Following a milestone 75% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, the University will establish a new campus heating network that reduces emissions and dramatically increases efficiency and resiliency.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] - As Brown University moves toward a pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, the University will take a major step toward decarbonization and energy resiliency by creating a modern, sustainable thermal energy system on its College Hill campus.
Brown will advance its in-progress transition away from fossil fuels through a new multi-phase initiative to upgrade how the campus creates and distributes heat. As the next step in a series of long-term actions toward its net-zero commitment, the initiative follows official third-party verification in May that Brown achieved its initial goal to cut greenhouse emissions 75% below 2017-18 levels by 2025.
The first phase of the new initiative - the Sustainable Thermal Energy Program - will build on Brown's progress to date and reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by an additional 8% to 10% while laying the groundwork for future electrification and progress toward the 2040 net-zero goal.
"After achieving our initial greenhouse gas reduction goal in less than a decade, this initiative keeps us forging ahead toward campus decarbonization and the transition away from fossil fuels," said Michael Guglielmo Jr., Brown's vice president for facilities and campus operations. "We've built a roadmap that we continue to evolve and refine in response to technology advancements and emerging opportunities, all in support of our critical commitments to sustainability and resiliency through campus operations."
