1. The Nitrogen Cascade and UVA’s Nitrogen Footprint Reduction Goal
Laura Cattell Noll September 2015

2. Presentation outline The nitrogen cascade 1 The nitrogen dilemma 2
UVA’s Nitrogen Footprint 3
Extending the N Footprint 4

3. What is REACTIVE NITROGEN?
Fertilizer
Fossil Fuels
Natural Biol. Processes
Lightning

4. Global Nr Creation by Human Activity
Total Nr
Population
Haber Bosch
Nr Creation, Tg Nr / yr {
Natural Range,
terrestrial
Legumes
Fossil Fuel
Galloway et al., 2003; 2008

5. E N V I R O M T Nr Nr Nr N2 N2 Energy Production Food Production
Menzel & D'Aluisio, 2005 Nr

6. Nitrogen: A Very Leaky Element Consumed Animal Products
Atmosphere
NH3 N2O NOX N2
NH3 N2O NOX N2
NH3 N2O NOX N2
20%
Consumed Crops
N inputs:
N fertilizer
& BNF
Crop production: - Crop type Cropped area Management
Animal production: - Animal species Animal number Management
10%
Consumed Animal Products
feed
Agriculture
NH4+ NO3- DON Npart
NH4+ NO3- DON Npart
Groundwater & surface waters
Most of Nr used to produced food is lost to the environment either before or after consumption
Oenema, 2009

7. E N V I R O M T Too Much Nitrogen; Too Many Consequences Smog, Haze
Forest Impacts
Acidification
John Aber
Ozone Hole
Global Warming
Eutrophication

8. Too Much Nitrogen: In a Cascade
Smog, Haze
Eutrophication
Forest Impacts
Acidification
Global Warming
Ozone Hole E N V I R O M T
John Aber

9. The Nitrogen Dilemma Benefits: Necessary for life
Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer provides unlimited food supply
Drawbacks:
Excess reactive nitrogen negatively affects environmental and human health
So what we have seen so far tells us that we really have a nitrogen dilemma. We need nitrogen to survive, and we need to use nitrogen to grow our food that sustains a growing population. However when we use and release too much nitrogen, it becomes a pollutant and can contribute to a series of environmental and human health problems.
This then presents a challenge: we must determine how to optimize the use of N, while minimizing its negative impacts.
Challenge:
Optimizing the use of nitrogen,
while minimizing the negative impacts

10. How do we address the Nitrogen dilemma?
Technology
Policy
Individual/Institutional Action
There are a few different strategies we can use to address this N dilemma. The first of those is through technology. We can use advanced technology to make sure that the N we use is being used more efficiently. One example of this is improved equipment for fertilizer application to make sure more of the fertilizer gets to the crop.
A second strategy is through policy interventions. One example of policy is the limits on the nitrogen loads that can go to the Chesapeake Bay.
A third option is more of a bottom-up or grassroots type effort through individual and institutional action. We as individuals can make choices to reduce our impacts, and institutions such can commit to reducing its collective impact. One way we can measure and learn how to reduce our impact is through the use of a nitrogen footprint. Today, I will present the personal N footprint tool we have developed that allows you to calculate your own footprint.

11. Nitrogen footprints focus on 2 areas of resource consumption:
What is a Nitrogen Footprint?
= Amount of reactive N released to the environment as a result of an entity’s resource consumption
Nitrogen footprints focus on 2 areas of resource consumption:
Food
Energy
So first what is a nitrogen footprint? We define it as the total amount of reactive N released to the environment as a result of an entity’s resource consumption. In the case of a personal nitrogen footprint, there are 4 main activities that release N to the environment. The first of those is food consumption and the associated food production. The other three are driven by fossil fuel combustion. These are housing, transport, and goods & services.
These personal N footprint tools are country-specific because different countries use N differently. We have completed tools for the US, NL, and Germany, and we have a number of tools that are in progress. You can calculate your own footprint here today at our N footprint stand or by visiting our website. Calculating your footprint is the first step in reducing your impact!

12. Food N footprint: Definitions
Virtual N
= Food production N
= N lost to the environment during the food production process
Food consumption = N that enters human mouth
Nitrogen is a key component of protein

13. The impact of FOOD CHOICES on a nitrogen footprintV I R O M T E N V I R O M T
½ cup beans
15 g protein
3 oz steak
15 g protein

14. Who can calculate a N footprint?
Individual
University
City
Watershed
A nitrogen footprint can be calculated for a number of defined entities. An individual can calculate their N footprint using the online N-Print tool. A university or institution can calculate its footprint using the university tool. Future stages of the N Footprint project will work on a watershed level in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and on an urban level to calculate an N footprint for the city of Baltimore.

15. The Earth's Resources-The Hydrosphere
4/27/2017
A Nitrogen Footprint Model for Institutions
The N footprint of the University of Virginia:
A cooperative project with Office of the Architect, Student Dining Services,
and Facilities Management
Andrew Greene, Image

16. 492 MT N

17. UVA’s N Footprint: How much N is 492 MT?
Food:
N in food for 100,000 people for a year
Sewage generated by 100,000 people in a year
Fertilizer for 1 million bushels of corn
Energy:
The N emissions from electricity for 160,000 people for a year
The N emissions from transportation for 80,000 people for a year
1.8% of the total N load to the Chesapeake Bay from Virginia

18. University of Virginia’s Environmental Footprint Reduction Plan
4 Focus Areas:
Carbon
Goal: 25% reduction by 2025
Nitrogen
Water
Waste
UVa’s Nitrogen Footprint
492 metric tons N
Goal : Reduce by 123 MT

19. Many N REDUCTION STRATEGIES are in place or in progress
ENERGY & OTHERS $
Storm water
N offsets
FOOD
The university will implement reduction strategies in both energy and food sectors. Many of the N footprint reduction strategies for energy complement ongoing carbon footprint reduction methods. Food strategies will include changes in purchasing to favor foods with smaller environmental impact and improvements in food waste. Energy strategies will include energy conservation and improved energy efficiency.
Sustainable Food
Local Food
Installed in 2011
COMPLETE
IN PROGRESS

20. How could UVA’s N footprint change?
Goal 369 MT
Four possible projections for the UVA nitrogen footprint were analyzed, starting with the base year (2010) and continuing through the year The following projections were considered:
A) no actions would be taken to reduce UVA’s carbon or nitrogen footprint, including current efforts;
B) the 2010 actions (e.g., some food composting, advanced sewage treatment) would remain in place and the university would also achieve its stated goal to reduce carbon emissions;
C) action B would be built on with additional actions identified as realistic in discussions with university stakeholders (e.g., expanded food composting, increased availability of meat-free proteins); and
D) all modeled scenarios would be implemented, including scenarios that would be difficult to fully achieve (e.g., 100% sustainable food).
Different nitrogen management strategies were analyzed with the nitrogen footprint model to see how UVA’s N footprint could change in the coming years.

21. Extending the Nitrogen Footprint Tool
Universities
Secondary schools with EarthEcho
Watersheds: Chesapeake Bay with CBF
Cities: Baltimore with Baltimore LTER

22. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed?
The Chesapeake Bay has experienced numerous and highly visible environmental impacts resulting from nitrogen pollution, which has made nitrogen an important issue for scientists and policymakers in the watershed. While other nitrogen footprints do not specify where nitrogen is released, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has developed a footprint tool that determines the amount of nitrogen released into the bay’s watershed for an individual. Our collaboration with CBF will help to produce a more robust tool for watershed residents to determine their impact on the bay. An individual’s bay footprint may differ from their general N footprint depending on where their food comes from – food produced outside the watershed will not contribute to the bay footprint.

23. Nitrogen Footprint Calculator for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed!
Merging Two Models
New and improved
Nitrogen Footprint Calculator for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed!

24. Thank you! Special Thanks to:
Jim Galloway, Allison Leach, Albert Bleeker, Jan Willem Erisman, Rick Kohn, Elizabeth Castner, Lia Cattaneo, Edie Taylor, Andrea Trimble, Andrew Greene, Brooke Atwell, Beth McGee, Molly Clark, Jana Compton

25. Extra Slides

26. After Galloway et al., 2003; Ciais et al., 2013

27. Scale of Impact Personal, Business/Institution, Urban/Community
City
Watershed
Nation
Institution
Universities
Secondary schools
Businesses
Individual
Consumer
Household
Personal, Business/Institution, Urban/Community

28. Personal N footprint in United States
Goods & services
Transport
Housing
Food production
Kg N/person/year
Food consumption

29. Online tool to calculate a PERSONAL NITROGEN FOOTPRINT

30. Relationship to Carbon Footprint