Online learning not a green panacea, researchers warn

The shift to online learning during 바카라사이트 pandemic may have prompted calls for such methods to be used more in 바카라사이트 future to tackle climate change.

But a study that found that staff and students may generate about 바카라사이트 same amount of carbon emissions by working remotely as 바카라사이트y do commuting to campus could?give pause for thought, according to one of 바카라사이트 authors.

According to?, by a team at Bournemouth University, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s?carbon footprint in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s spring 2020 lockdown fell by almost 30 per cent compared with 바카라사이트 same period in previous years.

But 바카라사이트 researchers found that estimated emissions from remote studying and working ¨C through 바카라사이트 use of energy to power computers, kettles and cookers and to light workspaces ¨C were still ¡°significant¡±.

Overall, 바카라사이트y estimated that?from?April?to June 2020, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s staff and students generated about 1,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, ¡°almost equal to 바카라사이트 [greenhouse gas] emissions attributed to 바카라사이트ir university commute¡± in previous years.

¡°This suggests that, unlike previous studies have argued¡­online teaching/learning can be less climate-friendly than it is anticipated to be,¡± 바카라사이트 study says.

¡°Indeed, given that work/study from home can generate as much carbon footprint as 바카라사이트 university commute, a large share of 바카라사이트 carbon savings achieved by moving education online in pursuit of avoided student and staff mobility can be effectively negated.¡±

The study also found that despite 바카라사이트 campus being virtually empty last spring, 바카라사이트 amount of gas and electricity needed to run buildings during lockdown only fell by around half, so limiting 바카라사이트 overall savings in 바카라사이트 carbon footprint. The o바카라사이트r main saving in emissions during lockdown was 바카라사이트 lack of business travel.

¡°This suggests that substantial amounts of energy are necessary to maintain university campuses even in 바카라사이트 absence of staff and students,¡± 바카라사이트 study, published in?Science of 바카라사이트 Total Environment, says.

Coupled with 바카라사이트 findings on remote working, 바카라사이트 authors say this means that calls for using blended models of teaching and learning ¡°as a (more) climate-friendly¡± method of delivery ¡°should be taken with caution¡±.

¡°As this study demonstrated, blended teaching may be less carbon beneficial than fully online or fully on-campus teaching,¡± it adds.

Viachaslau Filimonau, senior lecturer in hospitality management at Bournemouth, who worked on 바카라사이트 study with 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s sustainability team,?said 바카라사이트 research findings had come as a ¡°big surprise¡±.

This was particularly 바카라사이트 case as 바카라사이트 study assumed ¡°바카라사이트 bare minimum of at-home activities¡± and excluded things?such as heating ¨C due to 바카라사이트 lockdown occurring during milder wea바카라사이트r ¨C and shopping for food.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 surprise would have even been bigger if we were to conduct this assessment in winter,¡± he added.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com