Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 59.66
Liaison Christina Erickson
Submission Date Aug. 15, 2022

STARS v2.2

Champlain College
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.67 / 2.00 Nic Anderson
Sr. Director Operations & Planning
Campus Planning
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the municipal/local level?:
Yes

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the municipal/local level:

Champlain College became a member of the local Burlington 2030 District effort in 2017. The Burlington 2030 District is a private/public partnership working to reduce building energy consumption, water use and transportation emissions 50% by 2030. The Burlington District is unique in that it seeks to achieve these goals for the entire city.

This type of collaborative action is a strategic undertaking to help the City of Burlington meet and support the priorities of the City's Climate Action Plan, as well as the State of Vermont's Comprehensive Energy Plan. The project also ensures that there is a replicable, straightforward path for other cities to follow as they aim to increase the efficiency of their building stock, including water and energy use.

The City of Burlington has a large stock of inefficient buildings that need to be upgraded for optimal use and to increase resilience in the face of climate change. By establishing the economic case for the necessary reductions, the District helps property owners increase asset value, reduce operating costs, and create a healthier community. The Burlington 2030 District undertakes several activities to advance our goals including:

Recruitment of property owners and service providers to commit to reductions;
Assisting property owners and managers in benchmarking energy use and setting reduction targets;
Developing Property Energy Plans (PEP): A summary of findings prepared and shared with property owner/manager, Burlington Electric Department (BED) and Vermont Gas (VGS)
A strong steering committee to guide the initiative of property owners, institutions, the City of Burlington, service providers and utilities;
Committees focused on developing strategies to achieve energy, water and transportation goals

While currently a voluntary program, there is potential to influence local building codes.


Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the state/provincial/regional level:
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Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the national level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the national level:
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Does the institution advocate for public policies that support campus sustainability or that otherwise advance sustainability at the international level?:
No

A brief description of how the institution engages in public policy advocacy for sustainability at the international level:
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A brief description of other political positions the institution has taken during the previous three years (if applicable):
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A brief description of political donations the institution made during the previous three years (if applicable):
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Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability advocacy efforts is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.