Data and Resources on Various Sustainability Issues

(Work in progress!)

DATA

Global Oil Production (Peak Oil)

CO2 and Temperature

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/futuretc.html

Projected Temperature Increase (IPCC)

Sea Level Rise

Carbon Footprint

of Food

http://ewg.org/meateatersguide/eat-smart/

National Happiness vs. GDP per capita

http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2008/03/income-and-happ.html

Happiness vs. Income in the US

http://www.wealthinformatics.com/2011/09/19/can-money-buy-happiness/

Maryland’s Genuine Progress Indicatorhttp://www.green.maryland.gov/mdgpi/

Chesapeake Bay Oyster Harvest

http://dels-old.nas.edu/oceans/marine_ecosystems_part_2.shtml

Extent of Fishing Operations

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-end-of-fish-in-one-chart/2012/05/19/gIQAgcIBbU_blog.html

STUDENT-PRODUCED DATA THAT HAVE INFLUENCED CAMPUS POLICY AND OPERATIONS

Lifecycle Assessment of the UM's Use of Copy PaperActual 2010 Impacts Impacts if Min. 30% PCC Impacts if All 100% PCC

Greenhouse Gases 1,745,427 lbs CO2-e. 9% decrease 38% decrease

Solid Waste 570,470 pounds 8% decrease 34% decrease

Wastewater 6,460,632 gallons 11% decrease 49% decrease

Net Energy 9,094 million BTU's 6% decrease 24% decrease

Wood Use 985 tons 23% decrease 100% decrease

Financial Cost $468,704$28,554 increase* $29,593 decrease**

$209,678 increase* $42,014

increase**

* Using average prices from FY 2010 purchases

** If all copy paper were purchased at the lowest price available

Environmental impact estimates were made using the Environmental Defense Fund Paper Calculator.

By switching to copy paper made with 100% recycled post-consumer content, the University of Maryland will:

Save 6,897 trees from being cut downPrevent 655,755 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to taking 60 cars off the roadKeep 7 truckloads of solid waste out of the landfillConserve enough energy to power 24 homes Prevent more than 3 million gallons (5 swimming pools) of wastewater sludge

Assuming the University of Maryland purchases approximately 30,000 traditional cotton T-shirts per year, the environmental impact of those purchases is roughly equal to:•264,000 pounds of GHG emissions •29,700 pounds of solid waste •21,384,000 gallons of water •9,900 pounds of chemical fertilizer

RESOURCES

Northwest Earth Institute Books

http://www.nwei.org/