Green Mountain College’s Ecological Footprint: An Initial Assessment Natural Resource Economics December 7, 2000

Research Team Supervisor:Dr. Steven E. Letendre Researchers:Janine Corsetti Beth Sanderson Heather Polhemus Samuel Goodspeed

Presentation Overview  Resource Consumption at GMC  What is an Ecological Footprint?  Energy Use  Oil  Electricity  Water  Food  Conclusions  Recommendations for Shrinking GMC’s Ecological Footprint

GMC Resource Consumption! 80,532 lbs. of cheese & butter 290,563 gallons of #6 oil 1,795,766 kWh 18,924 lbs. of poultry

What is an Ecological Footprint? An analytic tool used to calculate land area required to provide resources consumed and absorb waste produced by an average person, group, campus, etc., in a particular country. An analytic tool used to calculate land area required to provide resources consumed and absorb waste produced by an average person, group, campus, etc., in a particular country. It measures 5 distinct consumption categories: It measures 5 distinct consumption categories: 1. Food 1. Food 2. Housing 2. Housing 3. Transportation 3. Transportation 4. Consumer Goods 4. Consumer Goods 5. Services 5. 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 about GMC’s footprint? In order to reduce campus consumption levels, we need to know what they are. In order to reduce campus consumption levels, we need to know what they are. Practicing sustainability reinforces concepts learned in the classroom. Practicing sustainability reinforces concepts learned in the classroom.

Energy Consumption: Method CO 2

Energy Consumption: Oil Annual consumption of #6 fuel oil, 290,563 gallons. Annual consumption of #6 fuel oil, 290,563 gallons tons of carbon dioxide are released into the air per 1,000 gallons of fuel oil burned, 3,545 tons of carbon dioxide per year tons of carbon dioxide are released into the air per 1,000 gallons of fuel oil burned, 3,545 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Northeast forest can sequester.29 tons of carbon per acre per year. Northeast forest can sequester.29 tons of carbon per acre per year.

Energy Consumption: Oil GMC requires 12,223 acres of northeast forest to sequester the 3,545 tons of carbon emitted each year. GMC requires 12,223 acres of northeast forest to sequester the 3,545 tons of carbon emitted each year. ((290,563 gallons / 1000 gallons) * 12.2 tons of CO 2 ) /.29 tons per acre

Energy Consumption: Electricity Approximately 1,795,766 kWh / year. Approximately 1,795,766 kWh / year. According to the state of Vermont,.15 lbs. Of CO 2 / kWh are released into the air. According to the state of Vermont,.15 lbs. Of CO 2 / kWh are released into the air. GMC’s electricity consumption leads to total emissions of 135 tons of carbon per year. GMC’s electricity consumption leads to total emissions of 135 tons of carbon per year.

GMC requires 466 acres of northeast forest to sequester the 135 tons of carbon emitted each year from electricity use. GMC requires 466 acres of northeast forest to sequester the 135 tons of carbon emitted each year from electricity use. Energy Consumption: Electricity ((1,795,766 kWh) *.15 lbs. of CO 2 ) / 2,000 lbs.) /.29 tons per acre

Water Consumption: Method Calculation represents size of basin in acres needed to collect water for GMC. Calculation represents size of basin in acres needed to collect water for GMC. The Poultney area has a collection basin of 22 square miles which equals 14,080 acres. The Poultney area has a collection basin of 22 square miles which equals 14,080 acres. Poultney uses 57,335,800 gallons a year. Poultney uses 57,335,800 gallons a year. GMC uses 9,427,000 gallons a year. GMC uses 9,427,000 gallons a year.

Water Consumption: Results GMC’s consumption equals 6.1% of Poultney’s water usage. GMC’s consumption equals 6.1% of Poultney’s water usage. 6.1% of the Poultney water basin equals 859 acres, an area sufficient to provide water for GMC’s needs. 6.1% of the Poultney water basin equals 859 acres, an area sufficient to provide water for GMC’s needs. Poultney’s watershed is fully replenished annually through rain fall, thus it is a non- depletable resource at current levels of water consumption. Poultney’s watershed is fully replenished annually through rain fall, thus it is a non- depletable resource at current levels of water consumption.

Food Consumption: Method A partial listing of annual food purchases was obtained from Marriott (1999). A partial listing of annual food purchases was obtained from Marriott (1999). Data was sorted by categories (e.g., cheese & butter, beef, grains etc.) Data was sorted by categories (e.g., cheese & butter, beef, grains etc.) This data was entered into a spreadsheet designed by the non-profit organization called Redefining Progress. This spreadsheet converts the data into land area required to produce and transport the food. This data was entered into a spreadsheet designed by the non-profit organization called Redefining Progress. This spreadsheet converts the data into land area required to produce and transport the food.

Food Consumption: Results Categories:Amount: Veggies, potatoes & fruit90,852 lbs. Bread20,111 lbs. Rice, cereals, noodles, etc.17,232 lbs. Beans828 lbs. Milk & yogurt24,810 quarts Ice cream, sour cream2,748 quarts Cheese, butter 80,580 lbs. Eggs936 count Pork10,324 lbs. Chicken, turkey18,924 lbs. Beef (grain fed)12,876 lbs.

Categories:Amount: Fish2,560 lbs. Juice 1,367 quarts Sugar650 lbs. Solid vegetable oil & fat927 lbs. Liquid vegetable oil & fat1,268 lbs. Tea and coffee1,383 lbs. Food Consumption: Results Total Land Area:2,683 acres

Conclusions Total ecological footprint (energy, water, & food) 15,372 acres. Total ecological footprint (energy, water, & food) 15,372 acres. GMC needs one hundred more campuses to support current resource consumption. GMC needs one hundred more campuses to support current resource consumption. 80% of calculated footprint is attributed to oil usage for heating. 80% of calculated footprint is attributed to oil usage for heating. 17% of calculated footprint is attributed to food consumption. 17% of calculated footprint is attributed to food consumption.

Recommendations Adopt alternative energy sources for heating buildings and water (e.g., solar water heating, passive solar design, & biomass). Adopt alternative energy sources for heating buildings and water (e.g., solar water heating, passive solar design, & biomass). Increase insulation and reduce air leaks for more energy efficient buildings. Increase insulation and reduce air leaks for more energy efficient buildings. Adopt alternative electricity producing technologies (e.g., photovoltaics, wind, & fuel cells), or purchase “green” power once deregulation arrives in VT. Adopt alternative electricity producing technologies (e.g., photovoltaics, wind, & fuel cells), or purchase “green” power once deregulation arrives in VT.

Recommendations Continue water conservation efforts across campus. Research methods for capturing rain water runoff and utilizing graywater. Continue water conservation efforts across campus. Research methods for capturing rain water runoff and utilizing graywater. Encourage food service to purchase locally- grown, organic products instead of factory farmed food. Encourage food service to purchase locally- grown, organic products instead of factory farmed food. Support student initiatives for creating the Center for Sustainable Living. The center can serve to encourage further footprint analyses and reduction efforts. Support student initiatives for creating the Center for Sustainable Living. The center can serve to encourage further footprint analyses and reduction efforts.