UNH energy tool is utilized by schools across the country
Cameron Kittle
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: News
Of the many great things to come out of UNH in recent years, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Calculator has been one of the most influential. This tool, developed by a graduate student at the university eight years ago, is used to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a college campus in terms of energy emissions.
The calculator is now being implemented in about 700 colleges and universities around the country and the UNH Office of Sustainability has been very active with the formula, continually revising it for better results.
Brett Pasinella, program coordinator for climate and biodiversity education initiatives at the Office of Sustainability says, "You can't monitor what you don't measure," and is currently producing a new report which will come out in a couple months.
The major importance of this inventory calculator is to take stock of all the emissions that the university produces, whether it comes from heating and cooling, transportation, or the usage of electricity in its dormitories.
"If you don't really know what your emissions are, it's going to be difficult to focus your actions," Pasinella says. "And if you do a project that's aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, you won't be able to measure the results unless you take an inventory."
Comparing different units of measurement is another obstacle when it comes to determining how and where a school should concentrate its efforts. Pasinella says that problem is eliminated with the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Calculator.
"Doing greenhouse gas inventory allows you to put everything in terms of carbon so you can compare them on the same levels," Pasinella says. "So you can compare your emissions from electricity directly to your emissions from heating fuels instead of trying to compare kilowatt hours to cubic meters of natural gas. It makes for a level playing field."
Another helpful characteristic of the emissions calculator is that it covers a wide variety of areas.
The calculator is now being implemented in about 700 colleges and universities around the country and the UNH Office of Sustainability has been very active with the formula, continually revising it for better results.
Brett Pasinella, program coordinator for climate and biodiversity education initiatives at the Office of Sustainability says, "You can't monitor what you don't measure," and is currently producing a new report which will come out in a couple months.
The major importance of this inventory calculator is to take stock of all the emissions that the university produces, whether it comes from heating and cooling, transportation, or the usage of electricity in its dormitories.
"If you don't really know what your emissions are, it's going to be difficult to focus your actions," Pasinella says. "And if you do a project that's aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, you won't be able to measure the results unless you take an inventory."
Comparing different units of measurement is another obstacle when it comes to determining how and where a school should concentrate its efforts. Pasinella says that problem is eliminated with the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Calculator.
"Doing greenhouse gas inventory allows you to put everything in terms of carbon so you can compare them on the same levels," Pasinella says. "So you can compare your emissions from electricity directly to your emissions from heating fuels instead of trying to compare kilowatt hours to cubic meters of natural gas. It makes for a level playing field."
Another helpful characteristic of the emissions calculator is that it covers a wide variety of areas.
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