As the need for climate resilience grows, higher education continues to lead the way in commitments to carbon reductions, seeking more energy-efficient operations and a more ambitious integration of renewable energy. In 2019, Ever-Green Energy launched the Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality program to help higher education institutions accelerate their efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. The program provides schools with pro bono planning services to evaluate campus energy loads and pathways to reduce Scope 1 and 2 carbon.
Introducing the 2020 Cohort
Macalester College and Slippery Rock University have been selected for our Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality cohort. These schools were selected based on their readiness and alignment with the goals of the program. This program is focused on implementation, so previous study, planning, and infrastructure efforts make a difference in reaching actionable outcomes.
The Ever-Green team will work with facilities, sustainability, finance, and other relevant departments to identify campus priorities. Our teams will work collaboratively to analyze near-term, implementable technologies and create financing strategies to move these solutions forward.
Background
Campus energy planning has become an important focus for higher education leaders over the past decade. Through our work with higher education partners, the Ever-Green team has refined a methodology for evaluating campus energy systems and developing a vision of financial and environmental stewardship for these systems.
Ever-Green’s methodology includes study and planning, organizational and financing strategies, design and engineering, system construction, and operation, maintenance, and management with ongoing outreach and education efforts.
As a mission-driven organization, Ever-Green believes that bringing this methodology to more partners can drive greater efficiency and carbon reduction results, improving environmental outcomes for campuses and their communities. Ever-Green developed the Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality program to work toward this goal.
The 2019 cohort included the College of Saint Benedict, University of St. Thomas, and University of Minnesota-Morris. Read about the University of Minnesota Morris’s Roadmap analysis and recommendations in their project brief.
Learn more about the program and 2019 cohort through our Roadmap webinar series.