Process:Carbon Offsets Subcommittee

For a good general background on the issues, see the online interview of Julia Langer by participants in a web interview, posted by the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation): http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourinterview/2008/01/post_2.html

SET ONE: What is green design? In what ways is green design a form of sustainability?  How much greenhouse gasses does a green building still emit?

http://citnet.org/wg/energyclimate/default.aspx -- Citizens Network for Sustainable Development

http://www.planning.org/policyguides/sustainability.htm -- American Planning Association, Sustainability

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Laboratory/PlanetEarthScience/
GlobalWarming /GW_Movie4.html -- NASA Earth Observatory: Global Warming – Human Activities and Carbon Dioxide, Movie

http://green.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/wind-power-interactive.html?nav=FEATURES -- National Geographic, Global Warming Solutions

http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/  -- American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment

http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org/html/solutions.php -- ACUPCC Green Solutions

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/beyondwaste/p_gbIntro.html -- Green Building in Washington State

http://www.hopewellproject.org/pages/rd.html -- Solar home in NJ

http://www.aboutlightingcontrols.org/education/papers/greendesign.shtml -- Lighting Controls Association, Sensors

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:y59ySmJcwToJ:
apps.carleton.edu/curricular/ents/assets/Carleton_GHG_
emissions_inventory.pdf+How+much+green+house+gasses+ does+a+green+building+still+emit%3F&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6
&gl=us&client=safari -- Green House Gas Emissions at Carleton College, 2005 Study

http://www.plantemoran.com/Industries/RealEstateConstruction/Construction/
Resources/Real+Estate+Construction+Advisor/2007+Summer+Issue/ -- Being Green: It’s Easy (and Profitable) After All!  Plante & Moran Network

http://ecobuilding.org/green_building/fact_sheets  --Seattle Public Utilities' Green Home Remodel series PDF files

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2005/dec/23/
frontpagenews.climatechange -- Guardian, Tree-planting projects may not be so green

http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/ -- Calculate Your Carbon Impact

SET TWO: What is LEED, what are its main considerations and how are they important to offsetting carbon?  Do some carbon offsetting companies match more of the 69 LEED points than others?  Do offset companies qualify for status in any way that can be validated?

http://chapters.usgbc.org/newjersey/ -- US Green Building Council, NJ Chapter

http://theclimategroup.org/index.php/news_and_events/news_and_comment/
top_ten_tips_for_purchasing_carbon_offsets/ -- The Climate Group News and Comment, How to Choose Carbon Offsets

http://www.greenbuildingrutgers.us/calendar.asp?Level2ItemID=28 -- Rutgers Center for Green Building Seminar Calendar

http://www.v-c-s.org/validators.html -- Voluntary Carbon Standard (page in progress as of 1/31/08)

SET THREE: Compare a present day (non-green) building on campus with an environmentally designed building

http://www.greenbuildingrutgers.us/resources.asp?Level2ItemID=43-- Rutgers Center for Green Building, Resources

http://www.cofc.edu/sustainability/greenbuilding.htm-- Implementing Green Building Technology: Utilizing a College of Charleston Historic Building as a Model for the College and Charleston Communities

SET FOUR: Prepare a green design plan and check list for a new building on campus and retrofit for an existing building.  Calculate approximately how much greenhouse gasses are still being output, and choose a method to offset the pollution.

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/greenbuilding/  -- Scottsdale, AZ Green Building Program

http://www.yourhomeplanet.com/ecolodgical/index_design.php?
content_number=219  -- Ecological Renovations

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1221337/experts_discuss_
climate_change_at_ ursinus_college/index.html?source=r_science – Ursinus Seminar with Presidents’ Climate Committee

http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/  -- Calculate emissions 

SET FIVE: Use your information, including appropriate terms, from working on the previous four sets of questions.  Explain the ways that impacts of necessary activities can be offset.  What are the highest priorities?  What can be done easily?  Which offset methods do you think have the greatest long-term benefits?