Nov. 19, 2024 - In 2019, CSU Channel Islands (华体会) joined the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE)鈥檚 Better Climate Challenge by pledging to reduce its carbon emissions
by 50%. The University did not only meet the challenge but surpassed it by reducing
emissions by 60% from 2019 to 2023.
In October, the DOE published the 鈥,鈥 which summarizes the achievements of DOE鈥檚 Better Buildings public and private sector partners since the initiative鈥檚 inception in 2011. The DOE recently recognized 华体会 as one of the DOE partners with a profile on DOE鈥檚 . To date, Better Buildings partners like 华体会 have saved nearly $22 billion in energy costs nationwide, resulting in more than 220 million metric tons of avoided greenhouse gas emissions.
鈥淲e are setting an example for other universities by making a positive impact on the environment,鈥 said then-华体会 Director of Sustainability and Energy Roxane Beigel-Coryell, who entered the University in the DOE鈥檚 Better Climate Challenge.
华体会 met and surpassed its goal with fuel switching, energy efficiency measures, and onsite renewable power across its 1,000,000-square-foot 鈥減ortfolio,鈥 which refers to the inventory of all the sources of energy on campus, such natural gas, electricity, diesel, automotive gas, etc.
Beigel-Coryell said the campus was committed to reducing both its 鈥淪cope 1鈥 and 鈥淪cope 2鈥 emissions by at least 50% by 2029. Scope 1 refers to direct emissions, or the fossil fuels the campus burns such as gas and diesel fuel for campus vehicles or transportation, heating and cooking. Scope 2 refers to purchased energy, or emissions associated with the generation of electricity consumed on campus.
鈥淥ne of the biggest things we鈥檝e done is transitioned from using steam as a primary heating and cooling source,鈥 Beigel-Coryell said. 鈥淣ow we use electricity for cooling and natural gas for heating in most areas.鈥
The field of solar panels next to the University played a big part in reducing Scope 2 emissions, she said, as solar energy has zero emissions. The solar farm is one example of the investment the University has made into energy efficiency and reducing carbon pollution over the last decade.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done this a number of different ways, large and small,鈥 Beigel-Coryell said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e optimized our building controls to make sure we are not wasting energy by cooling and heating spaces as effectively as we can. Ninety percent of our landscaping equipment is electric. We鈥檝e installed newer, more efficient equipment and we have plans moving forward for more energy efficient projects, such as putting more LED lighting on campus.鈥
Recently, the University installed new solar benches that are free to the campus and
will provide revenue from businesses that advertise on the bench.
鈥淭hey are benches with a solar panel on top that charges a battery in the bench that enables campus members to charge their cell phones or plug in a USB port,鈥 Beigel-Coryell said.
There are two benches in front of the library, one in the South Quad, one next to Madera Hall and one next to Del Norte Hall.
The Better Climate Challenge is one component of the Better Buildings Initiative, through which DOE partners with hundreds of public and private sector organizations to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings more efficient, thereby saving energy and money while reducing emissions and strengthening the economy.
鈥淐ongratulations to our 2024 Better Climate Challenge Goal Achievers for reaching their ambitious portfolio-wide goals and sharing their successful solutions with the market,鈥 said DOE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Jeff Marootian. 鈥淭hese industry leaders are demonstrating that decarbonization is not only possible 鈥 it鈥檚 happening now and it鈥檚 good business. We invite organizations to take up the charge and join us to build the clean energy economy of the future.鈥