Assessing and Reducing the Carbon Footprint of SSCET: Strategies for a Sustainable Campus

Abstract

This project investigates the carbon footprint initiatives at Shri Sai College of Engineering and Technology, focusing on student behavior to foster a sustainable university environment. A carbon footprint measures the total carbon dioxide emissions attributed to an individual or organization. The study reveals that during in-person learning, the average annual carbon footprint of a college student is 2.55 t-CO2e, which drops to 1.35 t-CO2e during online learning. Specifically, students at Shri Sai College of Engineering and Technology emit an average of 2.16 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) per year. Key contributors to these emissions include the usage of electrical appliances, food consumption, and transportation. The research highlights a lack of awareness among students about their digital carbon footprint, which encompasses the emissions generated from activities such as scrolling, browsing, and sending emails. These activities are categorized into three broad areas: daily life, academics, and transportation, with daily life encompassing dining, showering, and general dormitory electricity use. To mitigate their carbon footprint, students can adopt several strategies, such as using public transportation or biking instead of driving, reducing waste by avoiding disposables and recycling, conserving energy by turning off lights and unplugging appliances, eating more plant-based foods, and conserving water. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) and various carbon footprint calculators, like those from The Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), can help in calculating the emissions from different equipment and activities, thereby promoting more sustainable practices in college settings.