Solutions Center

The Solutions Center identifies carbon and energy reducing activities to support campus climate action goals. The objective of the Solutions Center is to help campuses review more quickly the solutions available and to help build a presentation for decision makers to be able to assess and prioritize decisions faster in order to accelerate climate action. 

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Solution Category GHG Impact Economic Impact Feasibility Timeline Maintenance Publicity
Biogas Alternative Fuels, Energy Supply Large Neutral Difficult 2-5 years Low / None That's cool
Building Envelope Energy Demand, Energy Efficiency, High-performance Buildings Moderate Neutral Difficult 2-5 years Low / None That's interesting
Carbon Offsets Carbon Offsets Large Small Net Cost Doable < 1 year Low / None That's cool
Carbon Pricing Carbon Pricing Enormous Small Net Cost Doable 1-2 years Low / None Wow!
Electrical Energy Storage Alternative Supply Systems, Energy Supply Low Small Net Cost Difficult 1-2 years Low / None That's really cool
Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) Business Practices, Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) Moderate Net Savings Doable 1-2 years High That's interesting
Equipment Practices Equipment Practices, Grounds Management Miniscule Neutral Some Challenges 1-2 years Moderate Under the radar
Green Labs Energy Demand, Energy Efficiency Large Net Savings Some Challenges 1-2 years Moderate That's cool
Ground Source Heating and Cooling Alternative Supply Systems, Energy Supply Enormous Net Savings A Big Lift 10 years + Moderate That's really cool
Heat Trading Energy Supply, Heat Trading Enormous Net Savings A Big Lift 5-10 years Low / None That's really cool
High-performance Building Standards Energy Demand, Energy Efficiency, High-performance Buildings Large Neutral Difficult 2-5 years Low / None Wow!
HVAC Energy Demand, Energy Efficiency Large Net Savings Some Challenges 1-2 years Moderate That's interesting
Improved Commuting Improved Commuting, Transportation Low Small Net Cost Difficult 1-2 years High Under the radar
Lighting Energy Demand, Energy Efficiency Moderate Net Savings Very Achievable < 1 year Low / None That's cool
Micro-mobility Programs Improved Commuting, Transportation Miniscule Neutral Doable 1-2 years Moderate That's interesting
Ongoing Commissioning Energy Demand, Energy Efficiency Moderate Net Savings Some Challenges < 1 year High That's cool
Public, Private, Partnerships (P3s) Business Practices, Public Private Partnerships (P3s), Sustainability Funding Strategies Enormous Large Net Savings A Big Lift 2-5 years Moderate Wow!
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) Energy Supply, Renewable Energy Credits Enormous Small Net Cost Doable < 1 year Low / None That's cool
Revolving Funds Business Practices, Revolving Funds Moderate Net Savings Doable 1-2 years Moderate That's interesting
Small Scale Wind Alternative Supply Systems, Energy Supply Miniscule Small Net Cost Some Challenges < 1 year Moderate That's really cool
Smart Infrastructure Energy Demand, Energy Efficiency Moderate Net Savings Very Achievable 1-2 years Moderate That's cool
Smart Labs Large Net Savings Very Achievable 2-5 years High That's interesting
Solar Photovoltaics Energy Supply, On-site Renewable Energy Low Neutral Some Challenges 1-2 years Low / None That's really cool
Sustainable Energy Services Agreement (SESA) Energy Supply Large Net Savings Doable < 1 year Low / None That's really cool
Sustainable Procurement Business Practices, Sustainable Procurement Low Neutral Some Challenges 1-2 years High That's interesting
Thermal Energy Storage Low Neutral Difficult 2-5 years Moderate That's interesting
Utility Rebate Programs Business Practices, Utility Rebate Programs Miniscule Small Net Cost Very Achievable < 1 year Moderate Under the radar
Utility-Scale Wind & Solar Energy Supply, Off-site Renewable Energy Enormous Large Net Savings Difficult 1-2 years Low / None Wow!

Second Nature would like to thank these campus professionals for their contributions to the Solutions Center.

The Solutions Center is a partnership with Second Nature, CustomerFirst Renewables (CFR), and Brailsford & Dunlavey.

*Except where otherwise noted, content in the Second Nature Solutions Center is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Learn more: Solutions Center Content License and Attribution Guidelines