CARBON REDUCTION CHALLENGE


Follow the 2015 Challenge
See the 2013 Challenge results
See the 2012 Challenge results


Concept:

The Carbon Reduction Challenge (CRC) is a competition for student groups to reduce carbon footprints as part of a class project for EAS 2803: Energy, the Environment, and Society. Teams of 3-4 students must design and implement a strategy to achieve significant, quantifiable CO2 reductions from March 1 through April 30. The students work through multiple drafts of their plan, with ample feedback from Prof. Cobb. CRC results are presented in a public poster session during finals week. The prize for the winning team includes a trip to Washington DC to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, led by Prof. Cobb and funded by the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.



CRC Plans must:

  1. offset/avoid at least 20,000 lbs of CO2 emissions each
  2. prove additionality (that the change would not have happened without their intervention)
  3. cost nothing (although business donations are accepted)
  4. provide a mechanism for quantifying the CO2 reductions using primary data


Overall Class Accomplishments, by Year:



2013 Accomplishments:

  • >300,000 lbs CO2 reductions achieved
  • ~$3,000 saved in energy costs to RBC, Inc. and IBM
  • winning project involved waste recycling (including wooden pallets and plastic drums) at RBC Inc., a medium-sized manufacturing plant in Hartsville, SC


2012 Accomplishments:

  • >160,000lbs CO2 emissions averted
  • $8000 of energy savings
  • Winning team (pictured on Capitol Hill, from left: Mary Shoemaker, Tyler Folse, Mitch Blenden, and James Barazesh): averted 100,000lbs CO2 through BP lighting project


2010 Accomplishments:

  • >60,000 lbs CO2 reductions achieved
  • ~$2,500 saved in energy costs to Georgia Tech
  • Winning team (Sam Whited, Spencer Vore, Abby King, and Chelsea Datko featured in photo at left in DC) lowered boiler set point at the Fulmer steam plant, saving over 5,000 lbs of CO2 in ten days
  • Most GT-level CRC efficiency measures will be permanently implemented


2008 Accomplishments:

  • >40,000 lbs CO2 reductions achieved
  • ~$2,000 saved in energy costs to Georgia Tech
  • Winning project to turn off stadium lighting (~25,000 lbs CO2 reduced in one week) resulted in the installation of solar breakers in stadium later in 2008