The carbon footprint of Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica

Abstract

This study estimates the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) of the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR) according to the guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). It was found that the ITCR emitted during the period 2007 - 2009 on average 2 541 t / year of equivalent CO2, and that these emissions would reach 3 741 t / year equivalent CO2 during the period 2011 - 2021. From the average emissions 2007 - 2009, 85% corresponds to the campus of Santa Clara and 15% to the Cartago Headquarters Campus plus the San Jose Academic Center. Emission sources evaluated for the entire institution were: livestock enteric fermentation (40%), manure management (36%), vehicle fleet (11%), air travel (4%), slaughter plant (4%), thermal factor on electricity (4%), institutional fuel (1%) and institutional LP Gas (0,1%). It was determined that the area needed to be reforested to mitigate the CO2 emissions for the period 2011 - 2021 is, by way of illustration, of 170 ha, with the species Gmelina arborea. To mitigate emissions from Cartago campus and San Jose Academic Center it is required to plant 32 ha, while for the Santa Clara campus it is required 138 ha; this is because the management of livestock generates excessive volumes of methane and GHG nitrous oxide. If this project is executed, ITCR would be positioned itself as an institution of higher education Carbon Neutral for a period of 10 years. It is important to complement this mitigation reforestation plan with environmental policies aimed at reducing emissions from each CO2 emission source.