Green Mountain College’s Green Mountain College’s Ecological Footprint:Ecological Footprint:

An Initial AssessmentAn Initial Assessment

Natural Resource EconomicsNatural Resource Economics

December 7, 2000December 7, 2000

Research TeamResearch Team

Supervisor:Supervisor: Dr. Steven E. LetendreDr. Steven E. Letendre

Researchers:Researchers: Janine CorsettiJanine Corsetti

Beth Sanderson Beth Sanderson

Heather PolhemusHeather Polhemus

Samuel GoodspeedSamuel Goodspeed

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview Resource Consumption at GMCResource Consumption at GMC What is an Ecological Footprint?What is an Ecological Footprint? Energy UseEnergy Use

OilOil ElectricityElectricity

WaterWater FoodFood ConclusionsConclusions Recommendations for Shrinking GMC’s Recommendations for Shrinking GMC’s

Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint

GMC Resource Consumption!GMC Resource Consumption!

80,532 lbs. of 80,532 lbs. of cheese & buttercheese & butter

290,563 gallons 290,563 gallons of #6 oilof #6 oil

1,795,766 kWh1,795,766 kWh

18,924 lbs. 18,924 lbs. of poultryof poultry

What is an Ecological Footprint?What is an Ecological Footprint? An analytic tool used to calculate land area An analytic tool used to calculate land area

required to provide resources consumed and required to provide resources consumed and absorb waste produced by an average person, absorb waste produced by an average person, group, campus, etc., in a particular country.group, campus, etc., in a particular country.

It measures 5 distinct consumption categories:It measures 5 distinct consumption categories: 1. Food1. Food 2. Housing2. Housing 3. Transportation3. Transportation 4. Consumer Goods 4. Consumer Goods 5. Services5. Services

An educational tool that builds public awareness and assists sustainability-oriented decision-making.

Increases consciousness that we live on a finite planet with ecological constraints.

What is an Ecological Footprint?

Why worry aboutWhy worry about GMC’s GMC’s footprint?footprint?

In order to reduce In order to reduce campus consumption campus consumption levels, we need to levels, we need to know what they are.know what they are.

Practicing Practicing sustainability sustainability reinforces concepts reinforces concepts learned in the learned in the classroom.classroom.

Energy Consumption: MethodEnergy Consumption: Method

CO2CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2 CO2

CO2

CO2

Energy Consumption: OilEnergy Consumption: Oil Annual consumption of #6 fuel oil, 290,563 Annual consumption of #6 fuel oil, 290,563

gallons.gallons.

12.2 tons of carbon dioxide are released into 12.2 tons of carbon dioxide are released into the air per 1,000 gallons of fuel oil burned, the air per 1,000 gallons of fuel oil burned, 3,545 tons of carbon dioxide per year.3,545 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Northeast forest can sequester .29 tons of Northeast forest can sequester .29 tons of carbon per acre per year.carbon per acre per year.

Energy Consumption: OilEnergy Consumption: Oil

GMC requires GMC requires 12,22312,223 acres acres of northeast forest to of northeast forest to sequester the 3,545 tons of sequester the 3,545 tons of carbon emitted each year.carbon emitted each year.

((290,563 gallons / 1000 gallons) * ((290,563 gallons / 1000 gallons) * 12.2 tons of CO12.2 tons of CO22) / .29 tons per acre) / .29 tons per acre

Energy Consumption: ElectricityEnergy Consumption: Electricity

Approximately 1,795,766 kWh / year.Approximately 1,795,766 kWh / year.

According to the state of Vermont, .15 lbs. Of According to the state of Vermont, .15 lbs. Of COCO2 2 / kWh are released into the air./ kWh are released into the air.

GMC’s electricity consumption leads to total GMC’s electricity consumption leads to total emissions of 135 tons of carbon per year.emissions of 135 tons of carbon per year.

GMC requires GMC requires 466466 acres of acres of northeast forest to northeast forest to sequester the 135 tons of sequester the 135 tons of carbon emitted each year carbon emitted each year from electricity use.from electricity use.

Energy Consumption: ElectricityEnergy Consumption: Electricity

((1,795,766 kWh) * .15 lbs. of CO((1,795,766 kWh) * .15 lbs. of CO22) / ) /

2,000 lbs.) / .29 tons per acre2,000 lbs.) / .29 tons per acre

Water Consumption: MethodWater Consumption: Method Calculation Calculation

represents size of represents size of basin in acres basin in acres needed to collect needed to collect water for GMC.water for GMC.

The Poultney area has a collection basin of The Poultney area has a collection basin of 22 square miles which equals 14,080 acres.22 square miles which equals 14,080 acres.

Poultney uses Poultney uses 57,335,800 gallons a year. 57,335,800 gallons a year. GMC uses 9,427,000 gallons a year.GMC uses 9,427,000 gallons a year.

Water Consumption: ResultsWater Consumption: Results GMC’s consumption equals 6.1% of GMC’s consumption equals 6.1% of

Poultney’s water usage.Poultney’s water usage.

6.1% of the Poultney water basin equals 6.1% of the Poultney water basin equals 859859 acres, an area sufficient to provide water for acres, an area sufficient to provide water for GMC’s needs.GMC’s needs.

Poultney’s watershed is fully replenished Poultney’s watershed is fully replenished annually through rain fall, thus it is a non-annually through rain fall, thus it is a non-depletable resource at current levels of water depletable resource at current levels of water consumption.consumption.

Food Consumption: MethodFood Consumption: Method A partial listing of annual food purchases A partial listing of annual food purchases

was obtained from Marriott (1999). was obtained from Marriott (1999).

Data was sorted by categories (e.g., cheese Data was sorted by categories (e.g., cheese & butter, beef, grains etc.)& butter, beef, grains etc.)

This data was entered into a spreadsheet This data was entered into a spreadsheet designed by the non-profit organization designed by the non-profit organization called Redefining Progress. This called Redefining Progress. This spreadsheet converts the data into land area spreadsheet converts the data into land area required to produce and transport the food.required to produce and transport the food.

Food Consumption: ResultsFood Consumption: ResultsCategories:Categories: Amount:Amount:

Veggies, potatoes & fruitVeggies, potatoes & fruit 90,852 lbs.90,852 lbs.BreadBread 20,111 lbs.20,111 lbs.Rice, cereals, noodles, etc.Rice, cereals, noodles, etc. 17,232 lbs.17,232 lbs.BeansBeans 828 lbs.828 lbs.Milk & yogurtMilk & yogurt 24,810 quarts24,810 quartsIce cream, sour creamIce cream, sour cream 2,748 quarts2,748 quartsCheese, butter Cheese, butter 80,580 lbs.80,580 lbs.EggsEggs 936 count936 countPorkPork 10,324 lbs.10,324 lbs.Chicken, turkeyChicken, turkey 18,924 lbs.18,924 lbs.Beef (grain fed)Beef (grain fed) 12,876 lbs.12,876 lbs.

Categories:Categories: Amount:Amount:

FishFish 2,560 lbs.2,560 lbs.Juice Juice 1,367 quarts1,367 quartsSugarSugar 650 lbs.650 lbs.Solid vegetable oil & fatSolid vegetable oil & fat 927 lbs.927 lbs.Liquid vegetable oil & fatLiquid vegetable oil & fat 1,268 lbs.1,268 lbs.Tea and coffeeTea and coffee 1,383 lbs.1,383 lbs.

Food Consumption: ResultsFood Consumption: Results

Total Land Area:Total Land Area: 2,6832,683 acres acres

ConclusionsConclusions Total ecological footprint (energy, water, & Total ecological footprint (energy, water, &

food) 15,372 acres. food) 15,372 acres.

GMC needs one hundred more campuses to GMC needs one hundred more campuses to support current resource consumption.support current resource consumption.

80% of calculated footprint is attributed to oil 80% of calculated footprint is attributed to oil usage for heating.usage for heating.

17% of calculated footprint is attributed to 17% of calculated footprint is attributed to food consumption.food consumption.

RecommendationsRecommendations Adopt alternative energy sources for heating Adopt alternative energy sources for heating

buildings and water (e.g., solar water buildings and water (e.g., solar water heating, passive solar design, & biomass). heating, passive solar design, & biomass).

Increase insulation and reduce air leaks for Increase insulation and reduce air leaks for more energy efficient buildings.more energy efficient buildings.

Adopt alternative electricity producing Adopt alternative electricity producing technologies (e.g., photovoltaics, wind, & fuel technologies (e.g., photovoltaics, wind, & fuel cells), or purchase “green” power once cells), or purchase “green” power once deregulation arrives in VT.deregulation arrives in VT.

RecommendationsRecommendations Continue water conservation efforts across Continue water conservation efforts across

campus. Research methods for capturing campus. Research methods for capturing rain water runoff and utilizing graywater.rain water runoff and utilizing graywater.

Encourage food service to purchase locally-Encourage food service to purchase locally-grown, organic products instead of factory grown, organic products instead of factory farmed food.farmed food.

Support student initiatives for creating the Support student initiatives for creating the Center for Sustainable Living. The center Center for Sustainable Living. The center can serve to encourage further footprint can serve to encourage further footprint analyses and reduction efforts.analyses and reduction efforts.