Data and Resources on Various Sustainability Issues
(Work in progress!)
DATA
Global Oil Production (Peak Oil)
CO2 and Temperature
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/futuretc.html
Projected Temperature Increase (IPCC)
Sea Level Rise
Carbon Footprint
of Food
http://ewg.org/meateatersguide/eat-smart/
National Happiness vs. GDP per capita
http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2008/03/income-and-happ.html
Happiness vs. Income in the US
http://www.wealthinformatics.com/2011/09/19/can-money-buy-happiness/
Maryland’s Genuine Progress Indicatorhttp://www.green.maryland.gov/mdgpi/
Chesapeake Bay Oyster Harvest
http://dels-old.nas.edu/oceans/marine_ecosystems_part_2.shtml
Extent of Fishing Operations
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-end-of-fish-in-one-chart/2012/05/19/gIQAgcIBbU_blog.html
STUDENT-PRODUCED DATA THAT HAVE INFLUENCED CAMPUS POLICY AND OPERATIONS
Lifecycle Assessment of the UM's Use of Copy PaperActual 2010 Impacts Impacts if Min. 30% PCC Impacts if All 100% PCC
Greenhouse Gases 1,745,427 lbs CO2-e. 9% decrease 38% decrease
Solid Waste 570,470 pounds 8% decrease 34% decrease
Wastewater 6,460,632 gallons 11% decrease 49% decrease
Net Energy 9,094 million BTU's 6% decrease 24% decrease
Wood Use 985 tons 23% decrease 100% decrease
Financial Cost $468,704$28,554 increase* $29,593 decrease**
$209,678 increase* $42,014
increase**
* Using average prices from FY 2010 purchases
** If all copy paper were purchased at the lowest price available
Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Defense Fund Paper Calculator.
By switching to copy paper made with 100% recycled post-consumer content, the University of Maryland will:
Save 6,897 trees from being cut downPrevent 655,755 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to taking 60 cars off the roadKeep 7 truckloads of solid waste out of the landfillConserve enough energy to power 24 homes Prevent more than 3 million gallons (5 swimming pools) of wastewater sludge
Assuming the University of Maryland purchases approximately 30,000 traditional cotton T-shirts per year, the environmental impact of those purchases is roughly equal to:•264,000 pounds of GHG emissions •29,700 pounds of solid waste •21,384,000 gallons of water •9,900 pounds of chemical fertilizer
RESOURCES
Northwest Earth Institute Books
http://www.nwei.org/