon offset
purchasing.
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Implementation
• Ideally, this plan would be implemented
immediately, however $8,500,000 is a lot of
money.
• If we decide to implement the plan 10
years from now, we need to save
$1,050,000 per year.
• From that point on, we will have enough
funding to stay carbon neutral for 35
years.
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Community Values
• We need to set an example for the
community, even if it means spending
more.
• Examples of this would be dorm
renovations and fully subsidizing the
Rapid.
• If we decided to push neutrality back one
year, we could fund these projects.
Sources of Funding
• Increased Parking Fees – This will help
reduce carbon emissions and generate
funding.
• Raise Tuition – In addition to the
increased parking fees, a 1.16% tuition
increase would be required to fund this
project.
• Government Grants.
• Donations.
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
46 Year Timeline
Year 1: Increase tuition 1.16%
Years 1-11: Save 82% of funds generated
per year for carbon neutrality, spend 18%
on green energy projects
Year 11: Use the $8.5 million saved from
years 1-11 to fund 35 years of carbon
neutrality
Years 11- 46: Deposit money saved into
“Green Energy Account” and use it to
fund other projects.
46 Years From Now
• The wind turbine proposal will save Calvin
a total of $15,800,000.
• The money generated by the tuition
increase could be saved and invested in
new green energy technology
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Calvin College Carbon
Neutrality Project
Conclusion
Brian Medema
What We’ve Learned
• How Calvin Functions
– Physical infrastructure
– Financial Decisions
• Biologists and Engineers
– Outdoors vs. Computer labs
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
What We’ve Learned
• Carbon Emissions Trading Simulation
– Studied our own emissions
•
•
•
•
•
Driving
Heating/Cooling
Watching TV
Using a computer
Machine Drying clothes
• Reducing emissions is HARD!
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Emissions
Trading Simulation
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Emissions
Trading Simulation
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Neutrality is Hard
• Sequestration isn’t viable for us
• Reduce emissions:
– Consume less
– Be more efficient with what we consume
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Next Steps
• Establish a Green Energy Fund
– Tuition
– Donations
– Money from Energy Savings
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Next Steps
• Implementation
– Dorm Temperature drop
– Increased Parking fees
– Subsidize the Rapid for students
– Calvin Rentable Bikes
http://es.geocities.com/circulaenbici/
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Next Steps
• Public Awareness
– Calvin Bikes
– Bike lane on Lake Drive
– Electric Vehicles for Campus Safety and
other service vehicles
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Next Steps
• Become Carbon Neutral
– Administration’s support
– Finalized plan
– Installation of green power sources
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Acknowledgments
•
•
•
•
•
•
VP Henry DeVries
Mr. Paul Pennock
Professor Piers
Professor Dornbos
Professor Heun
Professor Warners
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Questions
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project