In the fall of 2008 Worcester Academy became one of the first schools across the country to sign the Green Schools Climate Commitment as a Climate Champion: achieve carbon neutrality by 2020.
This goal will be met through
1) securing renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal
2) improving and implementing best operational and cultural conservation and efficiency practices
3) purchasing of carbon-credits
Through the Green Schools Alliance, schools have a clear leadership and communication facilitator which will continue to be invaluable in moving forward with sustainability efforts. The GSA offers secondary schools the pivotal watershed moment and nexus for the formation, facilitation, and implementation of sound and essential climate policy. The resulting institutional and network capacity is essential in undertaking the monumental task of mitigating climate change and developing environmentally sustainable communities.
For more information on the Green School Climate Commitment, click on Green School Alliance under the Climate Change Policy category located in the right margin.
Current accounting methods for tracking and quantifying carbon neutrality are typically divided into three scopes. Scope 1- Direct Emissions: institution owned vehicles and fuel combustion. Scope 2- Indirect Emissions: purchased electricity. Scope 3- Indirect Emissions: all other upstream and downstream sources (commuting travel, product production and waste management, etc.). Schools across the country are trending towards taking ownership over Scope 1 and Scope 2 for their respective carbon neutrality goals while tracking and processing the complexities of Scope 3 emissions, some of which are incorporated into climate policy mandates.
Baselining data from the 2006-2007 school year, preliminary carbon equivalent emissions have been estimated for Scope 1 (heating only) and Scope 2 equal to approximately 5.3 million pounds or 2,650 metric tons.
