Energy & Emissions

Northwestern’s GHG emissions are categorized and aligned to the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol as follows:

• Scope 1: These are the direct emissions occurring as a result of Northwestern’s use of fossil fuels, such as burning natural gas to heat campus facilities or using diesel or gasoline in campus owned and operated fleet vehicles.
• Scope 2: These are the indirect emissions from Northwestern’s use of electricity. They are considered indirect because electricity is consumed on campus, but the emissions occur from the burning of fossil fuels or other energy sources to produce electricity at a power plant.
• Scope 3: These are the indirect, “supply chain” emissions from other sources in Northwestern’s campus operations and cover a wide variety of topics. Examples include emissions from:
  • Procurement – energy and fossil fuel used in the production of goods and services Northwestern procures
  • Employee commuting – gas used in passenger vehicles that Northwestern employees drive to and from work
  • Waste – energy and fossil fuel used in the collection and disposal of waste produced on Northwestern’s campus

To reduce its emissions, Northwestern will prioritize energy efficiency, plan for the future of campus energy infrastructure and investigate additional renewable energy project opportunities. Northwestern will also better manage indirect emissions (Scope 3) across the University’s supply chain. To accomplish this, Northwestern will build upon existing policies, such as the University’s Energy Conservation Policy, to pursue actions that result in further emissions and energy reduction.

Goals

• Northwestern’s goal is to continue to measure and reduce the University’s overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, assessing and developing the tools necessary for a carbon neutral future.

Actions in Progress

• on-track

  Develop roadmap to meet climate mitigation goals.

• on-track

  Evaluate feasibility of shifting away from fossil fuels for on-campus heating and cooling.

• on-track

  Incremental purchase of credible carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs) to achieve carbon-neutrality, as an interim measure.

• on-track

  Develop and adopt a renewable energy procurement strategy giving priority to investing in and adding renewable energy capacity to targeted areas in the Midwest and Illinois, and/or locations with carbon intensive energy mixes, where feasible.

Ameresco Partnership

As part of its continuing climate leadership efforts, Northwestern University has partnered with Ameresco, a leading clean technology integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The initiative will help Northwestern significantly reduce its carbon footprint across both the Evanston and Chicago campuses while also providing learning opportunities for students.

Learn more here