Summary

This report quantifies the main sources of carbon emissions on Rice University's campus and briefly analyzes a few possible methods of carbon abatement. Carbon emissions contribute to the larger problem of global warming. The Kyoto Protocol, which mandates a 7% reduction of emissions from 1990 levels by the year 2010, is a global agreement that may be ratified by the Senate in the near future. If this is the case, Rice may be required to significantly reduce its carbon emissions. Our calculations find that Rice currently emits 19,900 tons of carbon into the atmosphere. These findings are broken down as follows.

Energy

• Energy emissions include those from the production of air-conditioning, heating, and electricity available at end-use locations.
• By far the largest source of emissions, energy production contributed 15, 700 tons of carbon to the atmosphere in 1998.
• Solutions discussed include department metering and an upgrade of cogeneration.

Transportation

• Transportation emissions include those from commuting students and faculty, campus shuttle buses, and air travel by faculty and student athletes.
• The second largest source of emissions, transportation contributed 3,400 tons of carbon to the atmosphere in 1998.
• Solutions discussed include light rail, electric vehicles, hybrid-electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and alternative fuel sources.

Construction

• Construction emissions include those from the production of concrete, transportation of concrete, and the production of brick.
  
• The third largest source of emissions, relatively, construction contributed 800 tons of carbon to the atmosphere in 1998.
  
• Solutions discussed include flyash concrete and concrete masonry units.

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