Goucher College Undertakes Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

Release date: February 24, 2009 |

Goucher College recently contracted with Environmental Health and Engineering (EH&E), Inc., a Massachusetts-based environmental and engineering consulting firm, to complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, as required by the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Goucher College President Sanford Ungar signed the commitment in the summer of 2007.

Within a year of signing the commitment, participating colleges and universities must complete an inventory of all their greenhouse gas emissions. Within two years, they must develop comprehensive institutional plans, interim goals, deadlines, and tracking systems for becoming “climate-neutral” — reducing or offsetting all greenhouse gas production to create a “neutral” effect on global warming.

Goucher’s administration will work closely with EH&E over the next few months to gather the data necessary to complete the greenhouse gas emissions inventory. EH&E will examine the college’s energy consumption; its direct, mobile, and fugitive greenhouse gas emissions; purchased energy; and indirect emissions, which includes commuting, air travel, waste disposal, contractor operations, and purchased goods and services. EH&E will also examine the college’s composting practices, as well as its purchasing of carbon offsets and/or Renewable Energy Certificates as part of the process.

The greenhouse gas inventory effort will set the stage for developing a Climate Action Plan, which will document how the college intends to achieve climate neutrality on campus. 

Goucher’s commitment to environmental sustainability is a key component of the college’s most recent strategic plan. For more information on Goucher’s green initiatives, visit www.goucher.edu/green.

Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. (www.eheinc.com) has provided environmental and engineering consulting for 20 years and offers a variety of services to help colleges and universities establish and advance their sustainability programs, from policy development to greenhouse gas inventories to energy conservation and management.