In January 2009, Chancellor Brady Deaton signed the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment, which pledged MU to a carbon-neutral future. MU created a sustainability office, hired a sustainability director, and ramped up its energy conservation and education efforts.
How are they doing? Since 1990:
• Energy use per gross square foot decreased 13 percent
• Water use per gross square foot decreased 61 percent
• Overall gross square feet increased 63 percent
• Overall energy use declined 28 percent
• Carbon emissions declined 8 percent
Where are they going? By 2015:
• The goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent
How are they doing it?
• In 2012, a new biomass burner will fuel the campus, replacing coal with wood chips and other organic material.
• Renovations and new construction projects will require low-energy modeling, such as air-barrier testing, occupancy sensors and new lighting technology.
• Underground utility infrastructure will be upgraded to improve distribution efficiency.
• MU will study the feasibility of solar hot-water panels at the MU Power Plant and other renewable-energy technologies, and work to optimize space on campus.
The Sound of Stillness
Kelsey Winkeljohn
