Summary & Introduction

Inventory Summary
Green Mountain College completed its second GHG emissions inventory in August, 2009. This study compared emissions from the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 with the 2006-2007 fiscal year. Between 2007 and 2009, we reduced our carbon emissions per student by 19.18 percent. During that time we increased our student headcount by 14 percent, which resulted in more efficient use of facilities and personnel. Our online enrollments grew more than our residential enrollments, and online education is less carbon intensive.

We continued our program of increasing the energy efficiency of our facilities, through window replacement, steam line upgrades, and lighting changes. The combined effect of these changes was a significant reduction in carbon emissions per student. Emissions and their sources are documented in Figure 1. Institutional offsets are accounted for in Figure 2 (below).

Figure 1: Percentage GHG Emissions by Source


Figure 2: Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions
in Metric Tons CO2e