Comments on: Welcoming the Carbon-Neutral Class http://sites.middlebury.edu/middmag/2012/09/17/welcoming-the-carbon-neutral-class/ Fri, 24 May 2013 14:42:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Tom mac http://sites.middlebury.edu/middmag/2012/09/17/welcoming-the-carbon-neutral-class/#comment-129541 Tom mac Tue, 09 Apr 2013 06:21:00 +0000 http://sites.middlebury.edu/middmag/?p=9644#comment-129541 Thanks for the creative education/ motivation video!
I am impressed by the heating biomass and efficiency solar initiatives
Fantastic!

I am intrigued by commute to and from the beautiful yet remote campus of
Middlebury.

I had though it must be a ton of gas that Is used.

I did back of the envelope calculation:

1 gallon of gas when burned releases 20 lb CO2.

Assume only 2000 students coming back from Spring break, and 1/2 are sharing a ride so 1,000 cars
Assume average 1way commute is 150 miles
Assume 25 mpg

6 gallons per car, 20 ponds CO2 per gallon = 120 pounds CO2 per car x 1000 cars = 120,000 lbs CO2
Double that to get home =240,000 lbs CO2 or 120 tons

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September November December January March May = 720 tons CO2 to transport 2000 students

Please check my math and assumptions; many take bus, some commute much shorter, others have more ful efficient cars, etc. the point is it literally is hundreds of tons of CO2.

One possible solution is to promote alternative vehicles like EV and grease cars for those who have grease ready diesel cars! Maybe set up a ‘grease station’?!

Wesleyan university has solar car port units parking lot with 240 Vot EV charger : commuters are driving on sunshine!

http://www.wesleyan.edu/athletics/news/2012/02/solarpanelribboncutting020312.html

As an EV driver I would like to see Middlebury add cheap trickle charge 120 volt outlets to some parking spots, maybe even 1-2 240 fast chargers as well.

Of course we all would love a Tesla EV that has 250 mile range!!

Tom
Middlebury parent

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]]> By: Bill Eggering, MA, '74, German http://sites.middlebury.edu/middmag/2012/09/17/welcoming-the-carbon-neutral-class/#comment-43112 Bill Eggering, MA, '74, German Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:35:11 +0000 http://sites.middlebury.edu/middmag/?p=9644#comment-43112 If anyone can make it happen, you folks at Middlebury can! I applaud your efforts and wish I were there to help!
Keep up the innovation and good works!
Bill E

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