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Vanderbilt plans to calculate its carbon footprint this spring through a greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The inventory will determine the amount of the six greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere in an average year, based on 2005-2007 data. These greenhouse gases are: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride.
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and are emitted through both natural processes and human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, decay in landfills and the carbon cycle. Vanderbilt emits greenhouse gases through many of its daily operations such as the combustion of coal, use of electricity, commuting and waste disposal.
Once the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, or size of the carbon footprint, is known, strategies can be developed to reduce it. This first inventory will provide a baseline to compare against future improvements.
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