Schools Carbon Calculator

“You cannot manage what you do not measure”.

The carbon footprint of a school can be estimated by looking at energy consumption (electricity, oil etc.), waste production (both for landfill and recyclables), travel (miles travelled by bus, car etc.), and water consumption. The Repak Schools carbon calculator will use conversion factors to convert the recorded values into a final figure for CO2 emissions. By calculating this figure, it is easier to try to make changes, in order to reduce the impact the school may be having on climate change. 

The objective is get a base value of CO2, so that this ca nbe the figure that you can work on reducing in future years. This can also be compared with other Irish schools. Before you start to input the data, you will need to gather together the information outlined below. In some cases, estimated values will need to be entered. 

Litter & Waste:

Values for the amount of waste (kg) going to landfill and the amount of waste (paper, plastic, etc.) recycled per week or per year. If the exact weight is not available, then it should be estimated (e.g. by calculating the weight of one bin and multiplying by the number of bins filled per school week or year).

Energy:

The number of kWh of electricity consumed can be worked out by looking at past bills. Similarly, the quantity of gas or oil consumed can be worked out by looking at bills. What kind of changes can be seen in energy consumption during different months of the year? Why?
(Note. If some or all of the school’s electricity comes from a renewable energy source, such as hydro power or solar power, then this is exempt from your calculation)

Transport:

To calculate CO2 emissions as a result of transport, you will need to get information on the distance both staff and students travel to and from work and the mode of transportation they use.  For relatively small schools, you may be able to obtain this information from each staff member directly, and from students perhaps with the help of the parents by using a questionnaire or similar.  For larger schools, perhaps each class can make it a project to work out the average distances travelled for their own class. Do the modes of transport vary depending on the weather? Is it possible to estimate yearly values for miles travelled?

Water:

It is difficult to calculate CO2 emissions as a result of water consumption, as a school may rely on a public water supply, a group scheme, or even a well. In order to give a value for CO2 emissions per litre of water consumed, an estimated conversion value is provided. What you need to provide is a figure for the number of litres consumed by the school. Most schools should have a water meter that can provide this information. Any schools that do not yet have a meter may have to estimate or leave this section out for now.

In summary, while CO2 production can be looked at as an overall value per year/month etc., it is easy to then convert this figure to CO2 per student in school and/or per m2 of school buildings.  In this way it will be easier to make comparisons between different schools, or between different years in the same school where changes in student numbers or school size has taken place.

To try the schools carbon calculator developed by Repak click here