Journal of Environmental Biology

Estimation of carbon footprint in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

C.G. Karishma¹*, S.V.Kottiswaran², A. Balasubramanian³ and B. Kannan¹ 

¹Soil & Water Conservation Engineering, Agricultural Engineering Collage & Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore-641 003, India

²Agricultural Engineering Collage & Research Institute, TNAU, Coimbatore-641 003, India

³Department of Silviculture, Forest College and Research Institute (FC&RI), Mettupalayam-641 301, India

*Corresponding Author Email : karishmaswce@gmail.com

Received: 24.12.2020                                                                Revised: 24.02.2021                                                    Accepted: 23.03.2021

Abstract

Aim: A study was conducted in the Eastern block of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to estimate the carbon footprint from various sources comprising of transport, human population, diesel generator and electricity use.

Methodology: The data were collected based on the questionnaire developed. Empirical equations were used for computation and data were statistically analysed.

Results: Carbon footprint analysis in the selected buildings revealed that, the equivalent carbon emission from power, diesel generators, human population and transport were 291, 14.17, 78.72 and 36.43 tonnes per year, respectively. It was inferred that emission from power use was greater in comparison with emission from transport, human population and dieselgenerators.      

Interpretation: For a diversified source of emission in a university, reduction in anthropogenic emissions can be achieved by increasing the capacity of carbon sinks, i.e., through carbon sequestration and switching to low-carbon energy sources.       

Key words: Climate change, Carbon footprint, Carbon sink, Low-carbon energy sources

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