Progress Report for Allegheny College
Submitted on Jan. 12, 2012; Last updated on Feb. 28, 2012
The Progress Report is intended to help signatories assess and track progress toward the goals outlined
in their Climate Action Plans and to share that progress with their stakeholders and the general public.
click on a section heading below to expand its content; click again to collapse
General Statement of Progress
Sustainability is gradually being incorporated into all campus operations and decisions. Our climate neutrality goal was included in the most recent strategic plan. Our student government has created a Sustainability Cabinet Chair.
Our facilities budget includes an annual reservation of funds for efficiency measures. In the past several years, this has resulted in insulation and air sealing of 9 historic campus buildings, the installation of several high efficiency boilers, lighting retrofits, and ground source heating and cooling. Due to this work and the addition of two LEED certified buildings (and another sustainable but uncertified renovation), the consumption of electricity and natural gas per square foot is in decline.
The current renovation of an existing building as the new home of the Environmental Science department will be a showcase of new sustainability ideas, including solar tubes throughout, an interior living wall, aquaponics system, sustainable materials, rainwater catchment, high efficiency HVAC updates, sensors, and a production garden.
Sustainability is also increasingly incorporated into the Admissions process, student life, purchasing policies, contracts such as housekeeping and food services, and the overall culture and awareness of the Allegheny community.
GHG Emissions & Reduction Targets
| Climate Neutrality Target Date: | 2020 |
|---|
| Interim Milestone Emission-Reduction Target | Target Date | Baseline* |
|---|---|---|
| 50% reduction in Total Scopes 1, 2, 3 Emissions | by 2015 | relative to baseline emissions in 2007 |
| 75% reduction in Total Scopes 1, 2, 3 Emissions | by 2018 | relative to baseline emissions in 2007 |
GHGs summary
| Reporting Year | Gross Emissions | Net Emissions | Full Time Enrollments | Total Bldg. Sq. Ft. | [action] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 19490.0 | 17709.0 | 2151.0 | 1194175.0 | [ view ] |
| 2008 | 16504.0 | 14649.0 | 2099.0 | 1239175.0 | [ view ] |
| 2009 | 16737.0 | 14882.0 | 2080.0 | 1326920.0 | [ view ] |
| 2012 | 15398.6 | 6181.8 | 2112.0 | 1418020.0 | [ view ] |
-
Change in GHG gross emissions
-19490.0
-
Change in GHG emissions per 1000 sq.ft. building space
-16.3208909917
-
Change in GHG emissions per full time enrollment (FTE)
-9.06090190609
Education, Research, & Community Engagement
Curriculum
How is your institution making climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experiences for all students?
Allegheny College incorporates environmental principles and ethics into disciplines as diverse as art, geology, writing, political science, economics, history, philosophy, and communication arts. Faculty from diverse disciplines often partner with the sustainability coordinator to incorporate sustainability into their curriculum. There is also a great emphasis on sustainability and climate neutrality education outside the classroom in daily campus life. The entire campus participates in the Annual October Energy Challenge. Using peer education, motivation and fun events with a message, the Challenge not only reduces electricity consumption but also helps educate the entire campus. Many other extracurricular events, such as speakers, political actions, movie screenings, and workshops by student sustainability groups round out the variety of educational experiences.Education methods in use
- Other -
Does your institution offer an undergraduate degree program(s) related to climate change/sustainability?
Yes
Yes. http://sites.allegheny.edu/envsci/Does your institution offer a graduate degree program in climate change/sustainability?
No
Co-Curriculum
Does your institution have a central sustainability website that consolidates information about the institution's sustainability efforts?
Yes
http://sites.allegheny.edu/green
Research
If applicable, how is your institution expanding research efforts toward the achievement of climate neutrality research?
There are many examples of student and faculty research further developing both the campus' and the community's climate neutrality efforts. Examples include research and creation of a biodiesel operation, research to support the development of switchgrass as a biomass heat source, and the development of aquaponic systems on campus, in elementary schools and the Market House.
Community Engagement
How is your institution expanding community outreach efforts toward the achievement of climate neutrality?
Allegheny has long emphasized the necessity of collaborating with the community to promote economic and environmental development, through the Center for Economic and Environmental Development. Additional work has also been accomplished independent of CEED. For example, Allegheny faculty and students completed a greenhouse gas inventory for the City of Meadville. The College has partnered with the local hospital to complete lighting retrofits and water conservation measures. The College partners with the local transportation authority to provide public transit to students. Allegheny donates all it's used fryer oil to the City of Meadville for their biodiesel operation which was designed and set up by students several years ago.
Energy & Finances
Energy Efficiency Projects
Number of buildings that have received a green building certification since signing the ACUPCC:
1Number of green buildings planned or scheduled for completion in the next 2 years:
1For all buildings, the green building certification/rating used is:
USGBC:LEED
Renewable Energy
Annual output (in kWhs) for each renewable energy system utilized by Allegheny College
- Solar output: 2500 kWh
- Other GHG mitigation efforts:
We have three ground source heating and cooling systems.
Financial Data
savings...Has your Climate Action Plan and/or related sustainability efforts saved your institution money so far, e.g. by reducing operational expenses?
yesAmount spent on CAP projects:
$1-10M
- Financing Methods utilized for Mitigation or Renewable Energy Projects:
- Other
-
Incorporation into operating and capital projects budgets in significant amounts.
- Other