One of the main objectives of this CAP is to identify and reduce HHS’s contributions to global GHG emissions. Measuring GHG emissions is a critical first step in developing the CAP for several reasons. First, the GHG inventory identifies major sources and quantities of GHG emissions associated with the activities and choices currently made by HHS, its staff, and its students. Second, the inventory provides the baseline that is used to forecast emission trends and to develop an accurate near-term emissions reduction target consistent with State objectives. Finally, the inventory sets the baseline for HHS to develop, evaluate, and implement measures to achieve its GHG reduction targets. The GHG emissions inventory focuses on direct activities that occur within the physical boundaries of HHS (e.g., electricity, gas, wood, and water consumption in the building), the surrounding region associated with HHS’s operation (e.g., student and staff commute, school bus use), and other off-site activities such as disposal of solid waste or treatment of water or wastewater. GHG emissions from the 2015-16 school year were prepared for HHS’s operations. The 2015-16 school year inventory shows that HHS’s operations generated 3,221 metric tons of CO2e (MTCO2e). HHS’s GHG inventory is broken down into the following seven sectors:
- Building Energy Use: The building energy sector emissions include GHG emissions generated from electricity consumption, wood burning, and fossil fuel consumption at HHS. The GHG emissions are split into anthropogenic and biogenic sources. Anthropogenic CO2 comes from human actions in which fossil fuels are burned. This carbon is part of the long-term carbon cycle. When humans burn fossil fuels, the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere increases which contributes to climate change (J.M.K.C. Donev et al. 2016). The carbon atoms in biogenic CO2 are in a short-term carbon cycle. Biogenic CO2 is released by the combustion or decomposition of natural and organic matter (Envirotech 2021). In this CAP, the anthropogenic carbon emissions have been separated from the biogenic carbon emissions that come from burning wood chips for building heating. This breakdown is shown below in Table 1.
- Employee Commute: Employee-generated GHG emissions associated with gasoline, diesel, or other fossil fuel consumption from vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled during employee commute.
- Student Commute: Student-generated GHG emissions associated with gasoline, diesel, or other fossil fuel consumption from vehicle trips and vehicle miles traveled during student commute.
- School Buses: School bus-generated GHG emissions associated with diesel consumption from school bus routes.
-
Solid Waste Generation: Solid waste sector emissions include the methane emissions from the decomposition of waste generated by staff and students at the Lebanon Landfill.
-
Wastewater Generation: Wastewater treatment results in GHG emissions associated with the electricity consumed during treatment, as well as fugitive methane emissions resulting from the treatment process for wastewater.
-
Water Consumption: Water-related GHG emissions are associated with the energy and fuel used to convey, distribute, and treat water used at HHS.
