Washington University Danforth Campus Carbon Footprint: Using the Campus as a Living Laboratory

E. M. Robinson, R. B. Husar, M. MaltenWashington University, St. Louis

Contact: emr1@wustl.edu

AbstractWashington University, following the trend of many other academic institutions,

performed a University-wide carbon emission footprint during the Spring of 2008 for 1990-2007. The carbon footprint was a collaborative effort between university facilities, an outside consultant and Prof. Husar, teaching EECE 449, Sustainable Air Quality. The collaboration was successful because of the excitement the students had about participating in work that was directly applicable to campus and the facilities department’s need for explanations about the cause of GHG emissions. The Sustainable Air Quality class narrowed the scope of the project to the Danforth Campus and focused on three main objectives: (1) develop a carbon footprint causality model; (2) estimate the carbon footprint and (3) compare our estimates to other universities carbon emission estimates. The Danforth campus saw over 50% increase in carbon emission from 1990 with 80% of that due to electricity usage. The class also found that the estimate for carbon emission on the Danforth campus was comparable to other universities that had performed similar footprint analysis. Future work will include using the carbon footprint causality model to explore various methods for carbon emission reduction.

Specific Objectives:

1. Develop and apply carbon emission estimation model

2. Estimate the carbon footprint of Danforth Campus

3. Establish the key causality drivers for the emissions

The focus of this poster is on campus carbon emissions. Further work is still needed for transportation carbon estimates.

Campus as a Living Laboratory• The Sustainable Air Quality class, EECE 449/549

worked in collaboration with Facilities department and a consultant to establish a carbon footprint.

• Using data collected by the consultant, the class with the consultants established the carbon emissions for the Danforth Campus.

• The class contribution was to begin explaining carbon drivers, modeling future through scenarios and comparing our carbon estimate to peer institutions.

• The class experience overall was positive. Students were engaged throughout the entire semester because the activities directly related to their lives.

Energy Use Overview

The impact on carbon arises from on-campus energy use and from transportation

On Campus Energy Use

Students

Heating

Cooling

Appliances

Faculty/Staff

Transportation

Commuting

Air Travel

University Fleet

Method: Causality Model

• Systems approach: linking human activities and their consequences in closed loop• Each component depends on its causal upstream driver – and external forcing• The causal loop can be used as an organizing principle for sustainability analysis

• Student, Faculty Staff Population

Building Area

• Per Student Space– Teaching, research needs– Comfort?

• Actual and Forecast Building Area

Building Area/Student

Student Pop x Area/Student

Projected

Projected

Building Area

New since 1990

Energy Demand

• Actual and Forecast Building Area

• Actual and Forecast Energy Demand

• Building Energy Efficiency– Building Design– Appliances – Usage Pattern

Projected

Projected Energy Use/Area

Area x Energy Use/AreaEnergy Use

Carbon Footprint

• Actual and Forecast Carbon Footprint

• Actual and Forecast Energy Demand

• Carbon Emissions Factor– Fuel Mix– Energy Waste – Sequestration

Projected

Projected

Emission/Energy Use

Energy Use x Emission/Energy UseEmission

Results: Carbon Footprint1990-2005

CarbonEnergy

Carbon

SqFt

Energy

Student

FtSqStudents

#

Results: Carbon Footprint Causality Projections

Discussion:

• Carbon emission has increased by 60% from 1990-2005

• Increased building square footage and decreased energy efficiency has led to increased carbon emissions

• By manipulating the energy efficiency or carbon efficiency reductions could be made.

Possible Future Activities

• WU Carbon Footprint (Actual, Observations)– Transportation Carbon– (Electric) Energy Usage – Real-time monitoring

• Carbon (Causality) Systems Model– Multi-science approach– Tool for testing ideas on Campus Carbon

• Collaborate with other Universities in MAGEEP Network to improve carbon footprint

Acknowledgments

• Washington University Facilities Department, particularly Ed Barry• Washington University Office of Sustainability, Matt Malten