Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A. (2019).
Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications. Wiley.
Chapter 8
Carbon Footprint Analysis
Table of Contents
Chapter 8. Carbon Footprint Analysis
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Global warming potential and carbon footprint
8.3 Measuring carbon footprint
8.3.1 Define the scope of your inventory
8.3.2 Measure emissions and establish a baseline
8.3.3 Develop targets and strategies to reduce emissions
8.3.4 Off-set unavoidable emissions
8.3.5 Independent verification
8.4 Standards for calculating the carbon footprint
8.5 GHG inventory: developments in the United States
8.6 USEPA: greenhouse gas reporting program
8.7 Tools for GHG inventory
8.8 UIC carbon footprint case study
8.9 Programs to mitigate GHG emissions
Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A. (2019).
Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications. Wiley.
https://justenergy.com/blog/how-to-calculate-your-carbon-footprint/
Global Warming Potential – Carbon Footprint
Greenhouse gases and global warming potential (IPCC 2007, 2014)
Chemical Life Time Global Warming Potential
Greenhouse Gas Formula (years) (Time Horizon)
20 years 100 years
Carbon Dioxide CO2 Variable 1 1
Methane CH4 12.4 84 28
Nitrous oxide N2O 121 264 265
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)* CxHyFz 1.4 – 270 437 – 12,000 124 – 14,800
Perfluorocarbons (PFC)* CxFz 1000-50,000 5,210 – 8,630 7,390 – 12,200
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) SF6 3200 16,300 23,500
Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A. (2019).
Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications. Wiley.
Measuring Carbon Footprint
• Define the Scope of Your Inventory
• Measure Emissions and Establish a Baseline
• Develop Targets and Strategies to Reduce Emissions
• Off-set Unavoidable Emissions
• Independent Verification
Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A. (2019).
Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications. Wiley.
Tools for GHG Inventory
• Climate Leadership in Parks Tool (CLIP)
• Comparable Emissions Database (CEDB)
• Employee Commute Emissions Calculator
• EPA's Electronic Greenhouse Gas Reporting Tool (e-GGRT)
• Durable Goods Calculator (DGC)
• Waste Reduction Model (WARM)
• Events Emissions Calculator
• Fleet Emissions Calculator
• GHG Protocol Calculation Tools and Guidance
• Greenhouse Gas Inventory Guidance, Calculator, and Inventory Management Plan for Small and Medium-
Sized Organizations and Service Sector Businesses
• MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES)
• National Recycling Coalition's (NRC) Environmental Benefits Calculator
• Northeast Recycling Council's Environmental Benefits Calculator
• Recycled Content (ReCon) Tool
• Shipping Emissions Calculator
• Office Footprint CalculatorTM
• Optimization Model for Reducing Emissions of Greenhouse Gases from Automobiles (OMEGA)
• Paper Use Emissions Calculator
• Personal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator
• GREET Model: The Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation Model
Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A. (2019).
Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications. Wiley.
UIC Carbon Footprint Case Study
Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A. (2019).
Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications. Wiley.
UIC Carbon Footprint Case Study
Carbon footprint for the UIC in the year 2011
Contribution of buildings, transportation and waste to
the carbon footprint of the UIC in 2011
Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A. (2019).
Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications. Wiley.
UIC Carbon Footprint Case Study
Projection of carbon footprint of the UIC under different scenarios
Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A. (2019).
Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications. Wiley.
Programs to Mitigate GHG Emissions
1. AgSTAR Program
2. California Climate Action Registry
3. Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP)
4. Climate Friendly Parks
5. Energy Star
6. Global Climate Change Monitoring
7. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
8. NCAnet
9. Pew Center on Global Climate Change
10. SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems
11. U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)
12. World Resource Institute (WRI)
Reddy, K. R., Cameselle, C., & Adams, J. A. (2019).
Sustainable Engineering: Drivers, Metrics, Tools, and Applications. Wiley.
Alternative to environmental performance
indicator for larger regions: Ecological footprint
• Quantity of land a person needs for maintaining
the quality of life while engaging in productive
activity
• Land needed for producing food, materials for housing,
building, roads, infrastructure
• Inverse of carrying capacity
Ecological footprint
• Quantity of land a person needs for maintaining the
quality of life while engaging in productive activity
• Land needed for producing food, materials for housing,
building, roads, infrastructure
• Inverse of carrying capacity
• Ecological footprint depends on
• Life style
• Amount utilized
• Technology
• Socio-economic organization
Ecological footprint method -
disadvantages
• Creating inventory of all human activities and
impact is very difficult
• Reductionist indicator.
