Energy and Greenhouse Gases

In 2007 Lewis & Clark was one of 100 schools to sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging to be completely carbon neutral by 2050. Since 1997, over 500 other schools have followed our lead. 

On the occasion of the signing, President Hochstettler said, “Given our institution’s and sector’s responsibility to future generations, we are compelled to do our part to address the pernicious effects of global warming. By joining this climate-control commitment, the Lewis & Clark administration signals our support for the impressive work already being undertaken by our students and faculty to create a sustainable future.”

Lewis & Clark College was also the first independent college to sign the Talloires Declaration. L&C signed the declaration of Earth Day 2005. To learn more about the declaration go here. 

Reducing Our Footprint

In the 5 years Lewis & Clark began tracking our CO2 emissions to better understand how to live up to our commitment. This graph shows the CO2 generated by our electricity, gas, waste, and commuting usage. For a more detailed look at where these numbers come from go here. 

*Please note that our electricity numbers come from the Northwest mix of electricity (i.e., some of it comes from hydro, which doesn't produce carbon) 

                  Carbon Emissions per square foot            Carbon Emissions per student

2006                                  11.68                                                 4.009

2007                                  11.66                                                 4.092

2008                                  12.07                                                 4.233

See where those emissions come from

Look at our energy use over time

Concrete Steps

Currently 30 percent of the energy used at Lewis & Clark comes from renewable sources.

The majority of this is in the form of wind power generated at Portland General Electric's Columbia Gorge wind farm. This wind energy costs 1.1 cents more per kilowatt hour (kWhrs), part of which is covered by funds contributed by students specifically for this purpose. School funding covers the rest, which indicates the high level of commitment the Lewis & Clark budget committee has to renewable energy.

Since 1991, Lewis & Clark has invested $3.3 million in energy efficiency projects. The results of these investments include the following:

• Micro-turbines, which burn natural gas to create electricity and then recapture the heat expended by the engine to heat water, have been introduced. These have a two-to-three-year payback, making them economically efficient, as well.
• Incandescent lights have been replaced with florescent lights.
• LED lights, which have a life of about 80 years, have been installed in all building exit signs.
• A new central heating plant was built.
• All residence halls except for Akin, Stewart, and Odell now have their own heating plants using condensing boilers that are 95 percent efficient.
• New insulation and double-pane windows have been installed in Roberts Hall.
• installation of low flow shower heads, faucets, toilets, and urinals in residence halls
• motion activated toilets and faucets in academics and common use buildings
• LC's lawns are not watered, allowing grass to become dormant

See a complete list of energy-saving projects Lewis & Clark has undertaken since 1994.

In addition to developing energy saving projects Facilities also has a policy to purchase only energy star appliances whenever such specifications exist. 

These commitments toward sustainability have prompted the state of Oregon to reward Lewis & Clark financially every time our energy efficiency increases by 10 percent.

Solar Panels 

In 2009 installation was finally finished on a 100,000 KWH solar array on the top on Pamplin Sports Center.

This array will produce enough power to meet approximately 15 percent of the electricity needs for a facility like the sports center. And the array will deliver environmental benefits as well, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 1.8 million pounds over the course of the 20-year agreement. According to figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this is equivalent to removing more than 180 cars from the road for a year.

The project will also provide Lewis & Clark approximately $20,000 a year in energy savings and serve as an educational resource for faculty and students. Professors and students will be able see the real-time electrical output of the solar technology through a Web portal and learn how the system operates.

Energy Trust of Oregon, a public-purpose organization that promotes the use of efficient energy technologies and renewable resources, is helping fund the project.

“This type of agreement is a financially viable way for organizations to go green,” said Kacia Brockman, solar program manager for Energy Trust of Oregon. “Lewis & Clark is leading the way for other schools and creating advocates for solar energy in the process.”

Purchasing Green Energy

Last year, through our green energy purchasing program LC acquired 4,031,963 KWH of energy from renewable sources. This represents 27.25% of our total energy needs. 

Green Energy Initiative

Since the fall of 2007, every student enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences has had the opportunity to contribute $20 per academic year to the purchase of green energy. For each contribution, Lewis & Clark purchases 1,333 kWh of clean, renewable energy. The $20 goes directly to the purchase of Green Tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), a nonprofit organization based in Portland. Each Green Tag represents a specific amount of electricity from a wind turbine, a solar panel, or another renewable energy source.

The deadline to opt out of this program has passed.