Bowdoin Achieves Impressive 39% Carbon Emissions Reduction In Governor's Carbon Challenge!
Bowdoin College has accomplished an impressive 39% reduction in their first carbon emissions reporting after joining the Governor’s Carbon Challenge Program! This reduction from their base line year (fiscal year 2002/03) already exceeds their 11% goal set for 2010. Katy Longley, Bowdoin’s treasurer and chair of Bowdoin’s Climate Commitment Committee says "The Maine Governor's Carbon Challenge has been an important motivating factor in promoting efficiency and conservation within the Bowdoin community. People like to feel a part of an effort greater than their individual contributions and this program has really helped to put our greenhouse gas reduction efforts into a larger context.” Bowdoin College is Brunswick, Maine’s nationally renowned college for liberal arts and sciences enrolling approximately 1,710 students from across the country and around the world. Founded in 1794, Bowdoin is an independent, coeducational residential undergraduate institution located on an approximately 215 acre campus with more than 120 buildings.
Bowdoin College has taken significant steps toward reducing their carbon emissions, by also reducing energy consumption and solid waste/discarded possessions, while at the same time becoming more environmentally sustainable. Major emission reductions were gained from changing fuels from #6 oil to dual fuels (#2 oil and natural gas,) and presently burning mostly natural gas. Six dormitory buildings have been totally renovated to more efficient zone heating with European radiator style (hot water) replacing steam heating. This more efficient system allowed set temperature to be reduced four degrees to 68. And 700 windows in the six buildings were replaced with more efficient units. This also accomplished a 25% reduction in stationary source emissions.
Bowdoin’s vehicle fleet is also becoming more efficient by including more efficient hybrids as well as an electric vehicle. Success with sustainability efforts at Bowdoin has also given the College broader recognition as more American schools are going green.
Now in the planning stages, Bowdoin is looking at an exciting cogeneration project that could significantly reduce future greenhouse gas emissions! By including turbines in their steam plant, Bowdoin could cogenerate electricity and heat, capturing energy that is presently released into the atmosphere as waste heat and GHG emissions.
The Governor’s Carbon Challenge is a voluntary goal-setting program to assist businesses and non-profit organizations accomplish their greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
