Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Jan 11, 2016
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Biology 354:
Investigations in
Plant Ecology
Engineering 333:
Advanced Thermal
System Design
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Introduction
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
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
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Projecthttp://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/greenhouse.GIF
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
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
http://www.index-china.com/index-english/china_map_index.htm
http://www.sweetmarias.com/coffee.asia.india.html
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
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/
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
Emissions
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Jessica Driesenga
What is Calvin College’s “Carbon Footprint?”
• Create an inventory of Emissions and Sequestration
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
http://mingled.co.uk/designs/images/large-icons-carbonfootprint.gif
Emissions Summary
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Emissions Breakdown
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
(MTCE/yr)
Sequestration Breakdown
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Comparison
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Sequestration (MTCE/yr)
Carbon Emissions(MTCE/yr)
Total Sequestration: 51 MTCE Total Emissions: 66,400 MTCE
Emissions Reductions
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Dan VandenAkker
Comparison
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Sequestration (MTCE/yr)
Total Sequestration: 51 MTCE Total Emissions: 66,400 MTCE
Carbon Emissions(MTCE/yr)
Carbon Reduction Options
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
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
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
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
• Wind Turbine Installation– 800 kW of Power Capability– Estimated annual power
production of 2053 MW-hr/yr
– Unaided Payoff Period of 10.9 years
– Net Present Value $820,000
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
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Year 2008 2013 2018 2023 2028 2033 2038 2043Activity
E55 Wind Turbine Number 1 * **E55 Wind Turbine Number 2 * **E55 Wind Turbine Number 3 * **E55 Wind Turbine Number 4 * **
* = Year of Installation** = End of 20 Year life Cycle
Option of Continual Wind Turbine Replacement
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.
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
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
Carbon Sequestration (MTCE/yr)
Total Sequestration: 51 MTCE Total Emissions: 51 MTCE
Carbon Emissions(MTCE/yr)
Total Emissions: 66400 MTCE
Financing
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
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
Conclusion
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
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
Calvin College Carbon Neutrality Project
http://es.geocities.com/circulaenbici/
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