AS A SIGNATORY TO THE 2007 CLIMATE COMMITMENT, HAMILTON WAS immediately required to take a comprehensive inventory of its carbon emissions. Compiling a truly complete list was a challenge, since there is a limit to how far back records of community energy use reach. In addition, some information — such as a campus-wide survey of employees' commuting and air-travel practices — is inevitably inexact. But the core data, from a variety of Physical Plant records, was reliable and precise: meter readings for electricity and natural gas, and receipts for fuel oils and gasoline.
The news was not good, but it has quickly improved:
Between 2000 and 2007, Hamilton's gross carbon emissions climbed 26 per cent. In fiscal year 2000, the College's carbon footprint totaled 19,272 metric tons; in fiscal year 2007, the figure was 24,319 metric tons, the College's highest on record.
In fiscal 2008, however — the first year under the Climate Commitment — total carbon emissions fell to about 24,182.
That historic reversal comes despite the expansion of campus spaces and energy needs. In fact, the deeper numbers show that the College has been improving its energy performance per unit of space for some time. Between 2003 and 2008, campus building space — gross square footage — grew 13 percent, while carbon emissions increased just 9.8 percent.
Bellona attributes the turnaround in part to "improving the backdoor stuff, the mechanical systems and electrical systems." He points out that the Blood Fitness Center uses substantially less energy than it did as Saunders Hall, even though it is much larger. But, he adds, "the other aspect of it is that there's a larger sense of commitment and excitement as a whole in the community. It's not just about individuals anymore."
That awareness is crucial, because reducing Hamilton's carbon footprint — and humanity's as well — is not simply about minimizing direct emissions, things that can be seen and smelled at their sources, like heat and car exhaust. Most of Hamilton's emissions, like electricity, are actually indirect: They only appear off campus at places like power plants. Electrical usage is responsible for 45 percent of Hamilton's carbon emissions, while heating fuel accounts for another 27 percent. The remaining sources, in descending order, are air travel, gasoline usage from commuting and business travel, solid waste and refrigerants.
In signing the Climate Commitment, Hamilton took responsibility for all of its carbon emissions, not just the direct ones. The very invisibility of indirect emissions makes awareness an ongoing project. "We're educating each other about the possibilities," Leach says. "With people talking about issues, change is more likely to happen."
