Earlham College Climate Action Planning

Developing a Neutrality Pathway in Times of Uncertainty.

Earlham College is a private liberal arts college established in 1847 on an 800-acre campus in Richmond, Indiana.  Earlham has made progressive advancements towards sustainability and climate action and has been regularly included in the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges.  As a signatory of the Climate Commitment, they have been reporting their greenhouse gas inventories to Second Nature for the past 3 years.   Like many of their peers, Earlham has felt the impact of COVID with shifting physical space needs and reduced admission rates.

Earlham has been tackling energy efficiency and conservation measures and addressing deferred maintenance concerns of an aging building stock and steam network.     These compounding challenges along with their aggressive climate aspirations sparked Earlham to build their first Climate Action Plan.

BUSS was selected to lead their Climate Action Planning efforts focused on Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This 4-month process will be steered by facility staff, faculty and student groups and make the case for investment to President and Chief Financial Officer at the College.  It will be critical that this effort is action-oriented to achieve neutrality while ensuring investments are aligned to mission of the institution and within the financial realities of the College.

Core to this challenge is how a small college can strategically position a roadmap to a fossil-free future (read: away from natural gas steam heating system) while embracing growth and being very mindful of financial hurdles of large capital investment in infrastructure.

Location: Richmond, Indiana

Client:  Earlham College Date: 2022