Social Context (Trans)

This Engineering Studies capstone project looked to significantly reduce carbon emissions from Lafayette College’s transportation sector. This project is informed and given shaped by several social contexts that have affected our decision-making and affect the success of this initiative. The first of which and the most pertinent being climate change.

  

Edmond Mathez, similar to many other researchers, argues that the Earth’s steadily rising climate and the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases are a direct consequence of burning fossil fuels. Furthermore, he states that the research is overwhelming that this accumulation of greenhouse gases is the cause of warming. “These statements are the facts of climate change.” (Mathez & Smerdon, 2018). Earth’s rising climate and the negative implications it has on the Earth’s ecosystem has catalyzed the global initiative to reverse these effects. This global initiative can be seen in the creation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The official website for the IPCC, reports “The IPCC was created to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation options” (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). The IPCC has budgeted about 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming before the effects of climate change are irreversible, listing an increased frequency and magnitude of floods and droughts and “risks of local species losses and, consequently, risks of extinction are much less in a 1.5°C versus a 2°C warmer world.” as potential consequences of exceeding that budget. (Summary for Policymakers, 2018)

 

In addition to calculating and mitigating risks, the IPCC also provides ways to prevent these consequences. The Panel finds the key to limiting warming and staying within this budget lies within greenhouse gas emissions, “Limiting warming to 1.5°C depends on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission over the next decades, where lower GHG emissions in 2030 lead to a higher chance of keeping peak warming to 1.5°C.” (Summary for Policymakers, 2018). This finding supports the gradual transition to vehicles that use alternative fueling methods from those that use fossil fuels. 

 

The world started to seriously consider when automakers, including General Motors, began exploring options for alternative fuel vehicles in 1973. Sebring Vanguard’s CitiCar, the only successful electric car at the time, had a range of only fifty to sixty miles. Despite this advancement, interest in electric vehicles subsided until 1992, when new federal and state regulations created a “renewed interest in electric vehicles.” As a result, Toyota designed and released the first hybrid to be mass-produced, the Prius in 2000 for around $20,000. For context, $20,000 in January 2000 has the saying buying power as about $30,000 today. (“Timeline: History of the Electric Car”) While the vehicle had good reviews, the price of the vehicle posed some concerns around consumers. One may assume that many did not see the benefit of purchasing an electric car when a gasoline-powered car serves the same purpose and has lower costs. However, in 2013, as concerns of climate change became more prevalent and the United States government, specifically the Department of Energy, began to make investments, the cost of the battery dropped by 50 percent in four years. (“Timeline: History of the Electric Car”) The battery is generally the most expensive part of an electric vehicle and this price drop allowed for more affordable electric vehicles. As of today, there are 23 plug-in electric vehicles and 36 hybrid models available for purchase. Furthermore, according to energy.gov, if all light-duty vehicles in the United States transition to an electric alternative, we could lower carbon pollution from the transportation sector by as much as 20 percent. (“Timeline: History of the Electric Car”) 

 

Lafayette College is committed to sustainable solutions and promoting a sustainable lifestyle. In 2011, the College enacted the Climate Action Plan that worked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving ride-sharing systems, implementing GPS tracking on Lafayette shuttles, allowing student users to track Lafayette shuttle services on, and around, College Hill, organizing a Student Government transportation subcommittee, and introducing a U-Haul carshare program. While implementing these programs were steps taken in the right direction, Lafayette College decision-makers recognized how much has changed since the implementation of this Plan in 2011 and realized the opportunity that Lafayette had to do more. As a result, Lafayette College published the Climate Action Plan 2.0 in 2019, which offers detailed and active methods to achieve the College’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2035. According to Lafayette College’s Climate Action Plan 2.0, “The campus can reduce transportation emissions through behavior changes, fuel-switching, increased vehicle efficiency, and carbon offsets. Each emissions source will be addressed through appropriate strategies” (Lafayette College of Sustainability, 2019). 

 

The price of electric vehicles has significantly dropped since the mass production of the Prius in 2000. According to Kelley’s Blue Book, a new 2019 Toyota Prius starts at $24,700, which is about $6,000 less than the adjusted $30,000 cost of the 2000 Prius. This price drop makes Lafayette’s transition to an all-electric fleet more feasible. Historically, almost all of Lafayette College’s transportation fleet has consisted of vehicles powered by fossil fuels and emit carbon. One can conclude that the availability of a more affordable electric vehicle, along with the global initiative to limit carbon emissions, has allowed Lafayette College this opportunity to address its contributions to carbon emissions in this way. 

 

Additionally, Lafayette College underlines its commitment to sustainability on campus and fostering a community committed to sustainable living when advertising to potential students. However, many initiatives geared towards sustainable living are not as noticeable as you walk across the Lafayette campus. One of Lafayette’s most marketable attractions, LaFarm, is located off-campus at the Metzgar Fields Complex. The initiatives that are easily seen, such as an increase in the number of mixed recycling bins on campus and the implementation of initiatives similar to Green Move-Out, do not stand out as something that separates Lafayette from other institutions. It would behoove Lafayette College decision-makers to consider our proposal as an opportunity to achieve their goal of carbon neutrality, as well as an illustration of their commitment to sustainable living. 

 

Several colleges in the United States have implemented the use of electric vehicles or a solar canopy on campus. In 2016, Colorado State University has obtained four new Nissan LEAFs for use around campus.  Two of these electric vehicles can be checked out by Housing and Dining Services staff to attend meetings, run University errands, or complete deliveries. The other two electric vehicles are intended for use by Facilities Management staff to travel between the three parts of campus and attend meetings. (Miyamoto, 2017)  The Colorado State University Nissan Leafs can be found in Image 1, below.  

According to Mass Transit Magazine, the University of California, Irvine (UCI) is the first college in the nation to have converted to an all-electric bus fleet. In 2017, UCI acquired twenty electric buses in hopes of achieving their goal of emitting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from buildings and vehicles by 2025. (Motors, 2017)

 

While Lafayette College is not looking to mimic these initiatives from Colorado State University and UCI completely, it shows that colleges around the United States are already undergoing transitions to create a more sustainable campus. In order for Lafayette College to continue marketing a culture of sustainability on campus, entities of this culture must be more visible as they are at UCI and Colorado State University.  Furthermore, these other projects show that a fleet consisting of electric vehicles is not a completely foreign idea, and can also serve as a reference to Lafayette College in trying to complete our proposed project.  

 

We also recognize the regular concern with electric vehicles is that using electricity from the grid as a means to charge these vehicles is still contributing to carbon emissions, Therefore, simply transitioning to an all-electric fleet limits us in pursuing carbon neutrality. This is why we propose utilizing renewable energy, such as solar energy, to power the new electric fleet will have greater contributions to the College’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Lafayette’s transportation sector.  

 

Additionally, we must acknowledge Lafayette’s split campus. Lafayette College owns and utilizes the Downtown Williams Arts Campus and Metzgar Fields in Forks Township. While they are considered crucial parts of the Lafayette College identity, these facilities are considerably separated from Lafayette’s main campus. Metzgar, itself, is not within walking distance and the only direct route from the main campus to the Arts campus is a set of steep and dangerous steps that pose a danger to students trying to use them, especially when it begins to snow. As a result, Lafayette College has implemented public transportation systems to transport students between these facilities and the main campus. We are confident that our proposal will not only align with the Climate Action 2.0, but also align with the sentiment of the Lafayette College’s master plan, strengthening the identity of the campus. (Lafayette College Master Plan, 2009)

 

Nationally, the transportation sector only accounts for about 29 percent of total United States greenhouse gas emissions. (“Carbon Pollution from Transportation”, 2019) At Lafayette College, only three percent of the College’s total emissions are contributed to the transportation sector. (Lafayette College Office of Sustainability, 2019) This figure stems from emissions coming from Lafayette College-owned vehicles. It does not take into account emissions from commuters, student/faculty vehicles, or transportation to, and from, study abroad programs. This is an important distinction to recognize, as it altered our approach to this project. When first investigating the problem on campus and the actions that we wanted to implement, we had to consider the initial scope of the project. We found we did not have sufficient time to attempt to mitigate student driving habits and the emissions used when traveling to study abroad programs. As a result, decided to redirect the scope of our project to align with that of the Climate Action 2.0, which is solely addressing greenhouse gas emissions from the Lafayette College transportation fleet. However, we are hopeful that a more visible effort on campus will encourage students to be mindful of their carbon footprint, specifically how it is affected by their driving tendencies. 

The next section that we will discuss is the  Political Context.