983792 - Assessment of Carbon Emissions and Potential Reduction Strategies for the University of Texas at Arlington (Student Poster 13)

Authors:
Dravid Sabarish, Villavan Kothai, University of Texas at Arlington, dravidsabarish.villavankothai@mavs.uta.edu
Melanie L. Sattler, University of Texas at Arlington, sattler@uta.edu
Meghna Tare, University of Texas at Arlington, mtare@uta.edu

The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) aims to reduce its energy intensity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while it continues to grow in student enrolment. To this end, UTA’s Office of Sustainability is maintaining a carbon inventory for each year to track GHG emissions and provide information to guide reduction strategies. The primary objectives of this project were:
1. To update UTA’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory to include 2017-2019,
2. To suggest short-term and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies.
The inventory was conducted using SIMAP (Sustainability Indicator Management and Analysis) Platform. SIMAP software uses an Excel-based format to calculate the carbon inventory of a campus. Emissions factors used in SIMAP are taken from the US EPA Environmental Protection Agency. SIMAP guides universities in estimating emissions in 3 areas:
SCOPE 1: DIRECT CAMPUS EMISSIONS
• Stationary and mobile sources (energy used in buildings and fleets)
• Fugitive emissions (from fertilizers, chemicals)
SCOPE 2: INDIRECT CAMPUS EMISSIONS
• Purchased electricity
• Purchased and sold renewable energy
SCOPE 3: INDIRECT TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS
• Daily commutes to/from campus by students, staff, and faculty
• Air travel for study abroad programs
• Production, distribution of specific goods or services purchased by the university. These include business trips (by ground and air); food production and distribution.
• Fugitive emissions generated from the solid waste sent to a landfill.

A survey was conducted of UTA students, faculty, and staff to determine the distribution of various commute modes at UTA. In addition, GHG emissions due to water usage at UTA were added to the basic SIMAP inventory.

UTA’s total 2018-2019 emissions were estimated at 101,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (“MTCO2e”), or 2.0 MTCO2e per full-time equivalent student. It was found that emissions per gross square foot had decreased from 2017 to 2019 despite UTA opening several new buildings on campus. UTA’s emission per full-time equivalent student were found to compare favourably with other selected universities.

In terms of emission reduction strategies, an assessment was conducted of potential solar power output from UTA’s rooftops using Helioscope. GHG emission reductions due to afforestation was assessed using I-canopy.