Low carbon lifestyles in Educational Institutions

Conduct An Energy Audit

1. Switch to energy efficient lighting
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 1641 - 1876 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 1641-1876 kg is equivalent to 164-187 additional trees
• Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 17017 - 19448

Become more Energy Efficient

1. Don't let your computer workstation idle between classes. Set it to sleep mode once you finish your class
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 811 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 811 kg is equivalent to 81 additional trees
• Reduce annual electricity bill by Rs 8400
2. Power off the computer workstations at the plug point at the end of the day
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 282 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 282 kg is equivalent to 28 additional trees
• Reduce annual electricity bill by Rs 2920
3. Turn off lights and fans when you go out of the classroom
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 3143 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 3143 kg is equivalent to 314 additional trees
• Reduce annual electricity bill by Rs 32580
4. Install solar photovoltaic panels to take care of part of your electricity needs
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 5051 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 5051 kg is equivalent to 505 additional trees
• Reduce annual electricity bills by Rs 52360

Conserve Water

1. Conduct a water audit.
• Conserve 10000 l per day
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 1474 - 3718 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 1474-3718 kg is equivalent to 147-371 additional trees

Manage Wastes

1. If you have a canteen or kitchen, start a food waste composting activity
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 10604 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 10604 kg is equivalent to 1060 additional trees
2. Start an Aluminium can collection campaign
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 2534 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 2534 kg is equivalent to 253 additional trees.

Conserve Fuel

1. Conduct a transport audit. Identify safe and energy efficient transport options.
• Use transport provided by the school
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 24565 kg if a bus replaces 50 cars
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 24565 kg, if a bus replaces 50 cars, is equivalent to 2456 additional trees
2. If you cannot take a school bus, try to car-pool
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 1112 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 1112 kg, if a car transports 3 students, is equivalent to 111 additional trees
3. Walk / cycle to school if you live less than a km away
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 111 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 111 kg is equivalent to 11 additional trees

Do not Waste Paper

1. Collect unused sheets from old notebooks to make new ones
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 750 kg
2. Reduce the use of fresh chart paper
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 150 kg
3. Send paper for recycling instead of disposing it in garbage
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 2700 kg
4. Maintain your textbooks well and hand them down to juniors.
• Reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 11250 kg
• Annual CO₂ emission reduction of 150 - 11250 kg is equivalent to 15-1125 additional trees

Source : Toolkit on Low Carbon Lifestyles