Net zero is a buzzword for good reason. The world is consuming the earth’s resources at an alarming and unsustainable rate. And universities are a significant part of the picture; UK universities accounted for 2.3 per cent of the national carbon footprint, for example, according to research from the University of Leeds. The primary strategies for reaching net zero emissions, energy, water and waste are conservation, efficiency and reuse.
For their part, college campuses can educate students, staff and faculty about consistent actions to help reach net zero goals. University campuses can act as living labs to advance research and support student projects in clean energy. In addition to supporting sustainability, such strategies help save money by reducing the overall demand on resources. Embracing a “circular economy” approach across the university provides a model for how individuals can make a valuable and significant difference.
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The everyday strategies suggested here offer actions for universities, staff and students to support net zero goals on campus. The glossary that follows explains terms such as Scope 1 emissions.
Actions to save energy and reduce Scope 1-2 emissions
- Turn off the lights when not in use
- Use natural lighting when feasible
- Turn off computer monitors and other electronics when not in use
- Reduce or turn off heating and cooling systems when not in use
- Switch out lighting fixtures to LEDs
- Keep doors and windows closed to increase insulation
- Use smart power strips
- Buy energy-efficient appliances
- Walk or bike instead of driving around campus
- Use electric vehicles when possible
- Shut the sashes on fume hoods in college labs (this simple action has a significant impact on energy efficiency and safety)
- Support policies that promote clean energy sources
Actions to save water and and reduce Scope 1-2 emissions
- Turn off water taps when not in use
- Take shorter showers
- Buy water-efficient appliances
- Irrigate plants and gardens with captured rainwater
Ways to support a circular economy and reduce Scope 3 emissions
- Walk, bike or use public transportation to and from campus
- Limit airline travel
- Only buy essential products
- Where possible, buy second-hand products
- Prioritise locally produced goods
- Choose products that can be recycled, reused, composted or refurbished
- Buy products with minimal or no packaging or with packaging that can be recycled, reused or composted
- Support recycling, reusing, composting and refurbishing practices
Glossary of net zero terms and practices
Net zero emissions focus on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through mitigation strategies. This sometimes includes balancing emissions with GHG removals from the atmosphere.
GHG emissions are defined within three Scopes. Scope 1 emissions are from sources directly controlled or owned by an organisation. Scope 2 includes indirect emissions associated with buying electricity, heating and cooling. Scope 3 emissions are indirectly produced through an organisation’s activity, such as bought products, transportation of bought products, airline travel, commuting, embodied carbon (the total carbon produced during a product’s life) and landfill waste.
Net zero energy means balancing energy production with energy consumption to achieve a net zero sum. The leading strategies for advancing net zero energy include conservation, efficiency and renewables. Energy conservation strategies focus on reducing consumption. Energy efficiency is often the most impactful since it does not require behavioural changes (for example, deep energy retrofits that include lighting, HVAC and appliance upgrades).
Net zero water means balancing the amount consumed with the amount produced. This is also achieved through conservation, efficiency and reuse. Many campuses have built water-reuse systems through onsite water treatment plants, rainwater capture, cisterns and more. The idea of “water positivity” is even more ambitious, focusing on enhancing water quality and availability.
Within a circular economy, products are produced, used and reused in a cyclical process – unlike in the traditional linear process, in which resources are extracted from the earth to make products that are manufactured, used and discarded. A cyclical process can also include recycling and composting.
With processes and facilities that make steps towards sustainability easier and simpler to follow, individuals in the university community can take action to support net zero goals on college campuses.
Jennifer Chirico is associate vice-president of sustainability, infrastructure and sustainability at Georgia Tech.
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