Unity College Reduces Carbon Footprint, Establishes Agreement to Purchase Carbon Off-Sets from Maine Housing

With climate change looming, state agencies, private corporations, colleges, universities and individuals have all started to take steps to reduce carbon emissions and lessen or in some cases, eliminate their carbon foot print. Unity College is no different and continues to take steps to work towards a 60% reduction by 2010 and ultimately zero carbon emissions by 2015. These goals are a true example of environmentalism for the real world. Students, faculty, staff and administrators of Unity College continually implement small-scale projects which ultimately add up to accomplish a major goal. Unity College hopes to show all citizens that everybody can take small steps that are visible to everyone. Unity College has many avenues available in order to work towards the zero emissions goal, and as of April 22, 2008, a major step has been taken towards eliminating the carbon footprint of Unity College.

During a press conference held in Quimby Library on the Unity College campus on Earth Day, April 22, 2008 Unity formed a major partnership that is the first of its kind in the nation. In an agreement with Maine Housing, Unity College will purchase carbon off-sets to reduce its net annual emissions. Not only does this agreement enable Unity College to take one more step toward reaching the goal of zero emissions by 2015, this agreement helps funnel money back into the local community. In particular, this money will benefit low income families and individuals that rely on Maine Housing.

Money generated through the sale of carbon off-sets to Unity College will help Maine Housing install additional Solar Thermal units in low income housing units across Maine. In turn, carbon emissions will be reduced. Maine Housing tracks these reductions in a Carbon Registry. From there, additional carbon off-sets will be purchased by institutions such as Unity College. This flow of money for carbon off sets helps institutions such as Unity achieve pivotal goals while also providing assistance to the most needy of Maine’s population. Currently, the carbon market has grown to approximately $60 billion in trading.

As Unity considers its future, the College must take additional steps in an effort to become more sustainable and further reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. This agreement with Maine Housing will purchase 250 carbon off-sets a year. Each off-set is for one ton of carbon. Currently, Unity’s annual carbon emissions total approximately 1023 tons. As a result, Unity will have reduced its carbon footprint by 24.4%. An agreement such as this comes with a cost to the institution; however the total is surprisingly minimal. This cost is a price that Unity College is willing to pay in exchange for the benefit of assisting low-income individuals and families across Maine.

Unity College considers working to benefit local communities to be a core value. In the long term, if Unity is to achieve the carbon reduction goals by the established dates, the College stands to gain in a variety of ways. College officials believe this agreement will not only help low income residents in Maine, but possibly lead other colleges and universities to follow suit.
In addition to purchasing carbon off sets, Unity has other projects planned in order to reduce the overall emissions of the College. In the near future, a wood pellet boiler will be installed to replace the current oil furnace used to heat Quimby Library. In addition, the Unity College Master Planning process has identified the need to keep the current student activities building for at least the medium term. With each new step taken, Unity continues to place itself at the forefront of the nation-wide push to reduce carbon emissions in an effort to slow global climate change.

Along with installing upgrades and new features to sustain existing buildings, as Unity moves into the future with the current Master Planning process, every new building called for by the Master Plan will be built to be LEED certifiable. By ensuring that every measure is taken to make each new project sustainable, Unity College will continue to make strides to achieve its zero emissions goal. Mitch Thomashow, president of Unity College, remarked that each project is a small step taken to address the “catastrophic increase in climate change.” With each new measure put in place, Unity will continue to be role model for sustainability. It is already being recognized as a leader in efficiency and sustainability by many educational institutions throughout the state and country.

Ultimately, this landmark agreement between Unity College and Maine Housing lays the ground work for what is likely to become a nationwide trend. By setting aside barriers and looking locally, Unity College has proved that it is possible to achieve conservation goals while benefiting the local community. President Mitch Thomashow pointed out that this agreement is one more step that works to “broaden the constituency for conservation.”