Carbon Footprint
An accounting of all the greenhouse gases resulting from University activities in one year
Carbon Footprint Update - September 2019
Carbon Footprint Update - May 2017
Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Environmental Committee has completed a study that shows the University reduced its carbon footprint by 6.8 percent over a five-year period (from the academic year 2011-2012 through 2015-2016).
A carbon footprint is an accounting of all the greenhouse gases resulting from University activities in one year, principally from the use of electricity, the combustion of natural gas to heat buildings and for hot water, and tailpipe emissions from cars and buses for commuting to and from campus.
The Environmental Committee attributed the reduced carbon footprint to two principal causes.
- The first was through the Public Buildings Enhanced Energy Efficiency Program administered by the State of Minnesota and brought to campus by former Minnesota State Mankato Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management Ron Fields in 2012-2013. By increasing the efficiency of the University’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, the Public Buildings Enhanced Energy Efficiency Program reduced the University’s carbon footprint by 4% and electricity and natural gas costs by $220,000 a year, at an initial net cost of $13,000.
- The second major cause of the decrease, according to the Environmental Committee, was a greater number of students either walking to campus instead of driving or not commuting at all.
January 2014 Report
- Carbon Footprint Report - January 2014 (PDF)
- Prepared by: Katie Anthony, LEED AP BD+C & O&M
- 1450 Energy Park Drive
- Suite 300
- St. Paul, MN 55108
- Main: 651-634-0775
- Fax: 651-634-7400
Public Meeting
- Tuesday, September 24, 2013
- 11-12am
- CSU 202
- Mankato Free Press (PDF)
- KEYC
