Sustainability in Action in Environmental Issues - Case Study Example

Running Header: Sustainability in Action Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission: Sustainability in Action Sustainable development is defined as an advancement that covers wants of the present without interfering with the capability of future generation to meet wants. In environmental issues, sustainable development is viewed as the capability of a development or activity to persist in long term without depressing that section of environment that sustains it (Adams 1999, p. 1999). With its pervasive and long-range effects, climate change is becoming a huge concern that is facing every organization. While future generations might interact with this change in an insightful ways, it is up to the organizations to put efforts on environmental, economic, and social initiatives that will be required to lower the climate change effects and embark on sustainable development. The current CO2 level is approximately 388 ppm that is increasingly approaching to the estimated ‘tipping point’ of 450 ppm. The moment tipping point will reached, it is projected that there will be severe environmental changes such as effects of rise in sea level as a result of earth ice sheet melt and other climatologically caused side effects. Some of the side effects have already started to show up and they include polar ice melt, coral reef destruction, sea level rise, species extinction, changing weather pattern and habitat loss. Universities as organizations are uniquely positioned to increase research on environmental issues, to teach students who will turn to be future leaders and to develop sustainable practices and system. In doing this, universities as organizations will lead by example and encourage the changes required to address sustainability and environmental issues. The University of Idaho has committed itself to embrace a path of action and serving as an example for other universities and colleges, and the entire society, across the country, and to demonstrating what is meant by accepting sustainability. According to University of Idaho Sustainability Center (2010, p. 5), the university has developed a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that has outlined the steps that it requires to follow to become climate neutral by 2030. The climate neutrality steps are also steps towards effective fiscal responsibility. Reduction in fossil fuel reliance, high performance buildings, energy conservation and other strategies are not only lowering emissions of greenhouse gas, but also lowering costs of operation and the effects of future increases in fuel and energy prices. The University of Idaho signed the ACUPCC (the American Colleges and Universities Presidents Climate Commitment) in March 2007 (University of Idaho Sustainability Center 2010, p. 6). As a member, the organization is committed to lower its GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions greatly in the short term, and to rapidly lower emissions of GHG and commit the remaining efforts over the long term. Additionally, ACUPCC demands the development of a complete plan to attain climate neutrality as quick as possible and University of Idaho has complied with this requirement by developing climate action plan. Also ACUPCC requires more tangible initiatives to lower emissions of GHG in the short term while a more concrete plan is being established. The university has implemented some of actions in order to meet this commitment and they include waste minimization and green building policy. University has initiated some efforts to minimize waste by developing tailgate recycling at football games, joining the national recyclemania competition and other sporting activities, and improving e-waste recycling on campus. A green building policy has guided the university in all of its new facilities construction in order to try to comply with the standards of US Green Building Council’s Silver. Another action that is required by ACUPCC is to make publicly available the GHG inventory and environment action plan of the organization, including periodic progress reporting, via the AASHE (the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education). The Greenhouse Gas Assessment for the University of Idaho was presented to AASHE in September 2008 and later the Climate Action Plan in January 2010. The university committee on sustainability recommended 2030 as target date of university to attain neutrality of climate. In order to maintain the organization in line with this goal, the intermediate targets must be put in place such that 25% lowering of emission by 2012, 50% lowering of emissions by 2016, and 82% reduction by 2024. The major issue in environmental responsibilities, actions and practices in the Idaho University is to lower GHG emissions. This is because strategy on conservation is cost effective, has highest return on investment and lowers vulnerability to future higher energy costs. With high returns, economy is sustainable hence presenting ways for improved environmental conservation and protection, while providing society options to unwarranted natural resources exploitation (Chaffey 2003, P. 14). Most of conservation actions and practices involve implementation of newer and more efficient technology. It is recognized that upfront capitalization of conservation plans and actions is inhibiting although they are cost effective. Other efforts on conservation need changes in management or wide involvement of students, faculty, and staff. These efforts need less in terms of capitalization cost, although are made hard by the requirement for participation and education. It is not easy to alter behaviors and attitudes compared to changing of technologies. As the university develop further, new building are required to consider energy efficiency as a priority. This is because increased demand on fossil fuel, peak oil, and climate change will increase future energy prices. The University of Idaho recognizes that the bigger it energy footprint, the more risk and cost it face over the long period. In the university, 80% of the GHG emissions emanate from energy use in buildings. The most vital plan is to lower the footprint of energy of new buildings while improving the efficiency of already existing structures. University of Idaho is presently carrying out huge energy efficiency projects to lower costs of energy. These projects reflect sound environmental and fiscal stewardship and they are cost effective. The most vital effort on energy conservation is the execution of a performance contract that involves $ 30,000,000 value projects. An energy service company, McKinstry Essention, Inc. performed a technical audit at the university in 2007. Potential energy savings projects were identified with a payback of not more than 25 years. Executions of majority of these projects are presently in progress and projected to be finished in 2012. The projects are projected to contribute to significant reductions in annual emission with 1,040 MTCO2e from avoided natural gas usage and 4,512 MTCO2e from avoided electricity usage (University of Idaho Sustainability Center 2010, p. 11). These reductions amounts roughly 1/8 of the 2005 carbon footprint of the university. The University of Idaho produced 38,981 metric tons of CO2e gases of greenhouse in 2007 and 80% were caused by natural gas and electricity usage. To attain emission reduction goal, the organization will be needed to lower natural gas and electricity usage. Utilization of renewable energy in the university can lower the amount of natural gas and electricity that the organization requires to use and purchase, hence lowering its GHG footprint. For the university, large scale solar initiatives are non-cost effective if compared with other options of renewable energy. Depending on future prices of electricity, solar electricity producing systems have a range of 32 to 50 years payback period. Small scale projects that cover outreach and educational goals have importance, although the technology is required to be more cost-effective before it is widely adopted. Amenities of university are presently researching on LED (light emitting diode) light arrays that can replace the existing lights and retrofitted for existing outdoor lighting fixtures. At the end of research, it will be determined whether it is a feasible course of action and a cost effective means to considerably lower reliance on electricity in the organization. The most feasible means of generating renewable energy in large scale terms is to add generator and steam turbine to the already existing university steam plant. This would produce electricity from biomass already burnt to generate steam for the university. Expenses for installation and equipment are approximately $ 750,000 with a return on investment of less than 10 years. The project can create 1,074 MT CO2e of emissions reduction annually. According to University of Idaho Sustainability center (2010, p. 18), university generates nearly 1,500 tons of waste annually, causing the generation of 242 metric tons of CO2e into the environment from the transportation and decomposition of waste. Organization must lower the quantity of overall waste recycled and produced. University has put in place a target of increasing recycling by 60% and minimizing waste by 20% by 2013. The university center for sustainability put forward an innovation request proposal to attain its goal of 2013. The proposal, prepared in 2009, handles issues on waste management including disposal, handling, and purchasing. The organization is now recycling e-waste via University Surplus. Beginning from 2010, e-waste has been prohibited from the Oregon landfill. Electronic waste collection systems have been put in place in the university with Surplus processing nearly 25 tons of monitors and computers annually. Additionally, waste management should include food waste so that university is able to compost all food waste from the operations of campus dining. Also university catering is required to shift to a reduced waste catering system using compostable or reusable flatware, plates and other serving utensils. Another recommendation is means of paper waste reduction by encouragement of duplex photocopying on campus. Transport systems account the larger proportion of energy use in the world. It accounts for more than 50% of the globe oil use and it is a major source that generates greenhouse gas. In US, patterns of transportation are largely composed of personnel vehicles, constituting 81% of transportation energy use, 96% coming from oil (Newman 1999, p. 73). One-third of carbon emissions in US are from transportation. In 2007, the organization generated 6,455 metric tons of CO2e associated with transportation where 2,181 metric tons were from air travel, 2,230 metric tons from campus fleet, and 2,044 from commuting. The 3 sources comprised of 165 of total emissions at the organization in 2007. Strategies for minimizing emissions from commuters involve promoting ride sharing and carpooling, promoting alternative means of transpiration, and increasing a small parking charges. In conclusion, University of Idaho has led by example in efforts of encouraging the changes required to tackle issues on sustainability and environment. It has developed a climate action plan that has explained steps to attain its climate neutrality by 2030. The organization is a signatory of ACUPCC in order to show its commitment in reducing its emissions of greenhouse gas. The university committee on sustainability recommended 2030 as target date of university to attain neutrality of climate. The major priority of University of Idaho on conservation strategy is to reduce emissions of GHG because it is cost effective. The involved projects are estimated to contribute to considerable minimizations in annual emission with 1,040 MTCO2e from evaded natural gas utilization and 4,512 MTCO2e from evaded electricity usage. Use of renewable energy sources has high potential to reduce emission of GHG. University established a target of increasing recycling by 60% and minimizing waste by 20% by 2013. Plans to reduce emissions from commuters include encouraging alternative means of transportation. References Adams, W.M. 1999, ‘Sustainability’, Introduction Human Geographies, vol. 6, no. 4. , pp. 125-130. Chaffey, H. N. 2003, ‘principles of sustainable development’, Development and Environment, vol. 2 no. 6, pp. 2-45. Newman, P. 1999, “Transport: reducing automobile dependence’, The Earthscan Reader in Sustainable Cities, vol. 4, no. 2. pp. 67-92. University of Idaho Sustainability Center 2010, University of Idaho Climate Action Plan, pp. 5- 25. Read More