Carleton College: Sustainability: News

2012 Farm interns giving out watermelon and getting volunteers.

Wrapping up the season at the Carleton Student Organic Farm

November 8, 2012 at 8:27 am

After a fruitful season of growing at the Carleton Student Farm, it is time to put the land to rest and reflect on a job well done.

Students gather to give input on Carleton's Climate Action Plan

Students have their voice heard for our Climate Action Plan

November 10, 2010 at 1:57 pm

As part of our Climate Action Plan, Carleton solicited input from students at a town hall style dinner. The students generated a tremendous amount of ideas which can be found here.

A Renewable Summer Spent Under the Midnight Sun

October 12, 2010 at 2:41 pm

One Carleton student's adventures in Iceland, land of renewable energy.

Climate Action Plan Town Hall Meeting!

September 13, 2010 at 11:26 pm

On Wednesday, September 22nd, from 6 PM - 8 PM in the Great Hall, there will be a town hall meeting regarding Carleton's Climate Action Plan. This plan is…

2008 GHG Emissions Inventory posted

July 15, 2009 at 3:26 pm

Last year's greenhouse gas emissions have been calculated and the information is now available. Check it out and compare it to 2007's data and even to other schools!

Carleton student stress patterns and the SRF Initial Proposal deadline: an informal study

January 14, 2009 at 10:02 pm

Sustainability Revolving Fund projects are being submitted through a new format this term. The SRF Committee will review all project ideas submitted by Friday of 3rd week (Jan. 23). The Committe will then provide detailed information about campus resources specific to your project and identify the keys to turning your idea into a successful application. "But I'm stressed," you say. Nay nay. Read the following ground-breaking study which will explain how there is no time like the present to reduce some GHG emissions at Carleton, making us all happier in the process.

December A Record Month For Carleton Wind Turbine

January 6, 2009 at 11:00 am

Minnesota's weather often seems to me the creation of a disgruntled, vindictive child. Take, for example, the average wind speeds in the months of December and January. At the time when temperatures begin to really dip, southern Minnesota often experiences some of its highest average wind speeds of the year, so that an otherwise reasonable 5 or 10 degrees F can go to 10 or 15 below in a heartbeat. But while it's bad news for my face, all that wind is great news for wind turbines.

The Green Horizon of Sustainability Assessment

October 24, 2008 at 11:43 am

Over the past several years, college sustainability rankings and ratings have popped up all over the place but the STARS ranking, to be launched by AASHE in January 2009 will be the most comprehensive ranking yet. It deserves serious attention from Carleton as both a ranking and a resource for future action.

College Sustainability Rankings, Subjectivity and Criteria

October 15, 2008 at 4:34 pm

Carleton recently recieved an A- for the second straight year from the Sustainable Endowments Institute and was an honorable mention for the Sierra Clubs "Top Ten Cool Schools" list. But Carleton has been conspicuously absent from other list. Ray McGaughey explains how these rankings are very subjective and differ in their grading criteria.

Green, Greener, Greenest: Comments on Carleton’s Place in “Green College” Rankings

October 14, 2008 at 11:47 am

While numeric classifications tend not to shape members of the Carleton community, rankings of all sorts determine the way that others view our college. Evaluations of campus sustainability efforts form the latest lists. So I’ll cut to the chase—does Carleton measure up? We have been placed on some and absent on others, and while the value of magazine blurbs and ever-changing ranking remains dubious, I offer the following observations and comments about Carleton’s place among the Green:

The Mighty Turbine - January 2008 Data

February 6, 2008 at 2:56 pm

Wind Turbine

While the students and faculty at Carleton suffered from cold temperatures and blustery wind chills during the month of January, Carleton's wind turbine had a heyday. Throughout the month, the turbine generated 419,506 kilowatt-hours of electricity, generating the college $20,136.29 in income (since all energy produced is sold to Xcel Energy). However, if the energy generated from the turbine flowed directly to Carleton, it would have provided the campus with 36.4% of its needed electricity (based on 2006 use). Also, by providing renewable energy to the community's power grid, the turbine averted almost 258.44 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.