Climate & Energy

Picture of the power plant from Alumnae Valley

Roadmap Towards Carbon Neutrality

In 2016, Wellesley College’s Sustainability Plan was approved by the Board of Trustees to serve as a strategic document outlining targets for advancing sustainability at the College in a number of sectors, including Climate & Energy. The plan established 10- and 20-year GHG emission reduction goals, and set the groundwork for long-term carbon neutrality planning to align with Wellesley College’s long-standing commitment to global leadership, energy efficiency, environmental responsibility, and financial stewardship. The Sustainability Plan outlines goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37% by 2026 and 44% by 2036 from a 2010 baseline. The E2040 working group was created in 2019 to help the college move forward on its long-term carbon neutrality plan. 

Since 2010, Wellesley College has pursued a number of energy efficiency projects to reduce our GHG emissions from our 2010 baseline measurement of 32,600 metric tons of CO2. By 2017, GHG emissions were reduced by 11% by converting to natural gas from fuel oil and through energy conservation projects. The current goal is to meet the 2026 Sustainability Plan target of 37% reduction by 2022. Reducing energy usage demand and modernizing the central plant are two ongoing projects that will help the College reach its 2026 goal ahead of schedule. 

E2040 planning is currently underway to identify Wellesley College’s pathway to meet its 2036 goal of 44% GHG emissions reduction (from the 2010 baseline), and then achieve the goal of carbon neutrality around 2040.

 

Central Plant Modernization 

  • Modernize the existing boiler plant to optimize the use of natural gas and reduce GHG emissions 

  • Dismantle the natural gas burning cogeneration plant and use “greener” grid electricity. 

  • Convert the natural gas burning steam chiller plant to all-electric chiller plant to reduce GHG 

  • Estimated completion: 2022

 

Reducing Energy Usage Demand Projects

  • Upgrade lighting to LED lighting campus-wide and install motion-sensored lighting

  • Building retro-commissioning, system repairs and building controls to ensure optimized operation and energy efficiency.

  • Repair pipe insulation and steam trap repairs to conserve energy.

  • Estimated completion: 2022