Attainment of Sustainability through Green Auditing: A Case Study of Musaliar Institute, Pathanamthitta

: Green auditing is a management tool used to identify the environmental impacts and assessment of problems with suitable corrections. In scenario people are not caring of nature, they are directly or indirectly damaging the environment and it causes problems like global warming, difficulties in maintaining ozone layers, air pollution, water pollution etc. Green auditing is the most efficient and sustainable way to solve environmental impacts. Musaliar Institute, Pathanamthitta is comfortably located in an ecologically sensitive area, a small change in its ecology can lead to high amount of damages. For our campus, the target areas for Green auditing are energy management, waste management, water management, biodiversity mapping and carbon emission evaluation. The Carbon emission evaluation is an important process that involves the amount of carbon dioxide emitted at the campus. Strong green audit process can help to achieve sustainable institution.


I. INTRODUCTION
The Green auditing involves collection, collation, analysis, interpretation and presentation of information which is used to assess performance against a set of requirements or targets related to environmental issues. For the analysis of this auditing no protocol, only basic methods of techniques is used. It also aims to analyze the environmental practices within and outside of the concerned sites, which will have an impact on the eco-friendly ambience. Green audit can also used in college/ institutions to determine how and where they are using the most energy or water or any other resources, the college can then consider how to implement changes and make savings. It can also be used to determine the type and volume of waste, which can be used for a recycling project or to improve waste minimization plan. It can create health consciousness and promote environmental awareness, values and ethics. It provides staff and students better understanding of Green impact on campus. For the evaluation of green auditing on a particular target, it is mainly classified in to three stages namely Pre-auditing stage, Auditing stage, and Post auditing stage for the step by step analysis of impacts on the environment.
II. OBJECTIVES ➢ To ensure development along with safeguarding the environment. ➢ To provide basis for improved sustainability.
➢ More efficient resource management. ➢ To create a green campus. ➢ To enable waste management. ➢ To secure the quality of water used. ➢ Recognize the cost effective methods through waste minimizing and managing. ➢ To secure the environment and cut down the threats posted to human health. ➢ To provide how much carbon is emitted in the institution. III. SCOPE The scope of the green audit is very flexible depending up on the needs of an institution. It involves the inspection of an institute to assess the total environmental impact of its activities or a particular product or a process. Therefore, the scope of Green Audit can be listed as below:  General The methodology includes data collection from each target areas, preparation and filling up of questionnaire, observation and review of the documentation, interviewing key persons and data analysis, measurements and recommendations. Some data have also been taken from the students, teaching staffs, office staffs, and various departments of the college B Target Areas of Auditing 1) Water management: This involves the water sources, water consumption, irrigation, rain water, appliances and a well authorized water test. 2) Energy management: This involves the energy sources, energy consumption, energy inspection, lighting, cooling, computer appliances and vehicles. 3) Health management: It is the systematic analysis of the quality of healthcare which includes common diseases in the campus, surveying the symptoms, behaviour of health and non-health determinants. 4) Waste management: This involves the waste production and disposal, plastic waste, paper waste, food waste, quantity of waste and recycling. This is an essential management study to minimize the waste in the college for sustainability. 5) Biodiversity mapping: This involves the data collection of plants and animal species present in the college campus. The data collection involves detailed number of different plant species and types of animals by inspecting the college. 6) Carbon emission: This involves the amount of carbon dioxide emission at the campus and suggests suitable solutions to reduce the carbon emission in the campus.

VI. OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS A
Water Audit The main source of water in the institute is a pond located at Kumbazha. It is about 2 km away from the college campus. Daily 100000 liter of water is collected from the pond and store in a tank having a capacity of 350000 liter for purification process. There is five tanks are located in different areas of campus for distribution purpose. From the 150000 liter water tank, the water is supply to ladies hostel and boy's hostel. From the 100000 liter water tank located near Engineering College, the ground water is distributed to MBA College. The water purification process is carried out in a 350000 liter water tank.

1) Water quality analysis
For the water quality analysis different tests are conducted on various water samples collected from different spots of the institute. The water samples collected are sample from main source (pond), sample from water tank and sample from cooler. The various testes conducted for the quality analysis are ph, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, acidity, alkalinity, hardness, residual chlorine, and basic characteristics of the water.  From the test results of water quality analysis, it is observed that the pond water and water from tank is not suitable for drinking purpose. The water from the pond is highly contaminated with Coli form bacteria. Thus it may cause dangerous health problems if it is used without any proper treatment process. The test sample contain 1100 coli forms and 15 E-coli in pond water and 44 coli forms and 3 E-coli in water tank. The desirable limit of Coli form and E-coli bacteria is zero in cooler. . In this water test, lack of chlorination is observed from the analysis. For that, an additional of 875 gram of chlorine is added to the water tank by 2 weeks alternatively which is needed for the purification of water 2) Water quantity analysis ➢ The CFL and LED bulbs installed in the institute (Hours used/day for how many days in a month). ➢ The fans and air conditioners installed in the institute (Hours used/day for how many days in a month). ➢ The computer and other equipment assembled in the college (Hours used/day for how many days in a month). ➢ The energy saving invertors and batteries fixed (Hours used/day for how many days in a month). ➢ The cooling apparatus installed in the college (Hours used/day for how many days in a month).   2) Analysis of carbon emission ➢ Human Factor: Carbon dioxide emitted by a person per day is not negligible. It is equivalent to the emission of a car in a 5km stretch. Just for breathing, humans emit per person each day 1000 grams of CO2, assuming that they cat normally and follow a mean diet of 2800 kCal. The population details of each zone include the total number of teaching faculty, non-teaching staff and students is 1041 at Musaliar institute. The carbon dioxide emissions will be larger in the Zone having highest population. The emissions are calculated by multiplying the human factor with respective carbon emission factor. Just for breathing, humans emit per person each day 1000grms of O2, assuming that they ear normally and follow a mean diet of 2800 kcal.  Health audit The health of the inhabitants shows the environmental stability of that area, it includes the availability of fresh air, water and a peaceful environment. Healthy and peaceful atmosphere is necessary for an educational institution. The physical and mental health problems may affect the overall performance of the college. To find out the health status of the campus, an online health survey is conducted by making questionnaires. From this survey, it shows that there is no major health problems are found out and the students and staffs in the campus are mentally and physically stable. ➢ Awareness programs on water conservation to be conducted.

2) Waste audit
➢ Increase the usage of waste bins. ➢ Establish a large scale bio gas plant. ➢ Practice of waste segregation to be initiated. ➢ A model Vermin composting plant to be set up in the college campus. ➢ Establish a plastic free campus. ➢ Avoid paper plates and cups for all functions in the college

3) Energy audit
➢ The only way to decrease the electricity level of fan usage is turn off the appliance when not in use. ➢ Energy saving through the replacement of incandescent bulbs, CFL lamps and tube lights to LED light by saving 552 kWh per month. ➢ Energy efficient electrical equipments especially fans and pump sets can be replaced against old ones. ➢ Use computers and electronic equipments in power saving mode. ➢ Install the production of solar energy a type of non-conventional category of energy will be a good energy management system for the college. ➢ Awareness programs for the stakeholders to save energy may also increase sustainability in the utilization of various energy sources.

4) Biodiversity mapping
➢ Proper arrangement of the plants in aesthetic way. ➢ Grow potted plants at both verandas and fences. ➢ Provide irrigation facility to the green area. ➢ Not just celebrating environment day but making it a daily habit. ➢ Beautify the college building with indoor plants. ➢ Encouraging students not just through words, but through action for making the campus green 5) Carbon emission evaluation ➢ Use biodegradable products for all kinds. ➢ Use pressure cookers daily and fuel efficient cooking methods. ➢ Avoid plastic and other non-biodegradable substance, which will reduce the carbon dioxide. ➢ Eat low on the food chain. ➢ Usage of vehicle with in the campus is very less.
For short journeys either walk or cycle. And checkout diesel or petrol engine within the time period. ➢ Choose organic and local foods that are in season. ➢ Buy foodstuffs in bulk when possible using your own reusable container. ➢ Compost your food waste if possible.

VIII. CONCLUSION
➢ The present environmental impacts at the Musaliar Institute is assess by the tool Green audit. ➢ The surveys conducted at different target areas are evaluated and provide a management system. ➢ The carbon emission evaluation gives the details about the sources of carbon and emission limit, whether it is a required limit or not. ➢ The recommendations included in this report highlight many ways in which the college can work to improve its actions and become a more sustainable institution.