Pomona College
IN-3: Innovation 3

In 2007, Pomona College signed the American College and University President's Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). Pomona College began tracking and submitting a greenhouse gas emissions inventory in 2008. In 2009, the College created a Climate Action Plan, with modest goals of 26% reductions by 2020 and 75% reductions by 2050. However, with growing concerns about global climate change and recognizing Pomona College’s leadership capabilities, the President and Board of Trustees in May 2015 declared a commitment of carbon neutrality by 2030. Pomona College is updating our Climate Action Plan to include a comprehensive, strategic energy retrofit plan. We are expecting to complete the plan by May 2017. Pomona College’s largest greenhouse gas contributor is energy usage (70% for FY 2015 emissions). As such, Pomona College will prioritize efforts through energy conservation (behavior modification and elimination of use), energy efficiency (technology improvements), renewables (purchase and development of alternative energy sources), and offsets (third-party or off-campus offsetting of emissions).

Through our Climate Action Plan and aggressive Carbon Neutral 2030 commitment, Pomona College has experienced success in many areas of greenhouse gas reduction. Pomona College’s main sources of emissions (using FY 2015 as a reference) are energy usage (70%), college travel (18%), study abroad travel (6%) and commuting (4%). To address energy usage, Pomona College focuses on LEED standards for new construction and retrofitting existing buildings. Pomona College currently has 10 LEED certified buildings on campus. Most recently, Millikan Laboratory and Andrew Science Hall achieved a Platinum rating and received an award from LEED Los Angeles region for outstanding energy efficiency, scoring 32 out of 35 points in the Energy & Atmosphere category. As part of our Sustainability Action Plan (the plan that contains the Climate Action Plan), Pomona College completes an extensive Sustainability Annual Report. Compared to our 2008 baseline, Pomona College has reduced emissions by 16%. When comparing fiscal year (FY) 2015 levels to FY 2014, Pomona College has reduced emissions in each of the following categories: commuting by 25%, natural gas by 4%, study abroad travel by 3%, and college travel by 2%. Compared to FY 2009 levels, campus energy usage has decreased 15%, despite increases in building square footage. Onsite renewable energy production comprises 1.7% of campus energy. Since the panels have been installed, over 1,300 tons of CO2 has been avoided. Furthermore, in just over a decade, the Board has approved investing more than $26 million in sustainable building practices on campus and expects to invest millions more in the years ahead.