Alert: Plaza Building Is Closed

Learn More

Contact Us

 

Jarrett Smith
Sustainability Manager
Jarrett.Smith@cuanschutz.edu

 

 

 

We need you! The Climate Action Plan is a collaborative process and the community's voice is important in shaping the University's sustainability goals. Check the calendar for a list of upcoming opportunities! The event information will be updated as details are finalized, such as time and place. 

The Climate Action Plan (CAP) serves as a more expansive blueprint for campus sustainability efforts. Building on the EMP’s strategies for energy conservation, the CAP will also address Scope 3 greenhouse gas reduction, water use, waste diversion, education, campus curriculums and policies, and sustainability in research. 

Over the past several sessions at the Colorado capitol, the state legislature has been active in addressing climate change policy by setting aggressive goals on state agencies, including higher education, and the business community to address cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs) and Energy Use intensity (EUI) from facilities. CU Anschutz has been complying with these new protocols by placing all our facilities’ energy and GHG data into the EnergyStar Portfolio Manager. This allows us to track and monitor our data in real-time and more effectively plan for projects that will assist in meeting goals.

The latest GHG Reduction goals come from SB23-016 which calls for the following reductions from our GHG baseline:

  • 26% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025
  • 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
  • 65% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035
  • 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040
  • 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2045
  • 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050

Energy Use Intensity, or energy used per square foot, reduction goals were established by HB21-1286 and require the following reductions from a 2021 baseline:

  • 7% reduction in average EUI by 2026
  • 20% reduction in average EUI by 2030

The CU System has also developed sustainability and climate action goals as part of the CU System Strategic Plan created in 2020. This plan has differing goals for each CU campus to meet by 2026 and includes its own GHG and EUI reduction goals. These goals are a 15% reduction in GHG emissions (2019 baseline) and a 10% reduction in Energy Use Intensity (2019 baseline).

Other strategic goals include a commitment to 5% on-site renewable energy generation, transition 20% of fleet vehicles to electric, as well as the development of an Energy Master Plan and a new Climate Action Plan.

 

CMS Login