Boston University Reaches 2020 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goal Six Years Early
BOSTON, October 22, 2014 /3BL Media/ — In conjunction with National Campus Sustainability Day, October 22, Boston University today announced it reached its 2020 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent six years early. In recognition of this achievement, BU is selling some of its 2012 carbon reductions through the Chevrolet Campus Clean Energy Campaign. Chevy will purchase the University’s carbon credits and permanently retire them, furthering the company’s voluntary effort to retire carbon reductions across America for the benefit of the climate.
BU is also announcing today that it has doubled the value of its Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund to two million dollars in support of this effort. Chevy’s clean energy investment will further increase the value of the fund. These investments illustrate the value of Green Revolving Loan Funds, and the potential leverage carbon funding can bring to campuses nationwide and allows the University to continue in its carbon reduction and clean energy goals.
“We are excited to be invited to participate in the Chevrolet Campus Clean Energy Campaign,” said Boston University Sustainability Director Dennis Carlberg. “It’s a win for BU with funds building our Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund, it’s a win for the environment with these carbon credits being retired, and a win for Chevy as they work to strengthen the clean energy infrastructure needed for their line of electric vehicles.”
In 2010, Chevrolet made a commitment to target up to eight million tons of carbon reductions by 2015. Chevy’s efforts are comparable to BU reducing its emissions to zero for sixty-five years or equivalent to a year’s worth of CO2 emissions for 730,000 US homes. For the final reductions of this initiative, Chevrolet sought out schools and colleges across the country demonstrating leadership in clean energy.
Along with Boston University, other campuses being recognized today include the Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Wisconsin at Steven’s Point, the University of Illinois at Chicago and Portland State University. Rather than sell carbon reductions on the open market these universities are selling their credits to Chevy at a premium, and having these credits permanently retired. This means they will not be used to offset emissions related to specific Chevrolet operations or products – or those at any other site.
“Campuses such as Boston University are aggressively reducing their carbon footprint,” said David Tulauskas, GM sustainability director. “We want to support their efforts and provide the ammo they need to continue investing in clean energy technologies. After all, we know a clean energy future goes beyond what one company or organization can do; it’s about collaborating with others to make an even bigger impact.”
Through the daily efforts of the University’s full-time sustainability staff, interns, and Facilities Management & Planning, Boston University demonstrated impressive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions across campus. While growing the campus facilities by fourteen percent, BU has made this progress and has earned recognition for its carbon reduction leadership from Chevy.
