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AB0401 Sustainable EnterpriseSeminar 02 Group 08Jane ChiengMichelle LeeNorman LeeSamantha TanShirley Tan

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Outline The Need to Measure our Carbon Footprint Computation of NTU’s Carbon Footprint Carbon Reductions with Online Learning Format Offset of Carbon Footprint via Carbon Credits Other Viable Alternatives

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Carbon Emissions & Climate Change

Rising Sea Level

Global Warming

Extreme Weather Events

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The Need to Measure our Carbon Footprint

Measure impacts of NTU’s actions on the environment Facilitates tracking of NTU’s progress in reaching

emission targets Accrue cost savings through improving energy

efficiency  Differentiate NTU as a reputable Green University    Financial benefits gained by reductions in carbon,

energy and material usage Being part of a Global Effort to slow down climate

change

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Analysis of NTU*

Scope 1: Direct Emissions

Refrigerant and Other Chemicals: Includes estimated annual leakage of chemical refrigerants and air-conditioning units.

Direct Transportation Sources: Includes combustion of fuel in shuttle services in NTU.

Scope 2: Imported Emissions

Purchased Electricity: Includes emissions caused by generating the electricity purchased by NTU and NTU has no direct control over how the energy is produced.

Purchased Water: Includes emission due to the consumption of water purchased by NTU.

*Information gathered from various sources (Eg. Sprangers, Clean Air-Cool Planet,etc) and relevant carbon emission sources are identified in the context of a Singapore University.

Identification of carbon emission sources*

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*Information gathered from various sources (Eg. Sprangers, Clean Air-Cool Planet, etc) and relevant carbon emission sources are identified in the context of a Singapore University.

Scope 3: Indirect Emissions

Student Commuting: Includes emissions from the estimated daily commute via Public Bus, Cars, Motorcycles and Trains.

Employee Commuting: Includes emissions from the estimated daily commute via Public Bus, Cars, Motorcycles and Trains.

Paper Consumption: Includes emissions generated during disposal of papers

Waste Disposal: Includes emissions generated from incinerated waste.

Analysis of NTU* Identification of carbon emission sources*

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Analysis of NTU

Calculation of Carbon Emissions:

Total CO2 emission of NTU = Emission Factors X Activity Data for all the (sub)categories

Sum of these multiplications will give us the total CO2 emission of NTU

Degree of uncertainty of calculations can be assessed by doing a sensitivity analysis

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Scope 1 Amount of CO2 in kilograms (kg)

Direct Transportation Sources 112,320

Refrigerant and other chemicals 5,400

Scope 2 Amount of CO2 in kilograms (kg)

Purchased Electricity 70,520,000

Purchased Water 345,299

Scope 3 Amount of CO2 in kilograms (kg)

  Students Employees

Commuting by Public Bus

2,509,028 290,901

Commuting by Car 869,516 2,268,302

Commuting by Motorcycle

510,8595,330,728

Commuting by Train 7,254,850 841,142

Waste Disposal -

Paper Consumption 20,000,000

Analysis of NTU

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Evaluation of Carbon Footprint

A large portion of our NTU’s carbon footprint revolves around: Purchased Electricity (64%) Paper Consumption (18%) Student & Employee Commuting (18%) Minimal Purchased Water, Direct Transport and Refrigerants

Student and Em-ployee

Commuting18%

Refrig-erants

0%

Purchased Electricity64%

Purchased Water

0%

Paper Consump-

tion18%

Proportion of Carbon Footprint

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Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy Model

Creating o 5 initiatives are proposed to reduce

the carbon emissions of NTU Remember

o Initiatives proposed are targeted at the major components that contribute to carbon emission analyzed previously

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Substituting traditional physical lessons with online learning platforms (E-Learning)

Work with Carbon Footprint Ltd; Utilise its software Recommended Process:

Upload lectures online for students to access and view

E-Tutorials can be created for students to complete, assessed and reviewed on the online platform

Create Discussion Forums to allow students to publish queries for tutors to answer

Initiative 1: Understanding and Applying- Transferring Learning Online

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Scope 2 Amount of CO2 in kilograms (kg)

Purchased Electricity 7,762,443

Initiative 1: Possible Carbon Emission

E-learning

Total Carbon Emissions

Physical Lesson in NTU E-learning

103,095,902 kg of CO2 7,762,443 kg of CO2

Reduce by More Than 10 times!

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Initiative 1: AnalysisAdvantages Disadvantages

• Saves time, cost and carbon -compared with classroom based learning

• Simplicity – Accessed through internet/intranet

• Engaging - uses a mix of theory/question/quiz styles to keep learners engaged

• Multi Media - include voice-over, videos or animations

• Fully customisable - tailored content, style and media type to fit students’ needs

• Lack of physical presence – No face-to-face interactions among students and professors which facilitates learning

• System downtime – wastes time and disrupts learning

• Difficult to stimulate hands-on or laboratory practices - compared to physical classrooms

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Stakeholders

Effects on Stakeholders

Students • Saves time and costs on commuting to school• Facilitate learning process at a comfortable pace

Employees (Professors/Researchers)

• Able to conduct classes more flexibly• Utilize more online resources during classes• Breakaway from Traditional-Styled Teaching

Environment • Reduces carbon emissions from the reductions in travelling

• Softcopy tutorials reduces dependence on paper usage

NTU • Better public image/ reputation of NTU

Initiative 1: Evaluation

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Initiative 2: Understanding and Applying- Purchasing Carbon Offset Credits

Purchase of Carbon offset Credits from providers such as CO2 Group.

Relatively easy to implement but may be financially costly to NTU.

Estimated Costs(Based on our calculations):

Price of carbon credit (per tonne of CO2) in CO2 Australia*

= AU$14.50 SGD $17.255 (approximate) 

Price paid purchase equivalent amount of carbon offset credits

= $17.255/1000 x 103,095,902.85 = S$1,778,910.804

*Information gathered from http://www.co2australia.com.au/services/environmental-carbon-credits/carbon-banc/.

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Initiative 2: Analysis

Advantages Disadvantages

Carbon footprint can be reducedImproved public image/ reputationPlaces a financial cost on carbon emission more incentive to lower carbon emission in the long run

Lack of physical presence – No face-to-face interactions among students and professors which facilitates learning

System downtime – wastes time and disrupts learning

Difficult to stimulate hands-on or laboratory practices - compared to physical classrooms

Advantages Disadvantages

• Carbon footprint can be reduced

• Improves public image/ reputation

• Places a financial cost on carbon emission more incentive to lower carbon emission in the long run

• Wrong Message- With money, one can purchase right to do harm on environment

• False sense of being Green - carbon credits are just offsets and does not reduce impacts on the environment

• Alternatively, no impetus to reduce carbon emissions since the amount paid to purchase credits is less than the revenue generated at the particular level of activity

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Stakeholders Involved: Students Employees (Professors/ Researchers) Environment Public

Stakeholders Effects on Stakeholders

Students • Increased Awareness of NTU’s Carbon Emission

Employees (Professors/Researchers)

• Able to contribute by working on alternative methods that are more affordable then purchasing carbon credits

Environment • Promotes cleaner environment in the long-run

NTU • Better public image/ reputation of NTU • Increased Financial Cost to purchase credits

Initiative 2: Evaluation

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Initiative 3: Understanding and Applying-Green Building Designs

At Present: School of Art, Design & Media (ADM) is built as a green building; saving 120,000 kwh/yr & 1,170m3/yr.

Recommendations: Continuous investment in Green Architecture Convert current buildings to Green Buildings Cut down on usage of energy for lighting and air-

conditioning, and water usage

*Information gathered from “2013 ISCN-GULF Charter Report - NTU”

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Initiative 4: Understanding and Applying- Greener Transportation

Promote Green Transportation on Campus

Recommendations: Implement free bicycle rental scheme Tie up with local vendors such as Smovers to cater

the service of electric car hiring

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Initiative 3 & 4: Analysis and EvaluationStakeholders Effects on Stakeholders

Students • Appreciate actions taken by the university to reduce carbon footprint

• Cultivate a positive mentality to reduce energy usage for the school and environment

• Translate good habits to their own home usage

• Benefit from healthier lifestyle though cycling

Employees (Professors/Researchers)

Environment • Reduction of energy usage and carbon emissions in the long run

NTU • Better public image/ reputation of NTU • Increased Financial Cost to construct Green

Buildings, implement bicycle schemes• Accrued financial savings in the long run

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Initiative 5: Understanding and Applying- Campus-Wide Awareness Events

Promote the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Recommendations: Initiate ‘Green Events’ on a regular basis (twice monthly)

targeted at the entire school population Events include: Recycling of old notes/books, Reusing of

water bottles, Reducing energy usage Implement friendly inter or intra university competitions

targeted at the 3Rs Eg. The Biggest ‘Recycler’

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Initiative 5: Analysis and EvaluationStakeholders Effects on Stakeholders

Students • Understand that reducing carbon emissions and energy usage comes from an individual behavioral lifestyle

• Cultivate a positive mentality to reduce energy usage for the school and environment

• Having fun while doing their part for the environment

Employees (Professors/Researchers)

Environment • Reduction of energy usage and carbon emissions in the long run

NTU • Better public image/ reputation of NTU • Training sustainable leaders for tomorrow

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Conclusion No single initiative will reduce carbon emissions

effectively. It requires the con-current implementation of both infrastructural and lifestyle changes to bring about the greatest reduction in NTU’s Carbon Footprint.

Changing the behavioral habits of individuals in NTU will provide a platform for long term lifestyle changes in the students.

With concerted efforts from all stakeholders involved to achieve lower carbon emissions, it will mark the essential first step for the long term sustainability of NTU as a sustainable enterprise.

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Executive SummaryIt is essential to track NTU’s carbon footprint and assess it’s actions on the environment as part of a responsible institutional effort. Based on our calculation, NTU released an estimated of 110,858,243 kg of equivalent Carbon Dioxide (Co2) with the bulk of emission revolving sources such as Purchased Electricity (64%), Employee/Student commuting (18%) and paper consumption (18%).

By identifying the main sources of emissions, we planned several initiatives targeted at reducing the university’s Carbon Footprint. These initiatives include: Online-Learning Platforms, Purchasing Carbon offset Credits, Green Building Design, Eco-Friendly Transport and holding Campus-wide Awareness Events.

By analyzing and evaluating against the effects on the stakeholders involved, we found that the initiatives will help in reducing Carbon Footprint. However, there are several barriers to implementation such as additional financial costs incurred and the potential problems faced while moving to an E-Learning Platform. In the long-term, the university will benefit from cost savings in energy efficiency and be accountable to the environment.

In conclusion, the initiatives proposed work collaboratively and green efforts start from an individual basis. By changing the behavioral patterns of the school population, NTU will then achieve much higher results in Carbon Footprint reduction with the aid of the changes in its physical and teaching infrastructure.