This morning I read an article about Duke University’s plan to become climate neutral (net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases) by 2024. By saving energy Duke will save money in the future. The university has already spent twenty million dollars “to switch some campus operations over to natural gas, which could cut coal consumption by seventy percent.” Over forty years, Duke plans to spend one hundred million dollars for the entire project, which includes energy efficiency, using renewable energy options like biomass and solar energy, reopening an old energy plant that currently runs on natural gas, and paying farmers to capture the methane produced by hogs. Duke also hopes to reduce the amount of drivers on campus. What makes Duke stand out of the crowd is that the UNC system has agreed to become carbon neutral by 2050. Climate neutral and carbon neutral are two different things. Duke is taking the next step by attempting to maintain all levels of ALL greenhouse gases. This plan is incredible and relies on time, but it is doable.
It is not fair of me to say that all schools should make a plan similar to Duke’s. Duke will “use external funding to help finance the project.” The reality is that not every major university has enough funding to take big steps to become completely eco-friendly. I think if schools really want to change they will. I hate to say it, but if there is not anything in it for them they may not do it. How do we get major industries to change unless it becomes a law?
Update: I completely forgot to site my information, but here it is.
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Being a private school, Duke gets more federal funding, I believe. They are using this money for a good cause, but it is too much in too little time.
ReplyDeleteTaking things one step at a time is better than making giant leaps and falling. Duke is taking a giant leap right now the way I see it. Net zero emissions of ALL greenhouse gases is big, compared to UNC's carbon neutral plan in about the same amount of time. Will spending all of this extra money really be worth it? Is Duke going to fall taking such a giant leap?