Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions  -  October 22, 2024

Duke University Achieves Carbon Neutrality Goal

Duke University announced it reached its 2024 carbon neutrality goal and is now looking toward its climate objectives for 2050.

The Durham, North Carolina, academic institution signed its carbon neutrality commitment in 2007.

“We’re trying to do a careful reorientation of what we’re calling the next-generation carbon goal,” said Lindsay Batchelor, climate and sustainability director for campus, in a statement. “It has to be based on the latest science, bearing in mind that Duke will still have to consume energy to run a university of 256 buildings, bus and maintenance fleets, and more. Duke’s next-generation climate action plan will also include sustainable operations goals and strategies for areas such as waste, transportation, food, and water.”

The university recently invested in a large solar project that will come online next year. In mid-2025, three large solar arrays built off campus will begin producing renewable energy, providing the equivalent of half of the electricity campus uses. The partnership with Pine Gate Renewables is a 101-megawatt solar system that is expected to generate up to 240,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy annually. 

Duke will also continue to seek other sources of renewable electricity, including renewable natural gas.

The Operations subcommittee of Duke’s Climate Commitment Advisory Council is now working with Duke leadership to establish a new net-zero target for 2050 during the 2024-2025 academic year. The institution will create targets for emission sources that it has the most control over, primarily energy used on campus.

The new Climate Action Plan’s other large evolutionary step is including the Duke University Health System and all of its buildings on campus and around the Triangle area. The Health System will establish its own targets towards the larger Duke University climate goal.

The campus plans to continue to move toward LED lighting, upgrading air handling equipment in buildings, converting to hot water for heating and possibly tapping geothermal energy.

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