| dc.description.abstract | The threat of global warming is becoming an increasing reality. Anthropogenic
greenhouse gas emissions are causing irreversible changes to the globe, threatening the
survival of many species –including humans. In order to stop our current path to
destruction, action must be taken. Since human habits are the source of the problem, they
must also be part of the solution. In light of this knowledge, there is a campus wide
sustainability movement underway at Dalhousie. There are currently efforts to adopt
sustainability into the curriculum, to increase efficiency and to reduce consumption; yet
Dalhousie’s energy supply is derived from very polluting sources of energy such as
bunker “c” oil. According to facilities management, last year Dalhousie purchased
13,800,000 L of this non-renewable fossil fuel. There has not yet been any commitment
to integrate renewable sources of energy into our system. Several other institutions and
universities worldwide (including Canada) and have already implemented renewable
energies; it is time for Dalhousie to jump onboard. There are priceless environmental
contributions as well as financial benefits associated to the use of renewable energies.
Incorporating renewable energies on campus would also make a statement about the
severity of global climate change.
In addition to economic and environmental benefits, the sustainability movement
may also gain social support. There are many projects attempting to educate the
population about the need for conservation and efficiency. A physical structure that shows
the source of our power might act as a symbolic representation, a reminder of
sustainability, and as proof of Dalhousie’s commitment to the health of the future.
The student support of renewable energies was unknown. The purpose of this
project was to assess the support and opinion of the student body regarding the
implementation of renewable energies on campus, specifically solar hot water
heating units. Solar hot water heating was chosen because it is a renewable source of
energy that does not require massive renovations to assure structural integrity and is
easily maintained. Surplus energy can be fed back into Dalhousie's network during offpeak
hours, and the university would need to buy less fuel and power from the province.
The government would cover a percentage of the initial cost, helping Dalhousie's limited
environmental budget, and the savings after the payback period could be used to fund
other green initiatives. | en_US |
