Abstract

1. A Carbon Accounting, Monitoring and Awareness Program Providing a Pathway for Sustainable Change within A Community Mr. Vincent Carragher, Dr. Bernadette O’Regan and Prof. Richard Moles Centre for Environmental Research, University of Limerick, Ireland. Tel: +353 61 213012 e-mail: vincent.carragher@ul.ie Abstract The process of research for improving natural resource management must incorporate participatory and stakeholder-focused approaches, leading to development based on the needs and knowledge of local stakeholders. Central to the development of low carbon futures within communities, and elsewhere, is calculating and ascribing responsibility for carbon use on an individual basis. The “bottom-up” Ecological Footprint (EF) methodology is one of the most comprehensive assessment techniques that can inform the levels of sustainability within communities. An annual survey format has been developed which assesses the EF and levels of ERB (Environmentally Responsible Behaviour) within individual households. This research proposes to motivate low carbon discourses at a community level through engaging the activity of various stakeholders including (1)pupils, (2) parents, (3) volunteers, (4) clergy, (5) school administrators, (6) green school committee, (7) local shop keepers and (8) the library. The school is used as a conduit in the study due to its: (1) central role in educating the community (2) central position in the physical landscape of the community, (3) history of in-house development of sustainability and (4) the need to introduce people to the principles of developing sustainability from an early age. Critical and systems thinking together with action, social and experiential learning is stimulated by the project. This research prescribes a participatory and user-focused approach to (1) appointing responsibility for carbon use, (2) developing environmental literacy, (3) environmental problem solving and (4) decision-making. Three years of EF and behaviour assessment data will be outlined which show the ecological footprint of the community reducing with a concomitant increase in ERB. Introduction The EF was developed by Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees in the early 1990s, and is a resource use accounting index that translates resource demand (such as energy and water) into the land area required to (a) produce the resources needed and (b) dispose safely of wastes. The two most important outcomes of a footprint study are firstly its use as an educational tool, educating both the general public and decision makers and secondly its ability to be used as a indicator, decision making tool and baseline data set. This is important to help raise environmental issues amongst the public. It is a valuable tool to teach members of the public about the importance of individual lifestyle choices and the impact they are having on the world around them, Birch et al, 2004. It is believed that the EF methodology offers: “one of the most comprehensive assessment techniques that can help inform, educate and point the way toward a more sustainable path”, Venetoulis, J et al, 2004. This work aims to embed an EF methodology and subsequent Carbon Awareness Campaign into the school community interface and thus motivate a community approach to global warming. Ballina, County Tipperary is the first community in Ireland which has monitored and reduced its carbon intensity. Table 2: Changing ERB’s over a 3 year period. bulb use and also on uptake of ten energy saving options (ESO).It is clear from table 2 that microwave ownership has increased by 10% over the 3 year period shown. Similarly it is evident that purchase of CFL bulbs had increased by 18% and Energy Saving Options within the home were up 5% over the same time frame. Discussion & Conclusion Various components are considered in our EF analysis; household energy use, domestic waste, car transport, aeroplane transport, food consumption, water use and built land components. It appears that the community wide reduction in the average EF per resident (listed in table 1) is due to changes residents have made to the carbon intensity of their lifestyles. Various components were considered and reductions in waste, car transport and household energy use are noted. The reductions in the carbon intensity of household energy use within this community appears to be caused by an uptake of efficiency options by the residents (listed in table 2). These changes were driven through information, leaflets and media coverage generated by this project. A weekly carbon clinic also takes place where residents can drop in and receive free advice on how to achieve a low carbon future. It is proposed that the environmental monitoring and awareness created stimulates a reinforcing feedback loop, giving rise to an evolving system of reducing environmental impacts.It is possible that other reducing factors may be at play, within the community, and this will be the focus of future work. Increase in microwave ownership over the three years shows an energy efficiency behaviour seeping into the purchase of household cooking equipment. Likewise the increased purchase of CFL bulbs defines a trend towards more energy efficient lighting within the homes of this community. The Household Energy Saving Options (ESO) chosen for this survey are:  Lagging jackets  Time controllers for lights  Timed heating  Automatic closers for doors  Motion sensor lights  Daylight sensors for lights  Energy efficient bulbs  Presence detectors for lights  Thermostats in rooms  Others The noted rise in these ESO’s used within the community generally shows a positive trend towards ERB while purchasing. Methodology An EF and ERB accounting template has been developed and translated into a questionnaire using the research experience of CER, the Statistical Consulting Unit in UL and PROSUS. The methodology developed was adapted from other EF studies primarily those of Barret et al, 2002, Ryan, 2003 and Foley, 2006 and its contents will be the subject of a future paper from the group. Each household in the community received this questionnaire once annually. Once completed it was collected through the school and various drop boxes. Results are calculated and collated largely within CER. EF workshops have been held within the school for children, parents and other community members and the process of EF result production has been an important part of ‘community buy-in’. The Green-School Committee together with the author have produced an annual community-based EF report in response to the EF data. The EF report provides a broad vision, and identifies opportunities to support and inform learning for sustainability within the community. These identified opportunities have used various forms of media to divert individual lifestyle patterns and behavior within the community, onto more sustainable trajectories.The EF report specifically informs a school Carbon Awareness Campaign (CAC) which will include school environmental workshops, class room EF appraisal, class room art and slogan competitions, prize giving ceremony, posters and community outreach information. This process from questionnaire to EF report and CAC has taken place once each year for 3 years so far. Future Work Repetition of EF, EF report and EAC for the 2007/2008 school year. Further analysis of car transport and waste component reductions. ERB assessment improvement to include sufficiency or curtailment options. Investigating other factors which may have reduced the EF within this community over the three year period concerned. GIS will be applied to the EF data of the community to enhance understanding and enable visual representation to all project-stakeholders. Development of website enabling further engagement of community stakeholders. Functionality will include personal EF monitoring and personal information designed to improve sustainability of residents lifestyles. Focus Group assessing potential improvements to the quality of life of local residents Establishment of an Environmental Charter housed within the school. Completion Survey assessing residents views as to the impact of the study. The survey will also address belief, value, attitude and behaviour assessment. An aim to better understand the individual and social psychology of ERB will include examinations of Social Capital Theory, Diffusion Theory, Theory of Planned Behaviour, Reactance Theory, New Ecological Paradigm and Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour within this studies results. Results The average EF of each Ballina resident in global hectares is presented in table 1 over a three year period. The Home Energy use column represents the land mass required to sequester the carbon dioxide produced as a result of energy use in the home. The EF of the average resident has reduced between the time of the first survey (school year 2004/5) and that of the 2006/7 EF survey by some 14%. The reduction in home energy use over the same period is 13%. Reduction of other components of the EF, including waste and car transport, were also found. These will be the subject of future papers. Table 1: Trends in residents average Ecological Footprint and Home Energy Use over a 3 year period. ERB assessment for home energy use included questions on microwave and CFL References Barrett, J., Vallack, H., Jones, A., & Haq, G., 2002. A Material Flow Analysis and Ecological Footprint of York - Technical Report. (York) Stockholm Environment Institute. Ryan, B., 2003, Ecological Footprint Analysis; A Comparison Between A Rural Village And Eco-Village Footprint. MSc Thesis, Dublin Institute of Technology. Birch, B., Wiedmann, T., Barrett, J. and Simmons,C., 2004, Ecological Footprint of North Lincolnshireand North East Lincolnshire, Stockholm Environment Institute – York. Venetoulis, J. Chazan, D. and Gaudet, C, 2004, Footprint of Nations: Sustainability Indicators Program. RDP, Oakland, California. Foley, W. 2006. Appraisal of the sustainability of Irish settlements using metabolism and material flow modelling. Unpublished thesis, College of Science, University of Limerick. This project is being undertaken as part of the IRCSET’s research programme entitled Government of Ireland Research Sckolarships in Science, Engineering and Technology, 2000-2006. The programme is financed by the Irish government under the National Development Plan.