Clarkson University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

In 2022, Clarkson University Libraries became the first academic library to complete the Sustainable Library Certification Program for Academic Libraries. With thirteen categories of actions focusing on each of the three pillars of triple bottom line sustainability such as Community Engagement, Social Well Being, and Energy Management, this comprehensive process leads a library toward institutional change that shifts the rationale for every decision to consider the local and global impacts.

As part of its effort to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions, Clarkson University partnered with Brookfield Renewables, one of the world’s largest publicly traded renewable power platforms, to purchase 60-70% of its electricity needs (with RECs) to make the Potsdam Hill Campus powered by 100% renewable electricity. This purchase represented Brookfield’s first direct customer agreement.
The transition to purchasing electricity from Brookfield was complex with the flow of dollars, credits, and electric energy involving Brookfield, National Grid and Clarkson. A math modeling class tackled these complex interrelationships to optimize our purchase and a student in the Honors Program used it for her thesis. The net result was that the purchase of electricity with RECs was financially beneficial and greatly supported our Climate Commitment.
The partnership with Brookfield Renewables goes beyond just renewable energy purchases. Brookfield also provides a range of educational opportunities for our students. Their annual seminars have discussed renewable energy, hydropower, and the business of making and selling electricity. They also provide field trips to a local dam, penstock and electric power generating facility.

In 2022 Clarkson University began an experimental project in partnership with the St. Lawrence County Land Trust and local private landowners to assess and quantify the potential for avoided conversion forestry carbon offsets . The goal of this project is multifaceted; building community relationships between the University and local residents, creating experiential hands-on learning opportunities for current Clarkson students and affiliated programs, conservation of native biodiversity, and potential carbon offset credits that can be claimed by the University. This project was initiated by a now graduated Masters student from the Institute of a Sustainable Environment (ISE) and the Asst. Director for Sustainability, with support of the ISE, Institute for STEM Education, Clarkson University Honors Program, Second Natures Offset Network, and the St. Lawrence County Land Trust.

What makes this project especially unique is the partnership that was created between Clarkson University and Second Natures Offset Network. While forest inventories were being conducted on the property, The MS student created an Avoided Conversion Offset Protocol with the assistance of the Offset Network for her MS project report. This protocol is designed and written by students, for students and higher education institutions to utilize as part of hands-on experiential education and creating a “living laboratory” environment for their students. It attempts to lower almost all barriers put into place that could potentially stop colleges and universities from participating in the voluntary carbon offset market and help expedite their journeys to carbon neutrality. This protocol was based on the Climate Action Reserves Forest Protocol v 5.0 and Duke Universities Carbon Offsets Initiative Urban Forestry Carbon Offset Protocol 3.0, but was adjusted to allow for smaller projects to be considered, easier interpretation by students ages 16+, and peer reviewing for approval of projects.

Since this project’s start in 2022, over 100 students ages 13-21 have participated in the data collection field work components of the forest inventory required to estimate the baseline carbon stocks of the property. These students were part of Clarkson’s Horizons summer camp sponsored through the Institute of STEM Education, along with students who are part of our Honors Program. Additionally, all students in the first-year Biology laboratory tromp through our campus forests to measure trees and add to our database of carbon storage and sequestration on campus.

This project is ongoing and is anticipated to be for the foreseeable future as we continue to work with the St. Lawrence Land Trust and Offset Network on both the finalization and publication of the protocol along with the last stages of placing the conservation easement on the property. We hope to continue to involve students as much as we possibly can, from all types of backgrounds, disciplines, majors, and ages. Environmental education is so imperative as we continue the fight against climate change and we are extremely lucky here at Clarkson to have the chance of working alongside so many outside organizations to help provide and offer our students as many opportunities for unique, quality education as possible.