19-01-2013, 09:54 AM
How to Reduce Carbon Footprint in Our Institute
How to Reduce.docx (Size: 135.22 KB / Downloads: 39)
Abstract:
Carbon dioxide emissions have increased significantly worldwide during the past few decades, caused by an increased industrialization reaching nearly 25 billion tons of CO2. Historical evidences targets CO2 as the main contributor to greenhouse gas effects and many industrialized nations have increased their efforts in finding alternative solutions to control and reduce emissions by introducing new policies and investments in technological advancement.
Shri Guru Gobind Singhji Institute of Engineering and Technology, Nanded is one of the biggest colleges in Maharashtra state in terms of student intake, infrastructure, etc. The college has 2000+ students, who come from different region of the Maharashtra.
The implementation of the ideas of reducing CO2 contribution in the campus will be considered as an experimental live model. It will motivate the society to implement these ideas at their homes, offices and sites. The education of next generations at their early age through the model of CO2 saving will have much larger impetus down the line. This will contribute in developing a mass force of reducing carbon footprint at a large scale.
The focus of this report is to reduce the carbon footprint of college campus. More specifically, we seek to review the developments or modifications that can be done in present methods of energy consumption and CO2 reduction. We place particular emphasis on the traditional “3R’s” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) approach to reduce carbon footprint and also a fourth “R” for Re-Think to make others more involved and excited about reducing the carbon footprint in the college campus. Energy consumption in terms of electricity was considered first. It is the major way of energy consumption and so of increase in the carbon footprint. Electricity consumption and proposed saving measures are discussed in detail. Next, we consider the recycling of organic and in-organic waste. We review the use of different methods to reduce and recycle the waste. Last, we consider the schemes those can be implemented for the awareness of people in the college campus. We present an overview of the existing scenario and seek to develop and implement new efficient methods of energy consumption to reduce the carbon footprint.
Hot water Generation:
It is recommended to install booster heat pumps with CO2 as natural refrigerant instead of electrical geysers in the winter and cloudy seasons to get required hot water for washing, bath, and other applications etc. The coefficient of Performance of heat pump is 4 to 6. Hence it is 4 to 6 times more efficient than electrical geysers. Plus, CO2 is natural refrigerant with very low ozone depletion and global warming potential.
The kitchens and canteen have traditional burners for the cooking applications and It is recommended to modify theses burners and provide water shield/ heat exchangers, which would receive this lost heat to outside to get simultaneous hot water during
kitchen operations for washing and cooking purposes.
Waste Recycling:
It is recommended to carry out the segregation of entire waste. Later on it is possible to use this for the proposed bio-gas plant.It is very cost effective, odour free plant with very less foot print.
The spent wash – slurry of the biogas plant can be used as manure for the gardens, etc.
It is recommended to use electronic communications (paper less office) and recycled paper for all academic work.
Sewage Water Recycling:
The new technology – Algae Wastewater Treatment Plants (AWTP) uses bioremediation techniques. Bioremediation uses naturally occurring microorganisms and other aspects of the natural environment to treat wastewater of its nutrients. Such an avenue provides an economical and environmentally sustainable treatment method.
Awareness Program through ‘Nature’s Guard’ Club:
Students have capacity to change face of earth only if we attract their attention to the problem and properly educate and inspire them.
Avoid Use of Plastic stuff: Awareness programs related to the use of plastic bags, and other inorganic materials can be carried out. It will help to reduce the use of plastic bags, bottles, containers, cups and so on. It produces 6 kg of CO2 to produce 1 kg of plastic. So by reducing the use of plastic bags we can reduce much of the CO2 produced in plastic manufacturing. We can use cloth sign boards and posters to make people aware of the dangerous effects of excess use of plastic bags. There should be use of cups and carry-bags made of bio-degradable material.
The “Nature’s Guard‟ club in the campus can work in this regard.
Switch off desktops, fans, lights when not required: The LCD monitors consumes lesser energy than CRT monitors. The college authorities have already taken steps and replaced more than 80% CRT monitors with efficient LCD monitors which has brought down the electrical consumption of the campus significantly.
Following options can be used to save further electrical energy.
1) Use of power saver:
2) Voltage stabilizer:
3) Instead of individual machine backup, combined grid based backup to avoid loss of power.
4) Leaking faucets in the bath rooms, urinals and toilets shall be corrected.