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January 24, 2008

Brown aims to cut its greenhouse gases by 42%

PROVIDENCE -- To be a better friend to the environment, Brown University laid out a plan today with the aim of cutting the greenhouse gases it puts out to 42 percent below levels produced last year.

The goal is to reach that drop by 2020.

A university news release said Brown, effective immediately, will also enforce a requirement that emissions be reduced by up to 50 percent for all new buildings and newly acquired buildings.

“I am pleased that Brown is taking a leadership role by significantly cutting our greenhouse gas emissions,” Ruth J. Simmons, Brown University president, said in the statement. She added: "It is important to lead by example, taking action to preserve and protect the planet.”

Here's the plan:

* Cut greenhouse gas emissions to 42 percent below 2007 levels, which equates to 15 percent below 1990 levels, for existing buildings. Interim goals will be set as soon as possible and monitored annually.

* Limit the emissions by cutting energy consumption for all new construction to between 25 percent and 50 percent below the standard required by state code.

* Reduce emissions for all newly acquired buildings by a minimum of 15 percent and as much as 30 percent.

The university’s Energy and Environmental Advisory Committee, made up of students, faculty and staff, recommended ways to cut emissions. Today's announcement made note of that.

“We took a hard look at our energy consumption and the environmental impact of our facilities and came up with a series of substantive, yet achievable goals,” Chris Powell, advisory committee members and director of sustainable energy and environmental initiatives.

“By reducing the carbon footprint of our campus, Brown can make a measurable contribution to the effort that is underway to reduce the man-made influences to global warming on an international scale.”

The university said it will accomplish the reductions by doing such things as:

* Switching fuel that powers the central heat plant to cleaner natural gas when available.

* Using new lighting technologies.

* Increasing buildings' energy efficiency.

* Using renewable energy sources "when appropriate," the release says.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 4:12 PM | Permalink

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