Now we will consider Arizona State University offsetting. Is there enough open s
ID: 510992 • Letter: N
Question
Now we will consider Arizona State University offsetting. Is there enough open space on the Arizona State University main campus to offset the fossil fuel CO_2 emissions (direct energy and electricity) with your fast-growing trees? If there isn't enough space, how much more is needed? Some key factoids: Main campus is Tilde 642 acres Assume that 30% is open space (not covered by building) Main campus emits Tilde 68,000 metric tons of carbon per year There are 2.47 acres per hectare Area of Tempe is 40 square milesExplanation / Answer
68000 metric tons of carbon is emitted
C + O2 ------> CO2
It can be seen that 12 gm (1 mole) of Carbon yields 44 grams of CO2(1 mole)
Therefore, 68000 metric tons of Carbon emitted yields = 68000*44/12 = 249333.333 metric tons per year = 249333.333 x 1000 kg per year = 249333333 kg/year
A single newly planted tree is capable to absorb 12 kg of CO2 per year. So to absorb 249333.333 metric tons i.e. (249333333 kg) per year, the number of trees required = 249333333/12 = 20777778 trees.
Area of campus = 642 acres
Percentage of open space = 30% of total area
Area of open space = 0.3* 642 acres = 192.6 acres
Number of trees required to be planted per acre of open space in University = 20777778/192.6 = 107880 trees Planting 107880 trees per acres is not possible with any combination of tree spacing and it has been estimated that on an average the number of trees that can be grown per acre is 700 (approximately)
Assuming that 700 trees can be grown per acre, area of land required to grow 20777778 trees = 20777778/700 = 29682.54 acres
29682.54.54 acres = 29682.54/2.47 = 12017.22 hectares.
12017.2 hectares = 12017.22/259 = 46.4 square miles
a) To grow trees which are enough to offset the CO2 emissions of Arizone State University , the open space on the Arizone State University main campus is not enough
b) Total of 46.4 square miles (29682.54 acres) of open space is required which is 1.16 times the area of tempe.
Area of open space in university = 192.6 acres
Extra space required = 29682.54 - 192.6 = 29489.94 acres
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