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Environmental
Issues Committee
March 20, 2008
EMU Alsea Room
Attendees: Chuck Kalnbach, Jesse Hough, Lynn
Giordano, Steve Mital, Christine Thompson, Bill Cresko Approval of the February minutes
was tabled until the next meeting. Updates Steve has assembled three
more working groups and scheduled meetings for Information Technology on April
7, Transportation on April 10, and Purchasing (tba). The
Building group is close to completing their list of recommendations. A fifth group will be assembled this summer. On April 4th
Steve will attend a meeting of representatives from Pacific Northwest universities. This will be a great opportunity to discuss how plans are
being formulated, what form of measurement and start dates are being
considered, funding issues, and emissions goals. UO Emissions Data The committee reviewed 2004
core emissions (physical infrastructure & direct transportation activities)
and indirect emissions (indirect transportation activities &
purchases). The next step for the
EIC will be to formulate a recommendation on what level of responsibility is
feasible in reducing indirect transportation & purchases emissions. Steve presented some calculations
on the cost to buy offsets from four sources with recent trading prices as
follows: Chicago Climate Exchange
(CCX) at $5.75/ton, Climate Trust (based in Oregon) at $11.00/ton, and the
European Climate Exchange (ECX) $30.00/ton Cost differences are
primarily due to the fact that CCX and Climate Trust are voluntary and ECX is
mandatory (in Europe). A fourth
calculation of $50.00/ton is based on what many economists believe is the price
necessary to significantly change the supply side of energy. Due to the work that has
been done the absolute core emissions between 1990 and 2007 were basically flat
at the UO, compared to a 17-20% increase at many other universities. A rough estimate of UO’s
emissions based on square foot measurements in 2000-2007 was a 16% reduction and
a 20-25% reduction if using a 1990 start date. Since the Kyoto Protocol began 1990 can we consider the same
start date? Measurement Options A suggestion was made to
utilize all three -- absolute, per square foot, and per student.
Absolute emissions may be used primarily for information purposes, per
square foot allows for growth, and a per student basis helps personalize goals in
reducing an individual’s carbon footprint. Bill offered to create a graph that would model per student
and per square foot relationships.
Steve will continue to refine the numbers to help the committee determine
the best approach. Next Meeting: 1:00 – 2:00
p.m. on April 15th in EMU Century Room E Contact: Kay Coots, R.S., CSP Environmental Health and Safety Director Phone: (541) 346-5421 E-Mail: kcoots@uoregon.edu |
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