Carbon Neutrality
1.0 Module Overview
Welcome! We're kicking off this series with one of the most critical yet popular aspects of environmental sustainability: climate change. The University of California launched the Carbon Neutrality Initiative that engages academics and research in solutions to climate disruption and includes the ambitious goal of reaching Carbon Neutrality by 2025 from campus operations. Each of the 10 campuses and medical centers have their own plans for getting to carbon neutrality. In this module, you'll learn the basic science of climate change, overarching UC efforts, what we're doing here at UC Berkeley, and what you can do to help us get there.
1.1 Why is climate change happening?
What exactly is climate change? This video from National Geographic gives a brief explanation of what is driving climate change, and some of its catastrophic effects. It explains how greenhouse gases are responsible for the planet's heating, and clarifies that climate change is not solely a problem for the planet, but us too in regards to our food, energy, and health.
How do we know climate change is happening?
Click on this article from NASA (on the right) to learn about how we are feeling about climate change today and how we know it to be a human caused phenomenon. NASA gives a much more in-depth explanation into the causes and evidence for research on climate change. NASA cites that since 1750, the energy coming from the sun did not change or marginally increase, while the Earth's temperature has continued to climb. Scientists concluded that the greenhouse effect traps more energy from the sun than normal, thus contributing to the temperature rise. The article continues to warn that unmitigated, temperatures would continue to rise causing frequent disasters such as hurricanes, droughts, and drastic sea level rise.
1.2 What is the world doing?
As a global threat, climate change is formally recognized by the United Nations and is a primary focus in its sector the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) (3). The UNEP launched their Sustainable Development Goals (4) which all focus on developing a sustainable relationship with the planet, confronting climate change and addressing environmental justice. Additionally, the UN fosters a research body known as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) with the intention of publishing regular scientific assessments and offering climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Properly addressing climate change is a complex issue though, requiring nations to cooperate to address present and future dangers. Nonetheless, the UN provides a framework in which people and countries can follow as an collective voice and authority. Click on the article to the right from the World Resources Institute (WRI) article and carefully look at the graphic to understand what sectors of which countries emissions are coming from. Hint: The top three greenhouse gas emitters— China, the European Union and the United States—contribute more than half of total global emissions, while the bottom 100 countries only account for 3.5 percent and the energy sector is the largest contributor to emissions.
1.3 UC Berkeley Goals and Plan for Climate Action
In 2013 the UC system announced the Carbon Neutrality Initiative (CNI) and pledged to be carbon neutral by 2025 from scope 1 and 2 carbon emission sources. Graphic 6 on the right details how emissions are classified by scope. For Berkeley to get to carbon neutrality, or zero-net carbon emissions from building and fleet energy use, the campus is aiming to reduce emissions by about 150,000 tons. This reduction represents 80% of Berkeley’s carbon emissions. The remaining 20% of Berkeley’s emissions outside of the 2025 goal are associated with the campus commute, business air travel, waste, and water. A neutrality date for these other scope 3 emissions is currently 2050.
UC Berkeley has taken the first steps toward neutrality by reducing emissions to 1990 levels faster than required by California and UC guidelines. In 2016 Berkeley's 2025 Carbon Neutrality Framework (5) was published providing a high-level course of action and strategies to meet the target. Strategies include energy efficiency, purchasing clean electricity, adding on-site solar systems, and purchasing carbon offsets.
See the Office of Sustainability Website (6) for more details on strategies to reduce the campus carbon footprint.
The Graphic above shows the 3 types of emissions sources. Scope 1 emissions are known as direct emissions at Berkeley, coming from on-site natural gas combustion and campus fleet fuel use. Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions; at Berkeley, these emissions come from the electricity purchased. Scope 3 emissions are known as optionally reported emissions. Berkeley tracks these emissions associated with commuting, landfill waste, water consumption, and business air travel.
The Graphic above shows Berkeley's emissions in reference to the our expected goals by 2020 and 2025. We have met the emissions goals for 2020, and now the campus is focusing on neutralizing all of its Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
What are carbon offsets?
Part of the UC plan for Carbon Neutrality by 2025 involves purchasing carbon offsets from carbon-reducing projects around the globe. Offsets provide a mechanism for reducing emissions at another location when those emissions cannot yet be reduced on the campus. Common types of offset projects include reforestation and improved forest management, methane gas capture and destruction, fuel switching, clean cookstoves, and energy efficiency.
The UC system is currently developing UC-specific offset projects and offset selection criteria to ensure we are utilizing offsets that are substantial while supporting our research, teaching, and public service mission. While carbon offset can be a very useful tool in the process of achieving carbon neutrality in the shorter term, UC Berkeley is aiming to reduce emissions over time from our own operations. Second Nature, a climate leadership coalition of colleges and universities (including Berkeley), created a page shown on the right that dives more into detail about the usage of carbon offsets as a whole within higher education. To learn more about the UC's program, click on this link to look deeper into the UC Carbon Offset Overview.
The Clean Energy Campus Project
Within eight years, Berkeley plans to switch to a new clean and resilient energy system that will phase out fossil fuels and demonstrate cutting-edge technologies and creative financing. For decades, Berkeley has led the world in climate solution technology and policy research. Now, the campus will be powered by an energy system that sets the standard in sustainable, resilient infrastructure.
The Clean Energy Campus will replace UC Berkeley’s natural gas-fueled cogen plant that supplies 90% of campus energy -- and has less than 10 years of usable life -- with a model 21st century, 100% clean energy microgrid.
Campus studies have defined a path to construction and operation. A first phase is on-track be completed by 2028 and includes the new electrified central plant for heating and cooling, as well as a distribution network required to connect a majority of campus buildings. The most energy-intensive buildings will be prioritized for connection in the first phase, and the remaining buildings will be connected in phase two that will take an additional two years to complete. Phase one also introduces on-site solar energy production, large-scale battery storage, geothermal heat exchange, and fuel cells. Critically, completion of the first phase of the Clean Energy Campus will also provide for the total shutdown of the aged natural gas-fueled cogeneration plant in 2028.
1.4 What's your ecological footprint?
Each person has an environmental impact, called an ecological footprint. Included in the ecological footprint calculation is your carbon footprint, a measurement of how much greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to sustain your lifestyle. Take the quiz and find out yours!
Alternatively, If you have access to more detailed estimates about your living conditions like the cost of your energy bill, the miles you traveled, and your monthly budgets, you could take the more comprehensive CoolClimate Calculator developed by UC Berkeley researchers.
Report the results of either or both in the assessment at the end of the module!
1.5 More Tips for Living Sustainably
Thinking about climate change individually
This Vox video series is partnered with the UC system and is an excellent climate reference, and multiple videos are incorporated throughout the modules. This video outlines why climate change is both hard for us to address individually and collectively. The video offers perspectives on how to think about these issues in creating incentives to reduce our emissions.
Lightbulbs
Consider swapping your CFL light bulbs for LEDs. UC students, staff, faculty, retirees and alumni can purchase light bulbs at nearly half the price of online competitors via the secure Million Light Bulb Challenge website and have them shipped directly to their home.
Electricity
Computer equipment can take up to 10 percent of office energy usage. Learn how to activate power management on your computer.
Don't let vampire loads suck extra energy! Unplug electronic equipment in your workspace or home when you're not using it.
Laundry
Doing laundry? Hit the cold setting. About 90% of the energy of the washing machine goes into heating the water. Washing in cold water will save energy and helps clothes look new for longer. Your closet and our climate will thank you! Click here or on the graphic on the right to learn more about energy savings from cold water wash.
