In a first of its kind initiative among educational institutions in the district, Lady Doak College here has released a baseline inventory report on Green House Gas (GHG) emissions on its campus after carrying out a two-year study.
The report was released on the occasion of World Environment Day by District Forest Officer Nihar Ranjan on Friday.
S. Gunaseeli, Coordinator, Centre for Environmental Studies, said that the study was carried out from January 2013 to December 2014. “The baseline study results will be useful in implementing strategies to bring down emission levels and steer the campus towards carbon neutrality by 2025,” she said.
Study areas
The study covered electrical appliances, college buses, power generators and direct emissions from laboratories on campus. “We found that electricity was one of the main contributors to high emission levels. As part of mitigation strategies, we have started projects on solar candle and grey water recycling, besides banning paper cups on campus. In the coming months, we hope to shift to more energy-efficient electrical appliances and efficient use of solar plant on campus,” Ms. Gunaseeli said.
Mr. Ranjan said that the study would help bring down GHG emissions in a small way, and would have an impact outside the campus as well.
“If more institutions emulate this initiative and take concrete efforts to reduce emission levels, it will have an extremely positive long-term impact,” he said.
