WORLD WIND ENERGY NET

Pledging to significantly reduce emissions that contribute to global warming, President Amy Gutmann signed the American College University Presidents Climate Commitment in February 2007. The Commitment includes drafting an action plan by 2009 to achieve long term climate neutrality.

Penn’s first step was completed in August 2007, a comprehensive inventory of Penn’s greenhouse gas emissions. Penn already exceeds the other initial requirements of the Commitment by purchasing 30% of its electrical energy from wind sources, adopting an energy efficient appliance purchasing program, matching the U.S. Green Building Council LEED rating system in new buildings standards, and providing public transit access for faculty, students and staff. In 2006 the Environmental Protection Agency awarded Penn the “Individual Conference Champion” for purchasing 77.9% of all the green power in the Ivy League, and the “2006-07 College & University Green Power Challenge Collective Conference Champion” for helping the Ivy League achieve the largest collective purchase of green power. Penn is fulfilling its curriculum and student life components of the Commitment by including students on its Sustainability Advisory Group, inaugurating an undergraduate course on the Commitment this fall, and holding a symposium on Penn’s initiatives in October 2007.

The Presidents Climate Commitment is being coordinated and supported by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Second Nature, and ecoAmerica, working closely with the Leadership Circle of presidents and chancellors.