Quantifying Carbon Footprints within Higher Education Institutions: A Case Study of Sri Lanka Technological Campus

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.