Nitrogen
UVA's goal is to reduce nitrogen losses to the environment by 30% relative to 2010 levels by 2030.
UVA is home to leading-edge nitrogen research that looks at impacts, causes and reduction strategies for reactive nitrogen.
While most nitrogen in the atmosphere exists as inert gas (N2), reactive nitrogen is found in many forms that contribute to environmental and human health issues, including algae blooms, ozone depletion, forest dieback and respiratory illness. Reactive nitrogen is a common byproduct of three important processes: fossil fuel combustion, food production and consumption.
In 2013, UVA became the first university in the nation to set an official reduction goal, with its initial target - to reduce by 25% below 2010 levels by 2025 and became the first university in the world to release a Nitrogen Action Plan setting forth a roadmap to meet this goal.
Reducing UVA’s Nitrogen Footprint
Nitrogen (N) footprints are driven by fossil fuel combustion, transportation, and food production and consumption. UVA’s nitrogen footprint is driven by food (~50-70%) as well as energy use (~30-50%). In 2019, UVA’s first nitrogen action plan was published and outlined the following steps to reduce the N footprint of the university:
- Increasing plant-forward meals: Collaborating with on-Grounds dining providers to increase plant-based offerings is one major strategy; initiatives include highlighting plant-based meals at new stations across dining halls, working with partners to determine plant-based alternatives to popular dishes, and promoting environmental and health co-benefits of including more plant-based meals in diets. In addition, waste reduction and composting initiatives benefit nitrogen footprint reductions.
- Reducing fossil fuel consumption: The university is committed to becoming fossil fuel-free by 2050, which in turn helps to reduce the N footprint. Increasing building efficiency, purchasing off-site solar, and keeping sustainability top of mind in new building projects benefits the N footprint as fewer fossil fuels are burned.
Collaborating to Reduce UVA's Nitrogen Footprint
Reducing the N footprint of UVA involves pan-university stakeholder engagement. The core mission of the student Nitrogen Working Group (NWG) is to evaluate, track, and reduce the N footprint. This includes spreading awareness surrounding excess nitrogen and its myriad of environmental impacts. The NWG has collaborated many groups across Grounds in data collection and outreach: Facilities Management, UVA Dine, UVA Health System dining, UVA Darden dining, Housing and Residence Life, Moven Sustainability Lab, SWAP UVA, and the Sustainable Food Collaborative.These partners are essential in helping UVA reach its goal and beyond.
Learn More: Nitrogen – and Why It’s Important
Chances are you’ve heard of nitrogen: it’s one of the most abundant elements on our Earth. N2 comprises 78% of the air that we breathe; this form is known as inert or unreactive nitrogen. When N2 combines with other elements, like oxygen or hydrogen, it forms compounds known as reactive nitrogen. Reactive nitrogen is essential to plant growth, however, too much of these compounds in the environment causes problems. Humans contribute to excess reactive nitrogen to the environment in two main ways:
- Food production and consumption: agricultural fertilizer use, animal by-products, processing waste, and treatment of wastewater
- Burning of fossil fuels for transportation and energy use
Excess nitrogen in our environment has a cascade of negative effects both on the global and local environment. These include smog, forest diebacks, acidification of fresh water, eutrophication, climate change, and ozone hole depletion.