UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Swahn, Erika
Dept./Program:
Natural Resource Planning Program
Year:
2004
Degree:
M.S.
Abstract:
An ecological footprint is the area of bioproductive land necessary to support a given population's level of resource consumption and waste production. All categories of consumption and waste production are converted into a common unit (land area), thereby allowing direct comparisons across otherwise differing sectors. In this study, transportation, electricity, heat, water, and food consumption, and solid waste production at the University of Vermont (UVM) were examined. Comparisons among these six sectors indicate which areas create the greatest environmental impact in terms of land consumption. The objectives of this project were to calculate the ecological footprint of UVM, to determine a sustainable footprint size for UVM, and to assess the potential for footprint reductions through selected scenarios. The results indicate that in FY2000, UVM had a footprint of 5,542 global acres or 5.17 global acres per person. Over three quarters of this footprint was a result of energy consumption from heating, electricity, and transportation.
Solid waste also represented a significant portion of the footprint, while food and water consumption created relatively small impacts. It is clear from this study that the university must focus on energy issues in order to significantly reduce its ecological footprint. UVM's FY2000 footprint was not sustainable by ideal, strong, or weak sustainability, as defined by Venetoulis (2001). To achieve ideal sustainability, all resource consumption and waste production would need to occur on UVM land, requiring an 89% footprint reduction. To achieve strong sustainability, UVM's per person footprint would need to be less than the amount of global bioproductive land available per person, requiring a 73% reduction in footprint. To achieve weak sustainability, UVM's per person footprint would need to be less than the amount of bioproductive land available per person in the U.S., requiring a 25% reduction in footprint.
Various footprint scenarios highlight ways in which UVM's footprint may be reduced. These scenarios revealed the importance of electricity sources, not just consumption levels, in the size of the electricity footprint; the small reduction in impact created by recycling, as opposed to the much greater reduction in waste footprint caused by reducing paper consumption; and the large increase in footprint size that could be created by the planned expansion of the UVM campus.
Solid waste also represented a significant portion of the footprint, while food and water consumption created relatively small impacts. It is clear from this study that the university must focus on energy issues in order to significantly reduce its ecological footprint. UVM's FY2000 footprint was not sustainable by ideal, strong, or weak sustainability, as defined by Venetoulis (2001). To achieve ideal sustainability, all resource consumption and waste production would need to occur on UVM land, requiring an 89% footprint reduction. To achieve strong sustainability, UVM's per person footprint would need to be less than the amount of global bioproductive land available per person, requiring a 73% reduction in footprint. To achieve weak sustainability, UVM's per person footprint would need to be less than the amount of bioproductive land available per person in the U.S., requiring a 25% reduction in footprint.
Various footprint scenarios highlight ways in which UVM's footprint may be reduced. These scenarios revealed the importance of electricity sources, not just consumption levels, in the size of the electricity footprint; the small reduction in impact created by recycling, as opposed to the much greater reduction in waste footprint caused by reducing paper consumption; and the large increase in footprint size that could be created by the planned expansion of the UVM campus.