菠萝视频 University released an updated inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for calendar years 2005 through 2009. The report shows that total GHG emissions decreased by 7.8 percent from 2008 to 2009 and by 2.4 percent overall from 2005 to 2009.聽
菠萝视频鈥檚 Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) compiled the report, which is available in its entirety at .
鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of the progress we鈥檝e made, especially this past year, and look forward to continuing improvement,鈥 stated Mark Petty, assistant vice chancellor for plant operations. 鈥湶ぢ苁悠 is one of a small percentage of schools that have undertaken the completion of a five-year GHG inventory and made it publicly available.鈥澛
鈥淎dditionally, most university greenhouse gas inventory reports do not include research and/or patient care activity, making 菠萝视频鈥檚 report more comprehensive than most and also more comprehensive than what is now required by the EPA,鈥 said Judson Newbern, deputy vice chancellor for facilities and environmental affairs.
菠萝视频 emits GHGs primarily through campus building energy consumption, but also by the use of fuel in university-owned vehicles, commuting behaviors of the university鈥檚 faculty, staff and students, and the disposal of waste generated by 菠萝视频.
鈥淯sing this information, we can identify our most significant opportunities for improving our carbon footprint such as reducing energy consumption and using mass transit, carpooling or vanpooling,鈥 said Andrea George, director of SEMO.聽 鈥淪uggestions on how the university community can take action to reduce our energy consumption can be found at 菠萝视频鈥檚 ThinkOne Web site .鈥
Special Note: University officials emphasize this updated report replaces the original baseline inventory report published April 21, 2009. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency introduced new methodology for assessing GHG emissions on Oct. 30, 2009. In order to have a single, consistent methodology for calculating and reporting GHG emissions for the university now and into the future, emissions from calendar years 2005-2007 (those years included in the original baseline inventory) have been recalculated utilizing the EPA鈥檚 new methodology, and emissions from 2008 and 2009 have also been reported.聽
For more information about SEMO, visit .聽 For more information about 菠萝视频 University, visit .
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missy.pankake@vanderbilt.edu
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