TY  - JOUR
AU  - Alelweet, Omar
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/01/23
TI  - Carbon Footprint Assessment Initiative and Trees Role in Reducing Emissions
JO  - Advances in Environmental and Engineering Research
SP  - 009
VL  - 06
IS  - 01
AB  - Given the present emphasis on climate change and CO2 emissions, it is crucial to have specific guidelines to determine and mitigate carbon footprints. The following paper seeks to estimate the carbon emissions in kg of carbon dioxide equivalent from activities at Uniza Technical College and the tree's ability to absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. The primary objective of this study is to determine how the emissions from campus trees can contribute to reducing overall carbon emissions. The methodologies employed at the college include evaluating facilities, analyzing energy consumption and emissions, utilizing CO2 meters for transportation assessments, monitoring air quality, and tracking goods and services to measure emissions effectively. We also calculated the number of trees on campus that could be used for carbon sequestration to determine the trees' environmental effects. The results of the data analysis showed that the levels of CO2 inside the college buildings were within the safe range of 700 ppm in most cases. Our research also showed that energy consumption and the use of plastic bottles were significant sources of carbon emissions. We calculated the total carbon footprint to be 521 tCO2-eq, which is relatively low compared to other universities worldwide. This study demonstrates that decisive intervention is needed, including installing real-time monitoring and energy conservation sensors. These include ensuring that lights and air conditioning are switched off when not in use and reducing plastic bottle use. More trees should be planted on the campus in the future to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. This research ultimately demonstrates the integration of environmental awareness and sustainability into educational institutions to tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
SN  - 2766-6190
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/aeer.2501009
DO  - 10.21926/aeer.2501009
ID  - Alelweet2025
ER  -