AU initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions

With the economy tanking, gas prices in the stratosphere and the ozone layer in tatters, there's plenty of reason for worry these days. The Auburn University Sustainability Initiative is taking aim at all three problems.

"Sustainability" as defined by the program addresses three concerns: maximizing the environment and natural resources, maximizing economic benefits and maximizing social benefits to people.

"Our overall goal is to advance the idea of sustainability, but we also try to figure out ways to get both individuals and the university to figure out how to be more sustainable," said Matt Williams, project coordinator for the university's Sustainability Initiative.

Last February, the Auburn Sustainability Initiative participated in a Webcast of the "2 Percent Solution," featuring actor Edward Norton along with climate scientists and sustainability experts.

In the Webcast, participants suggested climate control could be brought under control by cutting current carbon emission levels by 2 percent every year for the next 40 years.

"If we can reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions by 2 percent a year up to 2050, we can reach the goal of getting emissions back into line with 1990 levels," Williams said.

There are many dire predictions about what could happen to weather patterns, agriculture patterns and even disease patterns if the temperature continues to rise, he said. And there's even talk of plant and animal extinctions, Williams noted.

"But if you keep the greenhouse emissions down to 2 percent a year, none of those will come true," he said. "If not, it is still a coin toss about what will really happen, because they are all just predictions."

According to Williams there are four major areas to alter in your life to help reduce greenhouse emissions by 2 percent each year. Following is a round up of his suggestions.

Transportation

Reducing travel helps reduce the amount of gas fumes released into the environment. Although it is tough to reduce your travel if you have a commute to work, there are other options, such as carpooling.

"People get the benefit of reduced gas costs, but they are also benefiting the environment by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air," Williams said.

Food

Buy your food close to home, Williams suggested.

"It is estimated that the average piece of food on an American table travels 1.300 miles," he said.

If you buy food produced within 100 miles, less gas is required to get the food to you, Williams said. In addition, the money stays in the local market and the food is fresher, he noted.

Williams added that there is a Farmer's Market every Thursday afternoon on Samford Avenue, across from the athletic complex, offering everything from fruits and vegetables to flour and soaps.

There is also a meat lab on campus that sells "an incredible amount of meat," he said. Beef, pork, chicken, eggs and bacon are all available at the Lambert-Powell Meats Laboratory, open Monday through Thursday from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. The meat lab is located at 500 Shug Jordan Pkwy.

Shelter and household appliances

When appliances need replacing, Williams said to look for "energy star" labels. He said it's not necessary to replace all your appliances right away, but when they do need replacing, buy energy-efficient models.

"Energy star appliances reduce the amount of electricity or natural gas that is needed, and the consumer ends up saving money on his energy bill," Williams said.

The energy star label is a government program guaranteeing an appliance is at least 20 percent more efficient than other comparable products on the market. A new refrigerator—even if it has not received the energy star—is more efficient than a refrigerator built five years ago because industry standards keep changing, Williams noted.

Electricity

Pay attention to how you are using electricity, Williams urged.

"Everybody in Auburn gets their power from the Alabama Power Co. —there aren't many other choices. And the majority of their power comes from coal," Williams said.

Burning coal is a big factor in causing climate change, he noted.

He said the best thing to do is to watch the use of electricity the "old-fashioned way." Turn off lamps when you leave a room and turn down the thermostat while you are gone to work.

He said standard incandescent light bulbs should be replaced with compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use 66 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

"You can also replace your thermostat with a programmable one," Williams said. "I bought one at Lowe's for $40, and it took me just 10 minutes to install."

Williams said that from December to January he saved more than $100 on his electricity bill over the previous year.

"It's less electricity that I'm buying and it winds up being more comfortable, too," he said.

A 12-step program

The Auburn Sustainability Initiative also offers "12 Steps Toward Sustainable Living" for students on campus. Suggestions are outlined a sustainability pamphlet distributed to students. Here are some of the suggestions:

-Leave your car at home. Take the bus, bike or walk to where you need to be.

-Turn off your computer when it is not in use. Computers use about the same amount of power when they are idling as when they are being used actively.

-Report or fix drips. A dripping faucet can waste up to 2,000 gallons of water a year.

-Use reusable mugs and water bottles. Not only is it cheaper and reduces plastic waste, but Auburn tap water is held to more stringent purity standards than any purchased bottled water.

-Finally, slow down. For every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, your fuel cost is increased by 20 cents per gallon. Also, avoid heavy acceleration. Acceleration can use up to four times as much fuel as moderate acceleration.

According to the sustainability pamphlet, approximately 6.6 tons of greenhouse gases are emitted per person every year in the U.S., and one gallon of gas burned in your car creates more than 19 pounds of carbon dioxide.

"It's not necessarily 'save the planet' with regard to climate change, it's more 'save the humans,'" Williams said. "The planet will still be here, other animals are still going to be here just fine, but the way our economy and our systems are set up is what will need to be saved."

To underline his point, Williams gave the example of Chilton County peaches. The whole county grows peaches, but if temperatures were to rise four or five degrees, the climate would no longer be hospitable for peach-growers.

"That whole economy and county would start collapsing, and the farmers would have to move north a few miles," Williams said. "That would put them in Birmingham, which is not good for growing peaches."

According to one conservative estimate, sea levels could rise by 23 inches if the temperature increases and glaciers and polar ice caps keep melting. Although that increase sounds minor, some cities on the coast would have to relocate inland.

And then there's the catastrophic estimate, portrayed to good effect in movies. According to some doomsayers, sea levels could rise by 20 meters, Williams said.

"It's one of those things where it really isn't a big deal to make these changes," Williams said. "There is an awful lot that people can do themselves, and it makes a big difference once everyone starts doing it together."