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Stem CHPTR 1 3 Revision 1
Stem CHPTR 1 3 Revision 1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Dimiao National High School, a public school with over 700 students, is an
example of a community that can significantly contribute to the carbon footprint. The
significance of the carbon footprint in Dimiao National High School is relevant due to
various factors such as the energy consumption of the school. Identifying the extent of
this consumption means acknowledging the source of such an amount of carbon
footprint in its energy consumption aspect. Energy consumption is directly proportional to
its population. As the population of the school increases, so does its carbon footprint.
Making Dimiao National High School a valuable locale as a stepping stone in filling the
gap between the existing studies of Quantifying the Carbon footprint in a certain locale
and the province of Bohol.
Theoretical Background
The second theory used in this study is the Environmental Kuznets Curve
(EKC) Theory by Simon Kuznets et.al (1950). As viewed by scholars, this theory
posits a relationship between economic development and environmental
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degradation. Initially put forth by economists in the 1990s, this theory suggests
that as countries experience economic growth, their carbon footprint and
environmental pollution increase. However, as per the EKC hypothesis, there
comes a turning point where environmental quality begins to improve as income
rises further. This shift is a result of increased environmental awareness, as well
as the adoption of cleaner technologies and policies. Ultimately, the EKC theory
offers insight into the potential for economic progress to coexist with
environmental sustainability, highlighting the possibility for a reverse relationship
between economic growth and carbon footprints.
adoption. The theory identifies five categories of adopters based on their timing
and willingness to embrace innovation: innovators, early adopters, early majority,
late majority, and laggards. Each group possesses distinct characteristics,
influencing the rate and extent of adoption.
Theoretical Framework
Findings
Conclusion
Action Plan
Definition of Terms
To have a better understanding and shared interpretations of the study,
the following terms are operationally and conceptually defined:
Carbon Footprint. It refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases, primarily
carbon dioxide, emitted directly or indirectly by human activities such as
transportation, energy production, and industrial processes.
It is quantified as the volume of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) emitted over
a specified period, typically measured in metric tons.
Energy Consumption. Energy consumption encompasses all forms of energy
used to perform tasks, produce goods, or sustain activities, including electricity,
natural gas, and other fuels.
It is measured by calculating the total energy usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or
other appropriate units within a specific timeframe, considering both direct and
indirect energy requirements.
Mobile Phones. Mobile phones are handheld electronic devices capable of
communication, computation, and accessing the internet, typically powered by
rechargeable batteries.
This category includes devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and
similar portable electronic gadgets commonly used for educational or personal
purposes.
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Electricity. A form of energy resulting from the flow of electric charge, typically
generated from various sources such as fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, or
renewable sources.
It refers to the electrical power consumed within the school premises for
operating devices and appliances, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) or similar
units.
Population Density. Indicates the concentration of individuals within a defined
geographical area, often expressed as the number of people per square
kilometer or square mile.
It is calculated by dividing the total population of a specific area (such as a
neighborhood or city) by its land area, yielding a numerical value representing
the density of inhabitants.
Quantification. Involves the process of assigning numerical values to abstract
concepts or physical phenomena, enabling precise measurement and analysis.
It involves the usage of statistical methods, mathematical calculations, or other
quantitative techniques to assess and express the magnitude or extent of a
particular phenomenon, enhancing the validity and reliability of the measured
data.
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CHAPTER II
Related Literature
Quantifying Carbon Footprints in various schools has been studied and
assessed by professionals and researchers around the world. Thus, many
literatures and studies that are related to the topic are published. In the pursuit of
knowledge, understanding the existing body of literature is important. The
foundation upon which new ideas are built, the related literature and study serves
as a way of gaining insights, theories, and evidences that can further strengthen
our research study. The knowledge and findings from these existing literatures
and studies highlight the importance of the study as well as their significant
statements.
second and third. The study aimed to assess Universitas Pertamina's carbon
emissions across waste production, electricity usage, and transportation. Data on
transportation were gathered via a survey distributed to university personnel,
encompassing lecturers, students, administrators, and support staff. The focus
on evaluating carbon footprint serves as a foundation for efforts to reduce CO2
emissions and foster a more environmentally friendly campus. Results
highlighted electricity as the primary contributor to carbon footprint.
Understanding and addressing carbon footprint, whether at an institutional or
individual level, are crucial steps towards promoting sustainability and creating
eco-friendly environments.
In line with this, Gamarra et al. (2018), in their literature on energy and
water consumption and the carbon footprint of school buildings in hot climate
conditions, state that energy-efficient methods and sufficient thermal insulation
are typically absent from school buildings located in areas with hot temperatures.
This implies that the hotter the weather, the more energy is needed to cool the
building, leading to higher energy consumption and an increased carbon
footprint. The methodology used was the multi-criteria and holistic approach
offered by life cycle assessment (LCA), following the guidelines of ISO 14040.
With this, they found that schools could reduce the fossil energy demand of the
building in the operating and maintenance phase per student. As a conclusion,
through life cycle assessment in a hot weather situation, impacts are presented
per student and per built gross area in order to compare the impact in both
schools.
On the other hand, Vasan et al., (2014) state that changes in climatic
conditions have increased concern about global warming among government
associations. This implies that as the weather changes, the circumstances of
global warming are anticipated to increase. Organizations use carbon
footprint(CF) analysis methods to identify and quantify the greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions associated with the life cycle stages of their products or
services. Furthermore, they recommended that to address these challenges, they
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The study by Li and Chen (2022) titled "The Impacts of Carbon Emissions
and Energy Consumption on Life Satisfaction: Evidence From China" examines
how Chinese households' life satisfaction during the period 2010 to 2018 was
affected by carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption. Using China
Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data from 25 Chinese provinces from 2010 to
2018, the researchers find that increasing provincial carbon emissions over time
predicts increased household life satisfaction; however, when energy
consumption-related factors are included in the model, the effect of carbon
emissions becomes less significant. Increased home energy consumption can
lead to a proportional improvement in life satisfaction. Furthermore, the findings
show that energy usage is influenced by positional concerns, implying that
having higher electricity and fuel expenditures than their reference group reduces
people's life satisfaction. Thus, the positive association between people's self-
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reported life happiness and carbon emissions could be attributed in part to the
desire for more energy use. Higher energy consumption leads to a higher-carbon
lifestyle because some direct and indirect energy consumption, such as lighting,
heating, cooling, and so on, are major sources of carbon emissions, while these
behaviors facilitate people's daily lives and allow them to achieve greater life
satisfaction.
Cordella et al. (2021) did a study titled "Reducing the carbon footprint of
ICT products through material efficiency strategies: A life cycle analysis of
smartphones". This study uses a life cycle assessment model to estimate the
carbon footprint (CF) of cellphones as well as the life cycle costs (LCC) for
consumers in scenarios where various material efficiency measures are applied
in Europe. Smartphones are replaced every two years, with a reference period of
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4.5 years, resulting in the production and use of 2.25 device units. Old devices
are left idle at home, and communication services are not considered. A Carbon
Footprint of 77.2 kilogram CO2, eq over 4.5 years (equal to 17.2 kg CO 2, eq each
year) was calculated. The carbon footprint is broken down by the life cycle stage:
raw materials and parts contribute the most (62%), followed by device assembly
(16%), distribution (11%), and use. Assembly (+2.7 kg CO 2, eq/year), distribution
(+1.9 kg CO2, eq/year), and device recharging (+1.9 kg CO 2, eq/year) all
contribute to the carbon footprint, but end-of-life recycling reduces it (-0.8 kg CO 2,
eq/year). Measures for adopting such material efficiency strategies are offered,
and the results can help decision-makers understand how to lessen the impact of
smartphones.
According to the study by Ruiz et al., (2021) titled “Life Cycle Inventory
and Carbon Footprint Assessment of Wireless ICT Networks For Six
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Demographic Areas” it is stated that, over the past few decades, the percentage
of people using the Internet has increased rapidly. This study investigates the
carbon footprint of six fictitious networks supplying internet connectivity to
different regions. This investigation utilized a Life Assessment Cycle. The results
showed carbon footprints between 81 and 103 kg CO 2 eq./subscription/year,
equivalent to 1.35 – 1.73 kg CO 2 eq./Gb. Most of this (between 68 and 86%)
corresponds to end-user devices, primarily in the form of embodied emissions.
Operational emissions account for about one-third of the total and derive
primarily from the electricity consumed by end-user devices, and to a lesser
extent by access networks and data centers. To combat this issue, lowering the
embodied carbon footprint of user devices (mobile phones and smartphones)
should be the main goal of a strategy to increase the environmental sustainability
of newly developed ICT networks. This can be accomplished by increasing the
gadgets’ usable life and lowering their carbon footprint.
CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
what, where, when, and how much. This design is most suitable when the
primary objective of the study is to observe and report a specific phenomenon as
it occurs. Given that this study mainly describes and documents the school's
carbon footprint, a descriptive research design is the most suitable.
Research Locale
Research Respondents
Research Instrument
In gathering the necessary data, a 20-question awareness and behavior
questionnaire was given to assess the respondents' understanding of carbon
footprints. This instrument is adapted from the study of Liu, Y. et.al (2021). The
aim of the questions is to assess the level of knowledge of the respondents on
how they are concern and how they behave in terms of Low-Carbon. Each
respondent was given a copy of the questionnaire in the form of a Likert scale,
with 4 as the highest and 1 as the lowest. It is arranged from strongly agree to
strongly disagree, respectively. The researchers also conduct a survey
researcher-made questionnaire to collect information on respondents' viewpoints
on carbon footprints in terms of the hours they spend towrds mobile phone use.
Descriptive Study | 25
respondents derived from mobile device usage, and finally, it precisely calculates
the school's carbon footprint emissions in terms of electricity usage annually. The
data gathered from the respondents in this stage is tabulated, classified, and
assessed accordingly. To have a precise, reliable, and valid representation of the
data collected, the following statistical procedures were used
REFERENCES
Cordella, M., Alfieri, F., & Sanfelix, J. (2021). Reducing the carbon footprint of ICT
products through material efficiency strategies: A life cycle analysis of
smartphones. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 25(2), 448-464.
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?
hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=quantifying+carbon+footprint+
+phone+&btnG=#d=gs_qabs&t=1709618137608&u=%23p%3Di_aBS07M894J
Chen, C., Liu, G., Meng, F., Hao, Y., Zhang, Y., & Casazza, M. (2019). Energy
consumption and carbon footprint accounting of urban and rural residents in
Beijing through Consumer Lifestyle Approach. Ecological Indicators, 98, 575-586.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.11.049
Clabeaux, R., Carbajales-Dale, M., Ladner, D., & Walker T. (2020). Assessing the
carbon footprint of a university campus using a life cycle assessment approach.
Journal of Cleaner Production Vol. 273, 122600
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652620326470
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Filippone, G., Sancho, R., & Labella, S. (2021). Determining the 2019 Carbon Footprint
of a School of Design, Innovation and Technology. Sustainability.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041750
Gamarra, A.R., Istrate, I.R. et al. (2018). Energy and water consumption and carbon
footprint of school buildings in hot climate conditions. Results from life cycle
assessment. Journal of Cleaner Production, 195, 1326-1337. Journal of Cleaner
Descriptive Study | 28
Herth, A., & Blok, K. (2022). Quantifying universities’ direct and indirect carbon
emissions – the case of Delft University of Technology. International Journal of
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Li, J., & Chen, F. (2022, May 4). The Impacts of Carbon Emissions and Energy
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APPENDIX A
March 8, 2024
Greetings!
We hope this letter finds you well. We are students from Grade XII Honesty
taking up General Academic Strand - Science Technology Engineering
Mathematics (GAS-STEM). As a subject requirement for completion, we are
tasked to research quantifying the Carbon Footprint in Dimiao National High
School. This study aims to identify the level of carbon footprint in our school.
For us to achieve and obtain the goal of our research, we are asking for your
permission as the School Principal to let us conduct our study in the school. This
will be beneficial for both students, teachers, and the institution for it will raise
awareness and help the school to have a vision in maintaining sustainability.
We are hoping for your support and kind consideration. Thank You and God
Bless! Have a good day!
Noted By:
Approved By:
To the Respondents,
We, the students of grade 12- Honesty, from the GAS-STEM, are
conducting a study titled “CARBON FOOTPRINT IN DIMIAO NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL’’. This aims to identify the level of awareness of the respondents,
which involves their knowledge about the current state of the environment as well
as their set of values. This will be beneficial for formulating interventions to
reduce the emissions of carbon footprint in the school. We are glad to inform you
that you have been chosen as one of the respondents. Rest assured that the
data gathered from you will be treated and capped with the utmost confidentiality.
Your help as our research respondent means a lot to the researchers. Thank you
and God bless!
Sincerely,
Researchers
________________________________________________________________
CARBON FOOTPRINT SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE
4 3 2 1
Statements
(SA) (A) (D) (SD)
1. I am concerned about low-carbon issues, mainly to
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DIRECTION: This questionnaire asks you to provide the number of hours you
spend on any mobile devices you bring to school. This includes cellphones,
tablets, laptops, earphones, headphones, and other mobile devices not
mentioned. Your input will help us assess the carbon footprint associated with
mobile device usage at school. This is for a research purpose and it will be highly
appreciated if you respond to each item with utmost sincerity. Read each
statement carefully. Please specify the number of mobile devices you bring and
use during school hours, as well as the average time spent using them.
Questions Answer
1. How many mobile devices do you usually bring to school?
2. How many hours do you use the following devices at school? (If Available)
a. Cellphone
b. Tablet
c. Laptop
d. Earphones
e. Bluetooth Speaker
References
Liu, Y., Jin, L., & Su, Y. (2021b). Low-Carbon Awareness and Behaviors: Effects of exposure to climate change
impact photographs. SAGE Open, 11(3), 215824402110314. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211031487