What We Can Learn from Colleges and Universities Meeting Their Net Carbon Neutral Goals

The COVID-19 pandemic shuttered colleges and universities across the United States, forcing professors and students to rapidly transition to remote courses and leaving end-of-year traditions and commencement ceremonies canceled, postponed, or moved online. Yet, despite these challenges, colleges and universities continue to push forward to reach their greenhouse gas mitigation targets.

Over 10 years ago, in 2009, 650 higher education institutions signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, through which higher education leaders pledged to achieve emission reductions and carbon neutrality. Many colleges and universities set 2020 as a benchmark for reaching some level of greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and 33 schools committed to net carbon neutrality by that year.

According to Second Nature, nine colleges and universities now produce zero net greenhouse gas emissions, as of May 2020. Most schools are combining on-campus emission reductions and purchasing offsets.

The building blocks to reach a net carbon-neutral campus include increased energy efficiency through renovations, retrofits, and improved sustainability practices; a shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as solar PV, geothermal, and wind; and investments in projects that offset emissions that cannot be eliminated at this time.

Renewable energy: Colby College in Maine went carbon neutral in 2013. Colby shifted to 100 percent renewable energy in the early 2000s, sourcing its energy from a combination of offsite purchases, an onsite 1.9-megawatt solar array, and biomass heating. Dickinson College and Allegheny College, both in Pennsylvania, reached their carbon neutral goals in spring 2020. Both schools invested in onsite solar, with Dickinson installing a 12,456 solar panel project that meets a quarter of the university’s energy needs, and Allegheny investing in solar capacity of 8,500 kilowatt-hours per year. Allegheny College also heats and cools four buildings with geothermal energy.

Energy efficiency: Dickinson College’s switch to LED bulbs reduced energy consumption from lighting on campus by 40 percent. The University of San Francisco (USF) originally set its carbon neutral target for the year 2050 but achieved it 36 years early in 2014. The university attributes its success to the early adoption of cogeneration technology, or combined heat and power (CHP). The CHP system on the USF campus generates 1.5 megawatts of electricity and uses the steam byproducts for central heating on campus. USF reports that their cogeneration system fulfills 40 percent of their campus electricity and heat demand.

Forests, land use, and energy: Middlebury College in Vermont, which reached its carbon neutrality goal in 2016, relies on biomass to offset emissions associated with heating. The college built its own biomass facility in 2008, which, according to the college, was “first of its kind.” Middlebury College complements its use of biomass with forest conservation. The school conserves 2,100 acres of forest on Bread Loaf Mountain adjacent to its campus in Ripton, Vermont. Middlebury counts the carbon sequestration from the protected forest as part of its carbon offset.

Forestry and gardening also contribute to Colgate University’s carbon-neutral achievement, helping the university offset 46 percent of gross emissions. Colgate is certified by the American Tree Farm System, and the campus forest reportedly sequestered 3,800 tons of carbon in 2018. The University started its community garden in 2010 in an effort to reduce emissions from its food system and emphasize the importance of locally-sourced food. Approximately 28 percent of the food served on Colgate’s campus is locally sourced or third-party certified.

Financing: In order to maintain financing for initiatives, Colgate University established a Green Revolving Loan Fund in 2017. Other schools, including Bowdoin College, use their annual operating budget to finance green programs. Bowdoin also relies on external grants, fundraising, and budget savings to finance its programs.

Behavior change: Colorado College sought to change human behavior to help its campus become carbon neutral. The college’s “aCClimate14” program is structured around 14 habits to achieve 14 percent “electricity, heat and water use reduction” in 14 weeks. The program has helped save about $100,000 in utility costs for the college. Dickinson College also implemented behavior focused initiatives. Dickinson, in partnership with the NGO Rare, hosted the BE.Hive summit in October 2019. BE.Hive explored how behavioral changes could reduce campus emissions and featured speakers from the academic and business fields. Dickinson also hosted a series of events and campaigns, which educated students on a range of topics from eating a plant-based diet to relying on bicycling and public transport. USF provides incentives to students, faculty, and staff who travel to and from campus using public transportation.

Reaching climate goals on an urban campus: Right here in Washington, D.C., American University became carbon neutral in 2018 despite the limitations of a city environment. When lack of space hindered onsite renewable energy options, American University partnered with the George Washington University (GWU) and GWU Hospital to enter a power purchase agreement (PPA) and source solar energy from a farm in North Carolina. Combined with onsite solar PVs, the PPA allowed American University to source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy resources. For the George Washington University, which is making progress towards its 2040 carbon-neutral goal, 50 percent of its power is from solar energy. GWU’s Foggy Bottom campus is integrated into downtown Washington, D.C., and thus, GWU’s broader sustainability goals go a step further and address urban issues. This includes increasing green space on campus, preventing water pollution and runoff, sustainable food systems, and sustainable investment.

These schools are redefining the traditional college experience and leading the way to innovative climate solutions. They serve as an example to institutions all over the United States, both educational and non-educational, that decisive climate action can be achieved.

 

Author: Uma Atre