Measuring its carbon footprint is the first step toward reducing it
Syracuse University became one of the first educational institutions—and the first private university—in North America to achieve Climate Registered™ status by successfully measuring its carbon footprint according to the Climate Registry’s best-in-class program, then having it third-party-verified and reporting the data on the Registry’s website. SU joins more than 430 other leading organizations across North America in adopting a truly sustainable approach to doing business.
Measuring its carbon footprint with the Registry allows SU to prepare for future regulation, identify inefficiencies and potential cost savings, and provide real and meaningful data to its customers and shareholders about their environmental performance. It is the first step toward reducing energy usage, costs and carbon emissions.
“Syracuse University is committed to reducing its carbon footprint,” says Tim Sweet, SU’s director of Energy Systems & Sustainability Management. “The rigorous process set forth by The Climate Registry provides a solid basis for measuring the impact of actions taken by the charter members in meeting their goals of climate neutrality. Achieving measurable milestones requires accurate information.”
SU began implementing targeted energy conservation efforts nearly 30 years ago to help reduce its environmental impact. As a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007, SU pledged to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions. Two years later, the University released its Climate Action Plan (CAP), the fiscally responsible roadmap and timeline that is driving SU to become carbon neutral by 2040. SU’s CAP implementation recently got under way with the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA), the first academic unit selected to undertake greenhouse gas emissions reductions through energy conservation, building improvements and enhanced sustainability practices among students, faculty and staff.
“Climate Registered organizations understand that there are both environmental and economic benefits to understanding and managing your carbon footprint,” says Denise Sheehan, executive director of the Climate Registry. “Syracuse University has become part of a powerful community of Climate Registered organizations, with substantive data guiding and supporting its sustainable activities.”
SU joined the Climate Registry in April 2008 as a founding reporter and is currently one of 18 educational institution members. Calculating SU’s GHG inventory entails measuring specific sources of GHG emissions such as natural gas burned, electricity purchased, campus fleet operations and University-paid or -initiated air travel.
The Climate Registry is a nonprofit organization that operates the only carbon footprint registry in North America supported by states, provinces, territories and tribes. The Climate Registry helps hundreds of public and private organizations measure, report and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with integrity.
