Carbon footprint assessment and reduction strategies of a university campus in Turkey

As key institutions and significant energy consumers, universities have a critical responsibility to lead efforts in energy efficiency and renewable energy use to reduce their environmental impact. In this regard, the Gümüşhane University carbon probe has produced the first study that makes it possible to identify the sources of greenhouse gas emissions and provides the opportunity to track, measure, and suggest reduction strategies in the years to come. The carbon footprint of Gümüşhane University from 2017 to 2023 has been calculated and examined in this paper. The IPCC and DEFRA conversion factors served as the foundation for the computations. The results showed that the university's use of natural gas and electricity was responsible for almost all of its carbon emissions. According to the IPCC and DEFRA, the 2017 emissions were 4999.93 and 4667 tCO2e, respectively. Following a move to online instruction in 2020, emissions decreased to 3894 tCO2e under DEFRA and 4365.44 tCO2e under IPCC. However, as campus life resumed its pre-pandemic pace in 2022 and 2023, emissions rose again, surpassing 5252.04 tonnes of CO₂e by 2023 using the IPCC method and 4042 tonnes of CO₂e using the DEFRA method. These results suggest that universities need to focus on their energy consumption patterns in order to reduce their carbon emissions, for example by placing greater emphasis on renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and balanced consumption. The outcomes of this research will act as a guideline not only for Gümüşhane University to help it reach its sustainability goals, but also for other university administrations when formulating effective carbon reduction strategies, and for institutions seeking to measure or benchmark their environmental performance.