Agnes Scott College

Located in Decatur, GA, Agnes Scott has a roughly 100-acre campus with 27 institutional buildings totaling approximately 1,000,000 sq ft, serving around 1,000 students. In 2007, Agnes Scott College became a charter signatory of the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which committed Agnes Scott to be carbon neutral by 2037. It was the belief of the Agnes Scott team at that time that in order for the college to deliver on its mission to educate its students to both live honorably and engage in the intellectual and social challenges of their times, students must have a robust understanding of climate change and climate justice.

Despite challenges like campus community growth, and lack of innovative and robust renewable energy programs, the college has made significant progress toward its carbon neutrality goal. Joining the Better Climate Challenge is one strategy for achieving carbon neutrality. Agnes Scott also plans to implement energy reduction strategies, invest in renewable sources of energy, educate the campus community to be mindful stewards of the environment, promote cleaner modes of transportation, and develop community-focused carbon offsets that have regenerative benefits to our vulnerable region. By leveraging the unique financing structure of the college’s Green Revolving Fund, Agnes Scott has aggressively pursued performance and efficiency improvements toward its carbon neutrality goal. Since 2007, Agnes Scott has:

Set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2037 and reduced emissions of Scopes 1 and 2 by 40% to date and is on track to achieve a 50% reduction by the end of 2022.
Completed a landmark Climate Resilience Plan in partnership with the City of Decatur.
Installed a quarter megawatt of solar power and two geothermal HVAC systems.
Pioneered the use of a Green Revolving Fund, raising $1 million from donors combined with $1 million in energy savings to invest more than $2 million in energy and water efficiency.
Developed a multidisciplinary environmental and sustainability minor with the number of students declaring the minor reaching a record 15 students.
Created a Center for Sustainability, unique for a college of Agnes Scott’s size, which works to integrate sustainability into both the college’s operations and its curriculum and houses at least two full-time staff and five or more student interns and volunteers during each semester.

PORTFOLIO-WIDE LEADERSHIP COMMITMENTS

50% GHG reduction in 10 years

20% reduction in energy intensity

Presentation

Weather It Together: Energy Strategy and Community Resilience

Performance Data

Solutions

Leadership Commitments

Better Climate Challenge

Goal

Commitment

Progress

DOE Program Participation