POUGHKEEPSIE – Vassar College will be moving toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030 with the board of trustees declaring its support for a $13 million package of major renovations and upgrades to the college’s heating system and other energy-saving projects.
The improvements will be funded through bonding, which is expected to be approved at the February meetings of the trustees.
Board Chairman Anthony Friscia called the plan “the next step in Vassar’s commitment to being a leader in the effort to address climate change.”
He said the improvements in energy efficiency are the “next logical steps in Vassar’s ongoing goal of reducing our carbon footprint and promoting climate sustainability through a range of campus activities and initiatives.”
The projects are expected to reduce the college’s annual carbon emissions from its current level of 17,050 metric tons to less than 7,000 by 2022.
“Sustainability often means choosing between the environment and the bottom line,” said college Sustainability Director Micah Kenfield. “Fortunately, this suite of projects would not only drastically shrink Vassar’s carbon footprint, but also save the college roughly $900,000 per year through energy conservation and asset renewal.”
