Activity 2.1 - Atmosphere: Help reducing Northwest Vista College's Carbon Footprint

 What are Greenhouse gases

Toxic gases that get trapped in the earth's atmosphere will heat up the earth which will contribute to global warming. The gases that are greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases. There are multiple ways humans produce greenhouse emissions are through transportation, electricity, and Industry.

 Investigation & Problem with Greenhouse Emissions

One of the biggest problems facing our country, and our state is the amount of greenhouse emissions that we produce. The State of Texas ranks first for greenhouse emissions. In 2017 the State of Texas produced 212 million metric tons of carbon emissions from powerplants and 232 million metric tons from transportation. Since 1990 carbon emissions from transportation has increased by 52 percent, and by 17 percent from powerplants. If we could cut into that number and decrease the number of emissions produced it could improve our air quality significantly. There are many things that Northwest Vista College could do to reduce its carbon footprint and help reduce the amount emissions in the state. The biggest advantage that we have living in the State of Texas is amount of sunlight we have on average throughout the year. Northwest Vista College could easily tap into this abundant resource. Northwest Vista has an average of 17,000 students per year. Having that many students require a lot of electricity. Average colleges, and university spend $1.10 per square foot on electricity, and 18 cents on natural gas. Most college buildings are around 50,000 square feet adding up to almost $100,000 of energy annually. Harnessing solar energy could help reduce operating cost for the entire campus.

 Data Analysis and Interpretation:

Solar Energy

Tapping into solar energy is the first thing I would recommend for Northwest Vista College. This could help reduce its carbon footprint by installing solar panels on campus buildings or around the campus. The best thing about solar energy is that it is sustainable, renewable, and plentiful. On average San Antonio receives 220 days of sun. Northwest Vista College can take full advantage of that. Having solar panels on campus buildings or around the campus will help reduce its need from toxic powerplants. The campus could also see a huge financial return, and a lower monthly utility bill that will help with operating cost for the campus. By going solar, the campus will not just reduce its carbon footprint, but it would help decrease the overall carbon footprint of the state. Going solar helps eliminate dangerous pollutants like sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides that's released into the sky. lastly, solar can also reduce water consumption, and withdraw. 

Electric Vehicles

Northwest Vista College could reduce its carbon footprint over the next 10 years by replacing all campus vehicles from gas or diesel to fully electric. Electric vehicles can produce zero carbon emissions if the campus can become solely dependent on solar energy. Electric vehicles will also save the university money because it no longer relies on gas, and diesel for its campus vehicles. Electric vehicles will also reduce the amount of oil being used, and by 2035 the number of barrels of oil used a day will be cut by 1.5 million barrels.

E-Textbooks

The campus could also look at mandating e-text books over the next 10-years to reduce the amount of paper being used for classes which could in turn lower the amount of paper being made from paper mills that also release hazardous materials into the sky. With Northwest Vista College saving more money from solar energy the campus could help individuals save more money and help students in need if they have no access to internet by providing hot spots, tablets, and laptops so they have access to e-textbooks themselves.

Explanation and Design Solutions.

By placing solar panels on or around campus buildings this will allow the college to become less dependent on powerplants that use fossil fuels. With the campus using mostly solar energy will allow the campus to have electric vehicles that charge off of solar energy. These two options will help immediately lower greenhouse emissions from the campus through transportation, and electricity the two main producers of carbon emissions. Lastly if the campus switched to e-textbooks it will also reduce the amount of toxins coming from papermills.  

 

Work Cited: 

“NVC : HISTORY: Alamo Colleges.” NVC : History | Alamo Colleges, www.alamo.edu/nvc/about-us/our-college/history/.

“Overview of Greenhouse Gases.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases.

“Top Five Reasons to Choose an Electric Car.” Union of Concerned Scientists, 12 Mar. 2018, www.ucsusa.org/resources/top-five-reasons-choose-electric-car?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4eaJBhDMARIsANhrQABwkkK5Tg5G3pU7Z7iSHnivZS1pqQpQCp6izi7mXMhLM7Oc_8K3izQaAqUgEALw_wcB&utm_campaign=CV&utm_medium=search&utm_source=googlegrants.

“Colleges and Universities.” ENERGY STAR Buildings and Plants | ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov/buildings/resources_audience/colleges_universities.

Olin, Andy. “Are Houston and Other Cities 'Trying to Have Their Cake and Eat It, Too?'.” The Kinder Institute for Urban Research, 24 Jan. 2020, kinder.rice.edu/urbanedge/2020/01/24/houston-and-cities-struggle-with-sprawl-traffic-emissions#:~:text=Overall%2C%20Texas%20leads%20the%20nation,have%20gone%20up%20by%2017%25.

San Antonio, Texas Climate, www.bestplaces.net/climate/city/texas/san_antonio.