Document Type
Paper
Abstract
On 6 December 2017, then-president Michael Le Roy signed the President’s Climate Commitment, which committed Calvin University to carbon neutrality by 2057. Within a global scope, humanity has already emitted approximately 83% of its carbon allowance before causing global warming of 1.5°C. The Paris Climate Accords stated this temperature increase as the point at which humanity’s damage to the planet becomes irreversible. Given this, the year 2057 seemed like a dangerously late date for Calvin to achieve carbon neutrality. These concerns led President Boer to task the students of Engineering 333 with the following question: what earlier year should Calvin University choose for its carbon neutrality date? Groups of three to four students analyzed each of the four parts of the project: funding for projects and improvements, energy efficiency improvements, elimination of fossil fuel electricity consumption, and elimination of fossil fuel heating. Over the course of the semester, these four groups collaboratively analyzed data to determine how quickly Calvin could feasibly reach carbon neutrality. This analysis led the class to propose 2030 as Calvin’s new carbon neutrality date. This date is aggressive, but the students of 2023’s Engineering 333 class believe it is feasible if the proper steps are taken. This report details the class’s suggestions for Calvin to reach carbon neutrality by the year 2030.
Publication Date
12-7-2023
Recommended Citation
Kalsbeek, Owen; Makuvaro, Panashe; Penning, Luke; Gaffner, Caleb; Visser, David; Skaggs, Jared; Langerak, Stephen; Borror, Kyle; Clark, Caleb; Lanning, Michael; Raches, Brayden; Mennega, Sam; DeVries, Seth; VanDusen, Kyle; and White, Hayden, "2023 Fall ENGR333 Section A final report" (2023). ENGR 333. 4.
https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/engr_333/4