Extra Credit Post: 0 Carbon Emissions

Extra Credit Questions: Cornell plans for 0 carbon emissions by 2050
The example and initiative set by Cornell to cut net carbon emissions to zero by 2050 is an extremely positive step foreword towards creating and promoting a functional academic environment with minimal negative environmental impacts. I believe that universities and collages are in the position to promote understanding of environmental issues as well as having a receptive audience willing to incorporate change. The higher education learning environments are particularly receptive to change in large part due to the flexibility of constituents this flexibility means that the ability to facilitate larger scale positive changes become much easier. The plan for Cornell focuses on five key areas; green development, energy conservation, fuel mix and renewable energy, transportation, and carbon offsetting actions. UH Hilo could definitely follow this example, in fact the environment here in Hawaii could promote meeting 0 emissions goals even faster if an effort is truly made. Here in Hawaii we have a wonderful opportunity to use solar power and other alternative power sources. The UH Hilo campus is also much smaller with a smaller constituent base than at Cornell so these goals of achieving and facilitating plans for 0 carbon emissions are much easier to achieve. For the plan to work here at UH Hilo there must be support and motivation from staff, students and faculty, everyone must be onboard. One of the easier actions to take towards the plan could be for faculty to present required information to students in a paperless format this could also be a way for students to submit assignments. In the DL (distance learning) program we already incorporate semi paperless learning however in many of my classes printing of downloaded material is still quite necessary. Paperless format can work quite well for various administrative departments within the school where applications, records and other forms could be obtained and turned in solely online. UH Hilo could also follow the lead of Cornell in the initiative to incorporate green development. With the proposal for additional housing and classroom facilities that UH Hilo is developing the commitment to green building practices should be incorporated. Any new building would have the ability to incorporate energy standards that limit energy use. I have not been on the UH Hilo campus for quite a few years now but when I attended classes on campus I was always dismayed at the necessity of air conditioning in so many of the buildings. The necessity stems from poor planning that does not allow for adequate air flow. New construction could incorporate buildings that are not so reliant on air conditioning. Universities also are in the unique position of facilitating research. UH Hilo with available funding could develop more programs to research newer technologies for energy production. On the Big Island wind energy as well as geothermal technologies could be used quite effectively. The university could be in a position to research as well as develop access to alternative energy forms. UH Hilo has many buildings that are not on campus various ag. buildings and research centers around the island could also use catchman water where applicable as a means of a water supply. For example the offices at Panaewa are small enough to enable effective catchman use. There is a large ag. department here at UH Hilo that could effectively grow produce that the university could incorporate into food served on campus. Telecommuting is also an area that UH Hilo can effectively take advantage of. Using teleconferencing or develop larger and more diversified DL programs that require little to no traveling could also have a big impact in the right direction. As I mentioned earlier for the effectiveness of the plan everyone must be onboard because changes would definitely need to take place. Everyone must help facilitate the change. However the actual planning and change implementation must come from the top down were the administration incorporates as part of its academic mission to become more energy efficient and facilitates changes that students can adopt. Each student has the ability to ignite the change by contacting the administration and proposing ways and a desire for the school to run more efficiently. From my personal perspective part of taking this class was for me to develop awareness and an ability to incorporate positive changes as well as promote these changes. As students in this class we could organize and present a plan to the university to incorporate positive eco-friendly changes. I can imagine several barriers to facilitating the changes necessary for UH Hilo to reach the goals of 0 carbon emissions. First there is already the impact of reduced funding where some might say would prevent any additional spending towards a plan. However an opportunity to develop new energy technologies could be a potential future money source for the university. Any energy conservation methods set in place now in the long run would enable the university to save money. Also with a larger DL offering more students can be enrolled at UH Hilo without the impact and cost of having to use actual on campus facilities so more money can be generated for the school. So proposals for change should focus on long term savings as well as the positive environmental impacts to outweigh the negatives of limited funding. I really feel that UH HIlo has a unique opportunity to follow the initiative of Cornell. The capabilities are there the solutions and actions can be made available it is truly up to us to make it happen lets try for 0 carbon emissions by 2025