The University of Hawaii at Manoa has signed an agreement with The Climate Registry to voluntarily measure its carbon footprint. The Registry is a non-profit organization committed to the voluntary reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is an opportunity for us to measure our impact on our environment and the change that we can show in creating a better environment for climate change in our state and globally,” said Denise Konan, a former UH chancellor and current member of the Manoa Climate Change Commission.

The agreement with TCR was signed at Hawaii Hall Tuesday afternoon by Konan and Kathy Cutshaw, the vice chancellor for administration at the Manoa campus. Cutshaw says the agreement will help the university save energy.

“By measuring our green house gas emissions it furthers UH’s commitment to energy reduction by giving us the data necessary to take further steps to reduce our energy use by 30% by the year 2012,” Cutshaw said. The University also wants 25% of its energy use to come from renewable fuels by the year 2020.

To determine the university’s annual carbon footprint graduate student Craig Coleman will measure the amount of fuel the school uses to power everything from cars to air conditioners. “Then science knows the conversion factor to take that quantity of fuel and convert it into a known value or the mass of green house gases,” Coleman told reporters.

While carbon footprint measurements have become a popular way for governments, companies and other institutions to tout their environmental consciousness, a global warming skeptic says it will do absolutely nothing to reverse climate change.

“Like all the other concerns about CO2 it's a waste of money,” said Dr. Timothy Ball, a renowned environmental consultant and former climatology professor at the University of Winnipeg. “CO2 isn't a problem,” says Ball. “It's probably the biggest misdirection in the history of science.”

Ball is among a growing number of climatologists who question the validity of manmade global warming. “You cannot find a record of any length, of any time period in the history of the earth,” Ball said, “where CO2 causes temperature to increase.”

The University of Hawaii will pay about $3,800 a year to be a member of The Climate Registry. While Ball applauds the UH for trying to cut energy costs, he says the university would be better served spending the money elsewhere.

“One of the things that I think the university would be far better doing with its research and its money is doing true and accurate cost benefit analysis of alternate energies,” he said. “I mean to reduce the fuel use and your costs, particularly with the rising costs and particularly in Hawaii where available energy is an expensive thing anyway, that's logical.”

The University has reduced its use of electricity by 15% since 2003, resulting in savings of $3.7 million and a reduction in annual CO2 emissions of 6,800 tons.

David Hafner, the assistant vice chancellor for campus services said most the savings were the result of improved air conditioning and mechanical control systems. He said UH is also using its chilled water plants more efficiently.

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.