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Final Project for UNVS 196D (Climate Solutions Initiatives) Fall 2008 Section Instructor:

Final Project for UNVS 196D (Climate Solutions Initiatives) Fall 2008 Section Instructor: Prof. J. Rhee (Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering) Student Team: Mike Alvarado (Anthropology, College of Social Sciences)

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Final Project for UNVS 196D (Climate Solutions Initiatives) Fall 2008 Section Instructor:

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  1. Final Project for UNVS 196D (Climate Solutions Initiatives) Fall 2008 Section Instructor: Prof. J. Rhee (Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering) Student Team: Mike Alvarado (Anthropology, College of Social Sciences) Shabnam Khan (Accounting and Information Systems, College of Business) Jonathan Sandhu (Political Science, College of Social Sciences) Shelby Troxell (Marketing, College of Business) TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE EVALUATION OF BARREN LAND USE(informed by case study of Silver Creek Country Club)

  2. STRATEGIC QUESTIONS If barren land were forested, how much carbon is absorbed? What benefits does forestation offer? Could vineyards reduce atmospheric carbon while turning a profit? How much carbon emitted by conventional power plants could be offset by solar PV installed on barren land?

  3. TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE • PEOPLE Social advancement • PLANET Balance ecosystem • PROFIT Profitable operation

  4. CARBON SEQUESTRATION Potential environmental effects • Forest Reduce GHG emission Increase C storage Substitute bio-based fuel for fossil fuel • Vineyards Greater C sequester due to greater amount of root and biomass • Solar energy Substitute coal energy Evaluated tracking and non tracking system

  5. FINANCIAL • Forest Low capital cost of $180 to $1,450/acre No revenue • Vineyards Minimum cost $25,000/acre Ave revenue $5,000/acre Replant every 10 yrs • Solar energy $587K per acre initial cost $12K per acre per year revenue 49 year payback with no incentives or rebates  No revenue • Grassland No revenue or cost

  6. SOCIAL ASPECT • Forest Aesthetics and home values No maintenance Recreation • Vineyards Aesthetics Increase home values Social responsibility Community building • Solar energy Lessen impact on power grid Energy independence Greater social awareness

  7. FUTURE WORK • Additional validation of the multiple sources used in these calculations. • Incorporate Lifecycle Costing Analysis (LCCA) • Social networking and community building to fully assess pros and cons • Partner with City for resources and to assess the policy implications • Pilot the alternatives

  8. GLOBAL IMPACT • 1,850 million acres • Carbon sequestration gains • Baseline: 0.7M kg C/yr. • Vineyards: 3.4M kg C/yr. • PV solar: 11T kg C/yr. • Profitable use of “waste” land that helps build sustainable communities

  9. CONCLUSION • Barren are considered wasted space • Substantial carbon sequestration benefits available • Measureable increase in sustainability • Definitive recommendations require further study

  10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • Ed Davalle and Bob Moore from the Silver Creek Homeowner’s Association • Professor Eugene Cordero in the College of Science • Ms. Marni Kamzan of REC Solar • Mr. Jim Zito, Chairman, City of San Jose Planning Commission

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