User:Untoff/sandbox

The University of North Texas prides itself on being the “Mean Green” campus. Unfortunately, UNT doesn’t live up to the green hype! Currently, this supposedly green university receives about 50% of its energy from a coal-fired power plant.

In addition to electricity, UNT purchased 227,168 MCF (metric cubic feet) of natural gas in FY 2010. The university uses natural gas to fuel 82 operational boilers on campus to heat buildings.

A major component of UNT’s carbon footprint revolves around the use of fossil fuel powered energy. In FY 2010, UNT used 62,206,868 kWh of electricity from fossil fuels and 227,168 MCF of natural gas. Combined, this energy consumption produced 61,650 MT of CO2. This equates to burning of 27,039 metric tons of coal, enough to power 4,752 homes for an entire year.

Luckily, students from UNT care about the use of dirty energy to power some light bulbs. Since fall 2010, several student organizations have worked tirelessly to get President Rawlins to commit move the university off fossil fuels by 2015. Students presented 4,000 petitions, delivered 500 hand-written letters, hosted rallies, Student Government Association passed a resolution for clean energy, showed documentaries, and worked with environmental scientists.

The University Office of Sustainability and Council of Sustainability, with the help of student pressure, conducted a Fossil Fuel Feasibility Study. The study proved that switching to clean energy would be pretty cheap. Only $9 per student per year by purchasing 100% wind energy through Denton Municipal electric. Still, President “Stalling” Rawlins has refused to commit. To this day, a group known as: UNT OFF Fossil Fuels works year-round to pressure the administration to care about the health and care of its students.

https://sustainable.unt.edu/2011-fossil-fuel-study-chapter-one-0

https://sustainable.unt.edu/2011-fossil-fuel-study-chapter-three