CLU named Climate Action Leader

University's carbon footprint is smaller than average

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(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Feb. 6, 2009) California Lutheran University has been named a Climate Action Leader for participating in the country’s most rigorous voluntary greenhouse gas reporting program.

The California Climate Action Registry recognizes organizations that have measured, verified and reported their emissions to the registry and the public. The report measures the university’s carbon footprint, the amount of climate-changing greenhouse gases its activities produce. The report is available at https://www.climateregistry.org/CARROT/public/reports.aspx.

CLU produces just less than four tons of carbon emissions per student on its main campus in Thousand Oaks and satellite centers in Woodland Hills and Oxnard. On average, universities produce close to 10 tons per student. Colleges in Southern California that are similar to Cal Lutheran produce 75 percent more emissions than CLU.

The university’s efforts to implement eco-friendly measures began 15 years ago and have included the early implementation of a campus-wide energy management system, use of solar water heating and installation of energy-efficient windows.

More recently, administrators and faculty members formed a CLU Sustainability Task Force and began developing a comprehensive plan. In the fall, the campus’ food service vendor began using more biodegradable packaging and organically grown food and eliminated trays to save water and electricity and reduce food waste. The new residence hall and facilities building that are currently under construction on the Thousand Oaks campus will have several sustainability features. And the university will break ground on its first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building, the Swenson Center for Academic Excellence, in June.

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