Students, faculty and staff will have an opportunity this week to provide feedback on Elon University’s draft Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years by setting goals for energy conservation, energy production and commuting.
Forums have been scheduled for the following days:
• Wednesday, April 28, at 3:00 p.m. in Koury Business Center, Room 101 (LaRose Digital Theatre)
• Thursday, April 29, at 4:15 p.m. in Lindner Hall, Room 208
Strategies include on campus renewable energy systems such as geothermal, solar photovoltaic panel and solar thermal; energy conservation measures in existing buildings; program development to increase the use of alternative methods of commuting such as carpooling, using the BioBuses, bicycling and walking; and additional and expanded educational and research programs focused on the topics of sustainability and climate change.
Elaine Durr, the university’s sustainability coordinator, has led the draft Climate Action Plan development in collaboration with the Physical Plant, Technology and the Environmental Advisory Council, among other groups.
“The forums are a great opportunity for the campus community to provide feedback on the plan,” Durr said.
The baseline for Elon’s plan is the fiscal year 2008 greenhouse gas emissions inventory, which showed that energy consumption represented 56.2 percent of Elon’s greenhouse gas emissions followed by transportation with 40.9 percent of emissions.
“Energy and transportation are the primary focus of this initial CAP given they are the main contributors to Elon’s emissions,” Durr said. “This first CAP also lays the groundwork for additional research into future strategies.”
Elon’s CAP will be a living, flexible document that will be reviewed periodically and revised to take new technologies, incentives and developments into consideration.
If you are unable to attend one of the forums, please submit your comments on the plan via email to sustainability@elon.edu.
Click here more information on Elon’s GHG emissions inventories.