Nitrogen Footprint Tracking: From University to Community Jim Yoder, Director for the Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science programs, Eastern Mennonite University, RCE Shenandoah Valley 10th Americas RCE Regional Meeting 5-7 October, 2021

1. Nitrogen Footprint Tracking:
From University to Community
Dr. Jim Yoder
Sustainable Shenandoah Valley RCE
Eastern Mennonite University
10th RCE Americas Conference
Portions of this presentation adapted from The Nitrogen Footprint Tool for Institutions presentation by Leach, Caster, & Milo, UNH & UVA, 2019

2. Shenandoah
Valley RCE
Virginia, United States

3. Fostering collaborative
partnerships for a
sustainable
Shenandoah Valley.

4. The partners:
Bridgewater College
Blue Ridge Community
College
Eastern Mennonite
University
Mary Baldwin University
James Madison
University

5. A nitrogen footprint is the amount
of reactive nitrogen released to the
environment as a result of an
entity’s resource consumption
Food
*
*Food
consumption
and production
Energ
y
1 2
What is a nitrogen footprint?
5

6. What is REACTIVE NITROGEN ?
Nitrogen Footprints
All species N except unreactive N2
6
Figure by Andrew Greene

7. E
N
V
I
R
O
N
M
E
N
T
Smog, Haze
Excessive Algae Growth in
waterways (Eutrophication)
Forest Impacts Acidification
(acid rain)
Climate change
Large Scale Effects: Excess N
9
Slide by Jim Galloway

8. Nitrogen Footprint Tools (NFTs)
Used to measure the amount of reactive nitrogen
released as a consequence of resource use and
consumption.
1. Personal NFT
2. Institutional NFT
3. Community NFT
Components:
● Food production and consumption
● pet food and waste
● transportation
● wastewater
● electricity
● natural gas
● fertilizer

9. SIMAP: A tool for campuses
https://unhsimap.org/home

10. EMU Carbon and Nitrogen Footprints
(2018-19)

11. EMU Nitrogen Footprint (2018-19)

12. EMU Nitrogen Footprint: Food Sources
(by % of Food N Footprint)
Beef, Chicken and Pork = 54.6% of N
(but only 15% food served by weight)

13. Nitrogen Footprint Tools (NFTs)
Used to measure the amount of reactive nitrogen
released as a consequence of resource use and
consumption.
1. Personal NFT
2. Institutional NFT
3. Community NFT
Components:
● Food production and consumption
● pet food and waste
● transportation
● wastewater
● electricity
● natural gas
● fertilizer

14. Urban Nitrogen Footprint Tool
>51
28
<4
Per Capita
N Footprint
Baltimore City N Footprint
Distribution of individual N
footprints across Baltimore
City by census block group
Note: Orange census blocks represent incomplete data sets

15. Calculate Harrisonburg City N
Footprint
• Examine spatial variability of
Harrisonburg nitrogen footprint by
census block group
• Compare to socioeconomic factors
• Compare to other municipalities
and US average

16. Harrisonburg
Overall Nitrogen
Footprint
- Total Nr losses to the environment as a result
of the resource use of the residents and
businesses of Harrisonburg
- Includes “upstream” losses
- Food is largest contributor

17. Local Nitrogen Footprint
- Includes only Nr losses that
occur locally
- Excludes “upstream” losses
from food production and
combustion from electricity
generation
- Transportation is the largest
contributor

18. Looking Ahead . . .
Institutional Goals:
- refine data collection
- set nitrogen reduction goals/add N to
CAP
Community Goals:
- engage with community and municipal
leaders
- encourage more involvement by
universities, NGOs, faith-based institutions,
& businesses

19. Thanks and Acknowledgements
- Nitrogen Working Group
- Dr. James Galloway, UVA
- EMU research students
- Rebecca Amstutz
- Rachel Brenneman
- Center for Sustainable Climate Solutions
- Sustainable Shenandoah Valley RCE
For more information
contact Jim Yoder (yoderjm@emu.edu)