Carbon Neutrality Plan

Our commitment to becoming carbon neutral has led to the College funding the Office of Green Initiatives, establishing the Green Revolving Fund, and creating the Sustainability Steering Committee, which have all been important steps. Achieving carbon neutrality will require continuous improvements in several fields, including energy, infrastructure, transportation, and waste management. Some initiatives are already in progress and some have yet to take their first step. We are always looking for new ways to refine our efforts and accelerate towards our carbon footprint benchmarks. 

Our Path to Carbon Neutrality

Our plan for carbon neutrality by 2040 relies on averaging an annual 5 percent (of 2015 baseline) reduction in CO₂ emissions each year. Four benchmarks established in the Carbon Neutrality Plan allow us to track progress and adjust our efforts accordingly.

The Sustainability Steering Committee

Comprised of staff, faculty, and representative students, the Sustainability Steering Committee (SSC) was established in 2019 to review and oversee Kenyon’s environmental efforts through a variety of lenses. The committee works to ensure maximum integration of sustainability into the college’s curriculum while supporting green initiatives, their development, implementation, and communication.

Membership includes:

  • A member of the faculty selected from the Faculty Working Group on Climate
  • An associate provost
  • The Director of Green Initiatives
  • The Vice President of Facilities, Planning and Sustainability
  • The Director of Facilities Operations
  • The Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs
  • The President’s Chief of Staff
  • Two student members, appointed through an application process

To submit your green initiatives to the SSC, fill out this form.

The Green Revolving Fund

In the spring of 2017, an independent study comprised of five students and one faculty mentor, devised a plan that would allow the College to responsibly finance steps towards carbon neutrality. The Green Revolving Fund is a financing mechanism that funds carbon reduction projects that result in significant financial and energy savings. These savings are then looped back into the fund, allowing it to grow and making it more financially feasible for the College to venture into larger energy efficiency projects. The GRF lays out short and long term sustainability projects, including those proposed by student and faculty members.

The GRF grows in the following ways:

  • Direct donations
  • Savings from efficiency improvements in existing buildings through the repair and replacement process (RR) for the first 3-5 years
  • Long-term savings from projects funded by the GRF itself