Carbon Neutrality Plan
The CU-Boulder campus strives to be as sustainable as possible. As an original signatory to the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007, CU formed the Carbon Neutrality Working Group and charged this group with analyzing and prjecting a date by which the campus could attain carbon neutrality. After two years of dilligent work, the group developed the Conceptual Plan for Carbon Neutrality in which they recommend short- and long-term approaches to reduce the campus carbon footprint.
What CU is Doing
CU strives to be zero-waste, meaning that not even 1% of the material we use ends up in the dump! We're at 30% right now, which, when compared with other universities of our size is not too bad. Reduced waste equals reduced methane emissions
CU offers and Eco Pass to all students, staff and faculty, reducing the emissions from single-passenger commutes.
CU buses are powered by biodiesel to keep our Colorado air as clean as possible.
CU offsets its energy use by purchasing 5% of it's electricity use from wind power sources.
CUSG purchases carbon offsets to reduce the impact of the three student-government-owned buildings - UMC, Wardenburg, and Rec Center.
All new buildings are built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.
Many dining halls and kitchens on campus compost waste, reducing methane gas released from slow decomposition in landfills.
Irrigations of CU Boulder lawns comes from ditch water, reducing the energy needed to clean potable water.
Many buildings on campus are cooled using chilled water, which uses less energy that air conditioning.
Lighting upgrades throughout campus have resulted in decrease electricy needed to light rooms.
Our students are highly involved in environmental causes and are together working to find solutions- both personally and globally- to the causes of climate change.
We can always do more! Please report energy and water waste to the energy conservation hotline 303-735-6202 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .