| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 69.17 |
| Liaison | Kimberly Reeves |
| Submission Date | May 21, 2021 |
Agnes Scott College
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Susan
Kidd Executive Director Center for Sustainability |
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Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Commitment to Carbon Neutrality
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Since the start of our sustainability program, Agnes Scott’s principal sustainability focus has been on climate change and carbon neutrality. The college was a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007, setting the goal to be carbon neutral by 2037. It was the belief of President Emerita, Elizabeth Kiss, that in order for Agnes Scott to deliver on its mission to educate women to both “live honorably” and “engage in the intellectual and social challenges of their times,” that students must have a robust understanding of climate change and climate justice.
All policies and programs implemented by the Center for Sustainability are driven by the goal of reducing the college’s carbon footprint. We established a LEED building policy, not for the purpose of designing more innovative buildings, but in order to renovate and build buildings with the lowest carbon footprint possible. We established a nationally recognized Green Revolving Fund to finance energy and water efficiency in order to continually reduce the college’s carbon footprint. We installed a quarter megawatt of solar on campus, despite the fact we would not directly benefit from the energy produced, to reduce regional demand for greenhouse gases, water consumption, and toxic air pollution, which disproportionately impacts Environmental Justice communities in Georgia.
Fourteen years into our sustainability program, we are delivering on our commitment to carbon neutrality. To date, we have reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40% and are meeting our targets to reach our carbon neutrality goal by 2037. We established a landmark partnership with the City of Decatur to create a joint Climate Resilience Plan, the implementation of which will begin later this year. And most importantly as a higher education institution, we are training a new generation of sustainability professionals that have the skills and passion to not just address climate change, but to ensure women and climate justice are at the heart of all climate change policy and programs.
All policies and programs implemented by the Center for Sustainability are driven by the goal of reducing the college’s carbon footprint. We established a LEED building policy, not for the purpose of designing more innovative buildings, but in order to renovate and build buildings with the lowest carbon footprint possible. We established a nationally recognized Green Revolving Fund to finance energy and water efficiency in order to continually reduce the college’s carbon footprint. We installed a quarter megawatt of solar on campus, despite the fact we would not directly benefit from the energy produced, to reduce regional demand for greenhouse gases, water consumption, and toxic air pollution, which disproportionately impacts Environmental Justice communities in Georgia.
Fourteen years into our sustainability program, we are delivering on our commitment to carbon neutrality. To date, we have reduced our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40% and are meeting our targets to reach our carbon neutrality goal by 2037. We established a landmark partnership with the City of Decatur to create a joint Climate Resilience Plan, the implementation of which will begin later this year. And most importantly as a higher education institution, we are training a new generation of sustainability professionals that have the skills and passion to not just address climate change, but to ensure women and climate justice are at the heart of all climate change policy and programs.
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Air & Climate
Coordination & Planning
Air & Climate
Coordination & Planning
Optional Fields
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
OP 1, OP 2, and Innovation (Resilience Plan)
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
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Second Point of Distinction
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A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
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Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
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Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
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STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
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A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
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Third Point of Distinction
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A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
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Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
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STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
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A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.