CAIRO: As the first institution of higher education in the Middle East and North Africa, the American University in Cairo (AUC) recently released a report measuring its carbon footprint in the aim of reducing the University's energy expenditures and helping combat the climate change. The report, prepared by the Desert Development Center (DDC) and the Office of Sustainability, is the result of campus-wide efforts incorporating the work of faculty, students and staff. It identifies many strategies for reducing the University's carbon footprint and energy expenditures. “Through evaluating our own impact on the environment, we take the first step in working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on our campus and serve as a leader and champion for others to begin addressing the climate change challenge with us," said President Lisa Anderson, explaining that the report not only illuminates a course of action, but also serves as a model for similar efforts throughout the region. In addition to taking the lead in the region, the report will also provide a foundation for continued efforts to improve AUC's performance in this area. “This study is critical because it gives us the information we need to set priorities for future campus sustainability initiatives," said Sustainability Coordinator Marc Rauch. A carbon footprint measures the quantity of greenhouse gases, expressed as “carbon dioxide equivalent," that an organization emits into the atmosphere over a period of time, usually one or more years. To analyze AUC's operations, the authors used as a reference the Clean Air – Cool Planet Carbon Calculator, a software program devised by an American nongovernmental organization and often used on college campuses. However, this model had to be adapted to accommodate the specifics of AUC and Egypt. “Our Egyptian context is very different," said DDC Director Richard Tutwiler, “so we had to modify the coefficients while keeping the basic formulas and structure of the model, as this is essential for meaningful comparisons. We also added a module for water supply, given AUC and Egypt's dependence on the Nile River." During AUC's fiscal year 2011 (September 1, 2010 to August 31, 2011), considering only the activities of AUC New Cairo, the University produced 55,433 metric tons (MT) of carbon dioxide equivalent. When the total emissions are divided by the number of full-time equivalent students (FTEs), the result places AUC's level of emissions in the company of U.S. schools in similar climates. AUC emits approximately 9.3 MT of carbon dioxide per FTE, comparable to the amounts at U.S. institutions such as Rice University in Texas (10.6 MT) and the University of California at San Diego (9.4 MT). The report's authors were expecting the emissions rate to be significantly higher. “We were pleased that the per capita emissions figure is not higher, given AUC's reliance on commuting to New Cairo, our extensive use of air conditioning, and our low faculty and staff to student ratio, which distinguish us from many universities in the United States," said Tutwiler. Three main factors accounted for more than 90 percent of the University's emissions: (1) heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and domestic hot water, (2) electricity for lighting and equipment and (3) transportation. The report identifies methods for reducing emissions in each category. More than 40 percent of the University's emissions come from air conditioning and heating, systems that run on natural gas and electricity. Electricity for lighting and equipment accounted for about 22 percent of the University's total emissions. Another 27 percent of AUC New Cairo's emissions came from transportation to and from the campus. Air travel and vehicles used by the University on campus contributed another 4 percent of the total emissions. Certain aspects of the design of AUC New Cairo already reduce the campus's greenhouse gas emissions. The utility plant uses natural gas that burns more cleanly than other carbon-based fuels such as oil or diesel. The plant also uses cogeneration, a process wherein the waste heat generated by creating electricity is used to heat water for use in the heating and domestic hot water systems. Forty percent of AUC New Cairo's hot water in the fiscal year 2011 was produced by cogeneration, making the University's total carbon footprint 2.5 percent smaller than it would have been otherwise. Plans for further emissions reduction are well underway. “We've already begun initiatives to drastically reduce our HVAC consumption at AUC New Cairo," said Rauch. “Next, we'll tackle lighting and other electrical equipment. As for transportation, we are encouraging carpooling by allowing carpoolers free parking." At the heart of this study is a concern for Egypt's susceptibility to the effects of global warming. Rising sea levels could displace large numbers of Egypt's coastal population while also destroying precious farmland in the Delta. Changes in rainfall from global warming may also affect the flow of the Nile from its source in Ethiopia, leaving not just the agricultural sector, but all of Egypt, with a dangerous lack of fresh water. “Put simply," Rauch said, “curbing our carbon emissions, and convincing others to do likewise, will help sustain the long-term viability of Egyptian society."
