Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Reduction Efficiency Using the Regional Carbon Neutral Model—A Case Study in University Campus, Taiwan

Abstract

A regional carbon neutral model was built to assess the balance of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption by plants and emission by power usage in Tajen University, in the south of Taiwan, in order to test a carbon neutral model on a small-scale carbon neutral effect and its correlation to a large-scale forest carbon neutral effect. The number of plants was measured to estimate the CO2 fixation volume on the Tajen University campus. The results showed that the total CO2 absorption volume by plants was 34,800 tons during a 40-year plant life period on the campus. This absorption capacity was over the baseline of the green building standard in Taiwan, which is 31,800 tons. The plants on the Tajen University campus could absorb approximately 870 tons of CO2 per year. However, this was lower than the estimated yearly CO2 emission volume of 6721 tons which was emitted from power and diesel fuel usage in the campus. In order to reach a balance, it will be necessary to plant more trees and reduce energy usage on the campus in order to increase CO2 absorption, and it will additionally be necessary to implement energy conservation policies to reach the goal of regional carbon neutrality.