Engineering Manager - Coursework Example

? Executive Summary With global warming becoming a major concern worldwide, governments, organizations, s, etc have woken up to the fact that there is an urgent need to curb the emission of green house gases and more importantly go green. This report is a recommendation to the University of Greenwich on how they can go green from a student perspective. There are numerous green practices and strategies that are being implemented to go green but only few of them would be effective in enabling the students of the university to go green. Practicing energy conservation if one of the most simple and effective ways of going green. This will need conscious effort from the student but is very effective. Practices like switching to eco-friendly bulbs, switching off electrical appliances when not in use, use of eco-friendly alternatives in everyday life contribute to the conversation of energy. Also use of recyclable and reusable products are advised as this reduces the waste that goes into the environment. Products that cannot be reused must be boycotted on the campus by the students. Students must get actively involved making their campus greener ad eco-friendly. Plants can be grown on the rooftops of dorm and apartment buildings. Waste reduction and management will also help to keep the campus clean and greener. Conscious effort in commuting can also be an effective go green initiative. Riding bikes, using mass transport options, alternative vehicles and energy, etc will reduce the stress that transport puts on the environment. Video conferencing can be used as an effective tool for communication in the campus and wherever possible. Use of paper must be reduced and softcopies of documents must be used as an alternative to printouts. These practices as a whole will help reducing overall carbon footprint of the student body. Introduction With global warming reaching alarming figures, it has now become a major global concern. There is a need for immediate action in order to curb global warming and reduce its effects on the environment. The governments, organizations, companies, institutions worldwide have woken up to the fact that there needs to take measures sooner than later to fight global warming. Going green or eco-friendly is now the most important social responsibility. This report is a recommendation plan to the University of Greenwich on various green strategies that it can adopt to enable students studying in the university to go green. Various green strategies and practices have been analysed. There are numerous green strategies such as water and electricity conservation, acquisition of alternate fuel vehicles for communication inside the campus, recycling, water preservation, green building, green power, waste diversion, reduction of emission of green house gases, green space and ecosystems.etc. But in this report only those strategies are suggested that will enable the students studying in the University to go green. Practice Energy Conservation This is the most simple of solutions and the one that is most difficult and neglected. Students must try to conserve energy wherever possible. Use less energy wherever possible. Switch the old fashioned light bulbs to latest one which saves energy. Use alternate energy wherever possible. Small steps like switching off your computers, lights and other electric equipment when not in use when practiced by a large number of people, in this case students, make a huge difference. Even setting the computer in sleep mode when not in use can save a lot of energy. Products that have eco-friendly alternative must be purchased even if it would be a little costlier as it will pay off in a long run (Swallow, 2009). For example, energy start products contribute to the cause. Items that are not being used such as appliances, cell phone chargers must be unplugged. Even though they are not being used, they draw electricity from the outlets (Carnegie Mellon, 2012). All students must be introduced to the various ways on conserving energy on a day-to-day basis and must be urged to follow this. It is very important for the university to ensure that the students are aware of these practices and voluntarily take it up. Recycle and Reusable Products Students must switch to products that are either recyclable or reusable. Products that cannot be reused or recycled must be boycotted on the campus. Utensils that are disposable should be switched to plastic or silver utensils (cups ad plates included) that can be washed and reused. A student voluntary body must be formed that ensures that this is followed throughout the university even with the faculty. Waterless urinals and low-flush toilets must be used. This is another important green strategy that can save a great amount of water (Stephanie, 2009). Greening the Campus The students must try to keep the campus as green as possible. The buildings and rooftops of the dorms and apartments must be used to grow plants. Trees and plants must be planted throughout the campus by voluntary student bodies and these must be maintained. Waste reduction is another practice that helps to keep the campus clean. Food waste, packaging waste, office paper waste are not given much attention. Products with excessive packaging must be avoided. Any food waste must not be thrown away but considered for composting. Reusable must be preferred over disposable while shopping. Waste in the campus, for example office and labs, must be looked into. That is a waste basket audit must be conducted to see if there is any recycling options. Also only exact of the supplies required must be purchased. Efficient Transportation Students must reduce the usage of modes of transportation that contribute green houses gases. Instead must shift to more eco-friendly options. Alternative vehicles must be made available to the students so that they can use a more eco-friendly options to commute. Also the university must take initiative and start using alternative fuels such as bio-diesel in their buses which will help to bring the students carbon footprint down. Students must use mass transportation like buses while commuting. Carpooling is an excellent option. Riding bikes is the cheapest and most eco-friendly option available to students. This not just reduces the negative effects on the environment but also has various other benefits. Another important practice that students can use and the university must support them is video conferencing. The main motive behind this practise is reduce travel time of both student and staff as well as other effects of transportation on the environment. Wherever possible, video conferencing must be used inside the campus for various academic purposes. Video conferencing is an effective collaboration and communication tool. Printing and Paper As much as possible, students have to try to stop using paper and take printouts. Softcopies must be wherever possible. Majority of the paper generated in the office of universities are a waste. Therefore, these must be avoided. Tests, examinations, assignments must all be conducted on computers. Recycles paper must be used and the number of written assignments and reports must be reduced. This will reduce the use of paper in the campus. Student Innovations The university must encourage the students to come up with new and innovative ways to reduce the carbon foot print of themselves and the university. This can lead to new ways of reducing the carbon footprint. This will also motivate the students to get directly involved the go green initiative. All the above green strategies recommended above are from a student perspective. These practices can be followed by the students to reduce their individual carbon footprints and the university’s as a whole. But there are numerous other practices and strategies that the university can adopt. Some of the green practices and strategies that the university can adopt are: drought-friendly landscaping, use of solar panels and other alternate sources of energy, sustainable wood products wherever possible, low or no voc-emitting furnishings, wood, floors, and paints, preserving the natural habitat, green infrastructure initiatives, campus recycling, purchasing green power, designing green buildings, water conservation, waste diversion, storm water management, green electronics, etc. Conclusion There are numerous ways that the management at the university and the students can adopt to go green. This is an important initiative from the university and the practices and strategies recommended in this report are aimed at effectively and efficiently reducing the overall carbon footprint. Practices such as energy conservation, efficient transportation, greening the campus, using recyclable and reusable products are simple but effective. Also these are practices that can be followed by the students with a little effort. There are other bigger initiatives that university must consider in making a bigger change and contribute towards fighting global warming. References Carnegie Mellon. (2012). Campus Energy - Energy Conservation. [Online]. Available at: http://www.cmu.edu/greenpractices/campus-energy/index.html. Accessed on 27 Dec, 2011. Stephanie (2009). Green School in Bend Adopts Green Practices. [Online]. Available at: http://www.peachygreen.com/green-kids/green-school-adopts-green-practices. Accessed on 27 Dec, 2011. Swallow, L. (2009). Green Business Practices for Dummies. NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Read More