Carleton receives national Excellence in Sustainability Award

Carleton is one of just two colleges nationwide to receive the 2019 Excellence in Sustainability Award from the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). The award was presented on July 14 at the NACUBO annual meeting in Austin, Texas.

The Excellence in Sustainability Award recognizes Carleton for transforming the energy profile of its campus with the Utility Master Plan. By transitioning the college’s 100-year-old steam system to hot-water heating from a centralized ground source geothermal heat pump system, Carleton anticipates a 40% reduction in campus energy use and a sizable reduction in carbon emissions, as well as a 30% reduction in combined utilities and operations costs in the first full year.

“The whole Carleton team was honored to receive this prestigious award on behalf of all those who have supported this landmark project,” said Martha Larson, Carleton’s manager of campus energy and sustainability. “We are also excited to see other schools using Carleton as an example for similar projects that blend modernization and carbon reduction.”

The Excellence in Sustainability Award was also presented to Swarthmore College for its carbon pricing model.

“Linking sustainability initiatives to business strategy is essential—not just for the environment, but for the bottom lines of colleges and universities as well,” said NACUBO President and CEO Susan Whealler Johnston. “Carleton College and Swarthmore College are the innovative pioneers the higher education community needs to model as we look for creative ways to evolve and improve.”

Also at the NACUBO annual meeting, Carleton Vice President and Treasurer Fred Rogers ’72 presented on the college’s Utility Master Plan. A poster is available for online viewing.