ESE 832 - Lecture 7

Energy and Climate Change Dr.
Abeera Ayaz Ansari

US Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Energy (USPCAS-E)
(ESE-832) National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST)

Email: abeera@uspcase.nust.edu.pk
1
Course Themes
• Science of Climate Change
• Impacts of Climate Change
• Climate Change Governance
• Evolution of Energy Sources
• Addressing Climate Change through
Energy Sector
2
Assignment-1: Carbon Footprint Calculation
Some helpful conversion factors:
20 Lbs. CO2 / gallon gasoline

2 Lbs. CO2 / kWh
4 lbs. CO2 / 1 lb. C
0.0005 ton/ lb. C
3
1. From transportation: provide sound estimates for your average vehicle miles
traveled in a month and your car’s fuel efficiency
Average miles travelled per month = ----miles

Car efficiency = ---- miles per gallon
Gasoline used per month = (---- miles)/(---- miles per gallon)
= ---- gallons
CO2 emissions from gasoline per month = (---- gallons) x (20 lbs. CO2/gallon)
= ---- lbs. CO2
Carbon footprint from gasoline usage= (---- lbs. CO2)/(4 lb. CO2/C)
=---- lb. C per month
4
1. From transportation: provide sound estimates for your average vehicle miles
traveled in a month and your car’s fuel efficiency
Average miles travelled per month = 50 miles

Car efficiency = 23.6 miles per gallon
Gasoline used per month = (50 miles)/(23.6 miles per gallon)
= 2.11 gallons
CO2 emissions from gasoline per month = (2.11 gallons) x (20 lbs. CO2/gallon)
= 42.2 lbs. CO2
Carbon footprint from gasoline usage= (42.2 lbs. CO2)/(4 lb. CO2/C)
=10.6 lb. C per month
5
2. From residential electricity: either look up your actual average
monthly usage on your utility bill or provide a sound estimate
Average monthly electricity usage = ---- kWh

CO2 emissions from electricity usage per month
= (---- kWh) x (2 lbs. CO2 /kWh)
= ---- lbs. CO2
Carbon footprint from electricity usage = (---- lbs. CO2)/(4 lb. CO2/C)
=---- lb. C per month
6
2. From residential electricity: either look up your actual average
monthly usage on your utility bill or provide a sound estimate
Average monthly electricity usage = 800 kWh

CO2 emissions from electricity usage per month
= (800 kWh) x (2 lbs. CO2 /kWh)
= 1600 lbs. CO2
Carbon footprint from electricity usage = (1600 lbs. CO2)/(4 lb. C)
=400 lb. C per month
7
3. Total monthly personal carbon footprint: sum A and B and
convert to tons C
8
3.Total monthly personal carbon footprint: sum A and B and
convert to tons C
Total monthly personal carbon footprint = 10.6 lb. C + 400 lb. C

= 410.6 lb. C per month
= (410.6 lb. C) * (0.0005 ton/ lb. C)
= 0.2 tons C
9
Assignment-1: Carbon Footprint Calculation - Discussion
– 4. Identify energy conservation or efficiency techniques you could
reasonably incorporate into your life to reduce your carbon
footprint
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQyrnq4CEEw
– 5. What sources of carbon are not accounted for in this footprint
calculation?
10
Offsetting Your Carbon Footprint
Concept of Carbon Credits
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQyrnq4CEEw
Carbon Pricing, Carbon Offset and Carbon Taxes
https://carboncredits.com/carbon-pricing-explained-credits-offsets-taxes/
11
Class Activity: Carbon Footprint Calculation
Offsetting your carbon footprint:
Carbon offsets, among other things, pay people to plant trees to remove the carbon you produce.
Price varies widely, but www.carboncredits.com/carbon-prices sell carbon credits for $6 per ton
of C.
Calculate your monthly cost of purchasing carbon offsets.

Total monthly personal carbon footprint = --- tons C
Monthly cost of purchasing carbon offsets @ $6/ton C = (--- tons C) x ($6/ton C)
= $--- per month
At $3 per coffee serving, calculate the equivalent number of servings per month.
Equivalent number of coffee servings per month = ($---)/ ($3/serving)
12
= 0.4 coffee servings per month
Class Activity: Carbon Footprint Calculation
Offsetting your carbon footprint:
2. Carbon offsets, among other things, pay people to plant trees to remove the carbon you
produce. Price varies widely, but www.carboncredits.com/carbon-prices sells carbon credits
for $6 per ton of C.
Calculate your monthly cost of purchasing carbon offsets.

Total monthly personal carbon footprint = 0.2 tons C
Monthly cost of purchasing carbon offsets @ $6/ton C = (0.2 tons C) x ($6/ton C)
= $1.2 per month
At $3 per coffee serving, calculate the equivalent number of servings per month.
Equivalent number of coffee servings per month = ($1.2)/ ($3/serving) 13
Class Activity: Offsetting Your Carbon Footprint
In your opinion, does carbon offset really work and can it save us
from climate change?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma-16mYsilA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdW-6MXB0sI
Further Reading:
Potential problems with the idea of carbon offsets?
https://www.outsideonline.com/business-journal/issues/the-problem-with-carbon-offsets/
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/the-biggest-problem-with-carbon-offsetting-is-that-it-doesnt-really-work/#:
~:text=The%20risk%20is%20that%20trees,as%20fossil%20carbon%20left%20underground
. 14

ESE 832 - Lecture 7

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ESE 832 - Lecture 7

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

ESE 832 - Lecture 7

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Energy and Climate Change Dr.

Abeera Ayaz Ansari

(ESE-832) National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST)

20 Lbs. CO2 / gallon gasoline

Average miles travelled per month = ----miles

Average miles travelled per month = 50 miles

Average monthly electricity usage = ---- kWh

Average monthly electricity usage = 800 kWh

Total monthly personal carbon footprint = 10.6 lb. C + 400 lb. C

Carbon Pricing, Carbon Offset and Carbon Taxes

Calculate your monthly cost of purchasing carbon offsets.

Calculate your monthly cost of purchasing carbon offsets.

You might also like