Running Head: CARBON INPUT FOR CREATING THE MERIAM LIBRARY

Carbon Input for Creating the Meriam Library

Taylor Weber, Chrissy Hedges, Roxanna Ambriz,
Katelyn Alegria, Destinee Compagno, Zoe Willett-Esparza
California State University, Chico

CARBON INPUT FOR CREATING THE MERIAM LIBRARY

2. Research Topic
Our proposed research topic is to collect the carbon input in Meriam Library on campus.
The idea is to conduct research and collect data on how much carbon input is in the building. We
will conduct this research by collecting data on the possible factors located in the library that
could impact the amount of carbon in the building, like the number of books, desks, electronics,
and more. Eventually with our collective data, we will create and implement a solution in order
to decrease the amount of carbon in the building.
3. Why are we doing this research?
The purpose of this research is to find how much CO2 input went into the Meriam
Library. We will be looking at what it took to build the Meriam building as well as the elements
that make up the library scene. The research were doing is to measure how much CO2 is being
used inside the building with all the resources that the library provides. For example, the CO2 in
the chairs, tables, books, the shelves, computers, and everything else inside the building.
4. Carbon
Carbon is one of the most abundant elements on earth and without it humans wouldnt
exist. Its existence as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is vital as it is an important counterpart in
photosynthesis, a cycle in which oxygen is produced. However, the rapid burning of fossil fuels
has caused its presence in the atmosphere to be too abundant and a massive carbon footprint is
the result. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) affirms the heightened presence in the
atmosphere by research which concluded that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the United
States increased by about 9 percent between 1990 and 2014. This increase in the atmosphere is
causing the earths temperatures to rise, resulting in ruined habitats for many species. Most

CARBON INPUT FOR CREATING THE MERIAM LIBRARY

products require the use of carbon in their manufacturing and a certain degree of CO2 is always
released as a result. The Meriam Library at California State University, Chico is no exception.
Every building has a certain amount of embodied carbon which, refers to the carbon dioxide
emitted during the manufacture, transport and construction of building materials (Danielle
Wynn, 2012). Also, each building has an operational carbon amount, which, includes the
emissions from the heating, cooling, lighting, etc. (Danielle Wynn, 2012) and according to the
American Society of Civil Engineers it takes approximately 20 years for the operational
carbon to match up with that of the embodied carbon. As individual awareness increases so will
our measures in sustainable building methods, however, we are still a ways away.
5. Scope
We are going to conduct our research on the amount of carbon input that it took to create
the Meriam Library at California State University, Chico. In order to measure the carbon that
was required to create the library, were going to look into the various resources in the library.
We will count desks, chairs, doors, windows, computers, machines, and other elements that make
up the library. We will also research the materials that make up the structure of the building.
Additionally, we will look into the effect that books and other wood-based aspects of the library
have had on its sustainability over time. Measuring these aspects of the library will give us a
good idea of the amount of carbon it took to create the library, and it will help us in our attempt
to make the Meriam Library more efficient.
6. Research
Buildings account for 39% of CO2 emissions in the United States (Buildings and Climate
Change,2016). Buildings in the United States alone are responsible for more annual CO2
emissions than any other country with the exception of china. A considerable amount of these

CARBON INPUT FOR CREATING THE MERIAM LIBRARY

emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuels that provide heating, cooling and lighting,
and to power appliances and electrical equipment. Seventy percent of the electricity load in the
U.S is consumed by buildings. The average building has a lifespan of 50 to 100 years. According
to the US Green Building Council, if half of new commercial buildings were built to use 50%
less energy, it would save over 6 million metric tons of CO2 annually for the life of the buildings
the equivalent of taking more than 1 million cars off the road every year. CO2 emissions are
predicted to grow faster than any other sector over the next 25 years. The fastest growth
predicted to be in commercial buildings.

7. Method
Pengs research suggests that, the construction of the building accounts for a high percent
of CO2 emissions of a buildings life cycle. Therefore, we will take in account the materials and
machines used to construct the library into our research. Although there is not much research on
this area, we will have to estimate what materials were used and how much during construction
and come up with an estimate of carbon that went into these materials.
In 2008, the government in Hong Kong had been focusing on creating an economy that
was low-carbon. To do so they released guidelines for commercial and operational industries
designed to measure the carbon footprints including products and services provided. In order to
calculate the amount of carbon that has gone into the California State University, Meriam
Library we will follow these same guidelines. First we will take an inventory of materials such as
electronic devices, books, and materials used to build the structure. The next step will include
analyzing the data that is collected and entering it into a carbon calculator and identify areas of
focus. After agreeing on target areas we will then come up with a carbon strategy that will lower
the amount of carbon going into the Meriam Library.

CARBON INPUT FOR CREATING THE MERIAM LIBRARY

8. Timeline:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Cover Page (ALL GROUP)

Proposed Research Topic (KATELYN)
Purpose: Why are you doing this research? (ROXANNA)
Background: A little bit about Carbon (use citations) (DESTINEE)
Scope (what part are you going to measure and why) (CHRISSY)
Research (What measurements have been done in the past...use citations) (ZOE)
Method (what method will you use, ground this in research) (TAYLOR)
Timeline with group responsibilities (make sure everyone has a job) (ALL

GROUP)
9. Reference Page (include your research for this. (ALL GROUP)
Thursday 9/29: Make sure your section of the paper is complete and ready to be submitted.
Wednesday 10/5: All group members will take inventory of materials in the library.
Wednesday 10/5: Ask faculty about how often materials are replaced.
Thursday 10/6: Group meeting at library to revise research proposal and begin conducting
research. Work on Transportation Audit as well.

References
Buildings and Climate Change (n.d.): n. pag. US. Retrieved from Web. 23 Sept. 2016
Leung, M. K., Leung, D. Y., Chan, A. H., Cheng, D. M., Shek, T., Lam, G. C., . . . Yun, D.
(2010, February).Carbon Audit Toolkit for Small and Medium enterprises in Hong Kong
[PDF]. The University of Hong Kong.
Peng, C. (2016). Calculation of a building's life cycle carbon emissions based on Ecotect and
building information modeling. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 453-465.
doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.08.078

CARBON INPUT FOR CREATING THE MERIAM LIBRARY

Raebel, Christopher H. "Embodied Carbon in Structures." (ASCE). American Society of Civil

Engineers, Mar. 2015. Web. 06 Oct. 2016.
Wynn, Danielle. "Embodied Carbon- A Q&A with Sean Lockie." Faithful Gould. N.p., Mar.
2012. Web. 3 Oct. 2016.