An overview of some of the initiatives Penn State is taking to reduce their carbon emissions.
Written by Ashley Currey November 6th, 2023
During my time at Penn State, many classes and clubs have informed me about Penn State’s current goals, one of which is to go net-zero by 2035. Even though we have managed to reduce GHG emissions by 42% since 2005, we have set a more aggressive goal to combat climate change.
Here’s how:
1. Going Solar
In recent years, Penn State has been purchasing 25% of its energy from a bp solar farm located in Franklin County, PA. In addition to this, Penn State has its own on-campus solar farm that produces 1% of the energy for the University Park campus.
2. Using an Electric Fleet
Penn State has started using more electric vehicles and plans on switching all its vehicles to electric to meet its 2035 goal. Their current fleet is being charged using the solar panels on campus as mentioned above. In addition to this, students can also charge their personal electric vehicles in select parking garages for $1/hour.
3. Getting Students Involved
There are many ways that students can get involved in Penn State’s sustainability initiatives. The Penn State Sustainability Institute offers some student organizations donations credited to THON on that organization's behalf. One way an organization can receive these donations is by volunteering to collect recyclables left in Beaver Stadium the morning after a game. Also related to game days, select members of the EcoReps organization on campus are stationed in third-floor stadium suites to assist in responsible assortment of waste.
These are only a select few of the things Penn State is doing to reach their net-zero goals. To learn more, be sure to check out https://sustainability.psu.edu/.
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