Could we power the campus with renewable energy? Which renewable energy source is most feasible?
These questions and more inform the college's actions towards reducing our climate impacts. Earlham is currently engaged with Performance Services, a consulting firm in Indianapolis, to reduce our energy usage on campus and study the feasibility producing renewable energy on college-owned land.
Earlham has also undertaken an energy savings project that will reduce energy consumption by 25% by upgrading campus lighting, water fixtures, heating, ventilation, and cooling sytems. This project was a $3.5 million investment made by the Board of Directors that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus by 3,500 metric tons and water usage by 3 million gallons per year. The project will pay for itself in 8 years through cost-savings. Read more about this project here.
The college is also engaging in significant steps to reduce energy usage across campus through behavioral change initiatives like our annual Energy Wars dorm competition.