2009 Our Big Green Future: Steps Toward Carbon Neutrality at Dartmouth College An Environmental Studies 50 Report overseen by Senior Lecturer Karolina Kawiaka: Environmental Studies Dept. Dartmouth College Hanover NH, 03755 27 May 2009 Table of Contents Table of Contents .........................................................................................................................................ii Chapter 1: Introduction and Summary.........................................................................................................1 I. Our Proposal for Dartmouth College....................................................................................................1 II. Background on Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality ......................................................................1 1. What is carbon neutrality? ...............................................................................................................1 2. Why should we be concerned about Climate Change?...................................................................1 3. Peer Institutions Seeking a reduced Carbon Footprint:...................................................................2 III. Our Recommendations:......................................................................................................................2 Chapter 2: Phases.........................................................................................................................................4 I. Phase 1, Part 1: Reducing Load .............................................................................................................4 1. Dartmouth College Strategic Energy Conservation Plan: Summary ................................................4 1.1 Report Recommendations..............................................................................................................4 1.2 Finances and Payback.....................................................................................................................5 2. Retrofits and Renovations ...............................................................................................................6 2.1 Background Information................................................................................................................6 2.2 Retrofitting EXisting Buildings........................................................................................................6 2.2a Energy Metering ...........................................................................................................................7 2.2b Lighting.........................................................................................................................................7 2.2c Building Envelope .........................................................................................................................7 2.2d Issues............................................................................................................................................8 3. LED Lighting .....................................................................................................................................8 3.1 Background Information.................................................................................................................8 3.2 Benefits...........................................................................................................................................8 3.5 Costs ...............................................................................................................................................9 3.6 LEDs on the Dartmouth Campus ....................................................................................................9 3.7 Future LED Projects ......................................................................................................................10 3.8 Conclusions...................................................................................................................................10 Page | ii 4. Heat Recovery Systems ..................................................................................................................11 4.1 Background Information...............................................................................................................11 4.2 Benefits.........................................................................................................................................11 4.3 Costs .............................................................................................................................................12 4.4 Case Study: Burke Lab ..................................................................................................................12 4.5 Conclusions...................................................................................................................................12 5. LEED Certification ...........................................................................................................................13 5.1 Background Information...............................................................................................................13 5.2 What is LEED?...............................................................................................................................13 5.3 Benefits.........................................................................................................................................14 5.4 Costs .............................................................................................................................................14 5.5 Going Beyond LEED Platinum .......................................................................................................15 Conclusions.........................................................................................................................................16 II. Phase I, Part 2: Transportation ..........................................................................................................19 1.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................19 1.2 Possible Improvements to Dartmouth’s TDM Strategy................................................................19 1.3 Fleet Fuel Efficiency......................................................................................................................20 1.4 Hybrid Recommendations............................................................................................................20 1.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................21 III. Phase 2: Renewable Energies ...........................................................................................................21 1. Immediate Implementation ...........................................................................................................21 1.1 Photovoltaics................................................................................................................................22 1.2 Geothermal Wells.........................................................................................................................22 1.3 Solar Hot Water............................................................................................................................23 1.4 Biofuels.........................................................................................................................................24 1.5 Biomass ........................................................................................................................................25 2. Long Term Solutions.......................................................................................................................26 2.1 Sewage Heat Recovery .................................................................................................................27 2.2 Deep Geothermal .........................................................................................................................28 2.3 Zero Emission Buildings................................................................................................................28 Page | iii 2.4 Carbon Capture and Storage ........................................................................................................31 3. Carbon Offsets and Sequestration .................................................................................................33 4. Green Electricity and Renewable Energy Certificates ....................................................................36 5. Conclusions....................................................................................................................................37 5.1. Energy MiX...................................................................................................................................37 Chapter 3: Finances....................................................................................................................................38 1.1: Graphs of Projected Future EXpenditures: ..................................................................................39 1.2. Cash‐Flow Analyses ....................................................................................................................42 1.3.