Yale Bulletin and Calendar

October 14, 2005|Volume 34, Number 7

University will work to curb
greenhouse gas emissions

Yale leaders have announced that the University will seek to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 10% below 1990 levels through investment in energy conservation and alternate energy sources.

"Yale recognizes the need to respond to and prepare for the unprecedented circumstances that we face with respect to energy production, consumption and related carbon emissions," said President Richard C. Levin, Provost Andrew Hamilton and John Pepper, vice president for finance and administration, in a joint statement to the University community.

"As an institution," they added, "Yale is committed to becoming a model university that prepares its students for facing the pressing environmental conditions and taking a leadership role among higher education institutions to respond to the energy challenge."

The University's emission reduction goal, a recommendation of a Yale Energy Task Force convened in 2004, is consistent with a similar commitment by the Connecticut State Legislature and the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Climate Change Action Plan. The University aims to reach its goal by 2020 through a combination of a strong energy conservation program, investing in alternative energy sources, purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates, and implementing on-site renewable and clean energy demonstration projects.

"Every one of us on campus has a role to play in helping achieve this goal, by conserving energy and by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that flow from its use," the University officials said. "Effective conservation programs can further free up funds within the University budget that will in turn be invested in renewable and non-CO2 emitting forms of energy."

Energy conservation targets that are part of Yale's plan include a 15% reduction in the 12 undergraduate residential colleges within three years and a 10% reduction in energy consumption in other Yale facilities.

Two student groups, New Haven Action and the Student Task Force for Environmental Partnership, will take the lead in engaging and educating students on how to participate in advancing Yale's goals for energy conservation.

The goal of reducing greenhouse emissions has also been supported by the Advisory Committee on Environmental Management, under the leadership of Professor Thomas Graedel.

Additional information about Yale's 15-year Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Renewable Energy strategic plan may be found at www.yale.edu/sustainability.

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

University will work to curb greenhouse gas emissions

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Yale participating in human genome initiative

Former World Fellows will return to campus for forum

Literary theorist wins Israel's EMET Prize for contributions

'Aesthetics & Politics' in Pakistan to be explored

Experts to address global warming at conference

Treasures from Yale's Collections

Panel to focus on debate over career vs. motherhood

Event honors Jacques Derrida, originator of 'deconstruction'

Chemistry department symposium to celebrate opening of building

Events pay tribute to former University printer Greer Allen

Yale Books in Brief

Edward Kaplan has been designated as an INFORMS fellow