Table of Contents

1. The University of Maryland Climate Action Planning Process: Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Emission Reduction Strategy Development
2. Campus Energy Conservation is Job #1
3. Academic Guidance for ACUPCC Institutions Now Available! Introducing Education for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability
4. Planned Geothermal System Will Allow Ball State University to Shut Down Coal Plant

The University of Maryland Climate Action Planning Process: Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Emission Reduction Strategy Development

In early April, the University of Maryland, College Park released its draft Climate Action Plan for campus comment. The draft plan is the product of a 50-member work group that included students, faculty, and staff representing 35 different schools, departments, and offices. The University's Office of Sustainability helped to facilitate the work group and paused to reflect on the University's experience in preparation for the workshop on Developing Your Institution's Climate Action Plan- Evaluating the Carbon Reduction Efficacy of Different Mitigation Strategies, co-hosted by the ACUPCC and Honeywell at the Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference. Of the lessons learned, many center around relationship building and collaborative problem-solving. From Maryland's experience, climate mitigation strategies need to be as diverse and diffuse as energy usage on campus. Therefore the climate action planning process needs to mirror the mitigation strategies and be as inclusive and far-reaching as possible... Read more.

Campus Energy Conservation is Job #1

I am just back from presenting at a series of campus energy conservation training conferences involving 35 colleges in southern states, the majority of which are ACUPCC signatories. While I welcomed the climate commitment of the ACUPCC signatories in this group, I was surprised to see that some were just beginning their campus energy conservation programs. From this starting point, much effort will be needed to significantly reduce carbon footprints and make meaningful progress toward climate neutrality. For schools that have made the ACUPCC commitment but are struggling to implement carbon reduction strategies and develop an action plan, it is important to approach the ACUPCC in a one-step-at-a-time fashion in order to avoid becoming overwhelmed... Read more.

Academic Guidance for ACUPCC Institutions Now Available! Introducing Education for Climate Neutrality and Sustainability

The 623 signatories of the ACUPCC recognize that, while it is important to demonstrate climate neutrality through emissions reductions and changes in institutional and individual behavior, the greatest long term impact of the ACUPCC will be the extent to which it reforms the educational experience to assure that all graduates can help society reverse serious climate disruption and achieve social, economic and environmental sustainability. As President Michael Crow of Arizona State University reminds us, higher education has "100% of the educational footprint..." Read more.

Planned Geothermal System Will Allow Ball State University to Shut Down Coal Plant

Ball State's first LEED Silver certified project, the David Letterman Communication and Media Building, will be served by the new geothermal system.

Ball State University continues to expand its efforts to meet its commitments under the ACUPCC, which was signed by President Jo Ann Gora, one of the twelve founding members of the leadership circle. Most recently, the Board of Trustees has approved installation of a campus-wide geothermal heating/cooling system, which will allow the university to shut down its coal plant that currently produces 85,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The installation of this system when complete will reduce Ball State's greenhouse gas CO2 equivalent impact by nearly 50 percent in on-campus energy conversion. This project--the largest in the country--will commence installation on May 11, the Monday following spring graduation, and will take five to ten years to complete... Read more.