Abstract:
In response to the imperative of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, organizations are progressively
taking steps to quantify their carbon footprint. The purpose of
this paper is to present a comprehensive analysis of the carbon
footprint of Sri Lanka Technological Campus, including direct
and indirect emissions as well as a discussion about the
commonly used method. Emissions are presented in two scopes
(scope 1 reports direct process emissions, scope 2 reports
emissions from purchased energy) to identify carbon emission
hotspots within the university’s operations. Direct sources and
indirect sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the university
are identified and relevant activity data are collected. The
carbon footprint of the University was calculated using
collected activity data followed by the hybrid model, combining
approaches of Environmentally Extended Input-Output
Analysis and Life-Cycle Assessment. In 2022, the institution's
emissions inventory tallies to 196.89 metric tons of CO2e, with
the majority attributed to the indirect emissions of the campus.
Approximately 72% of the University's carbon footprint is
attributed to indirect emissions. This underscores the
imperative for adopting environmentally conscious
procurement practices and transitioning to renewable energy
sources for purchased electricity as a means of offsetting this
impact. The study revealed that significant impediments are
associated with information availability for cover up all
categories and the absence of established data collection
strategies. Effective mitigation actions involve the adoption of
energy conservation policies and enhancements to
procurement practices to reduce carbon footprint of the
university.
