Colgate University recently implemented a geothermal heating system at Bernstein Hall which exemplifies its commitment to sustainability and reducing the campus’ carbon footprint. This development is a major step in Colgate’s commitment to sustainability and decarbonization, making the campus greener and more energy-efficient.
As an Environmental Economics major, it means a lot to me that Colgate’s administration continues to keep itself accountable by taking action towards sustainability. One of the biggest reasons I chose Colgate was for its integration of sustainability in the course offerings, extracurriculars, dining halls and buildings. It is unusual to find a school with like minded individuals who all see the state of the environment as something worth investing in, and I think this is one of Colgate’s most admirable characteristics. Colgate is authentic to its morals and this is what makes Colgate a leader in all areas.
The geothermal system replaces traditional fossil fuel-based heating with a cleaner, renewable alternative. Geothermal energy harnesses the natural heat from beneath the Earth’s surface, providing a consistent and reliable source of cheap energy. While this technology may be more expensive to install, it is generally accepted as a cost-effective heating system because the money saved by not purchasing fossil fuels outweighs the initial cost over time.
Geothermal heating systems work by tapping into the Earth’s stable underground temperatures, which remain relatively unaffected by fluctuations in temperature above ground. The system then circulates water through underground pipes and transfers the heat to and from the building, depending on the season. During the colder months, the system extracts heat from the ground to warm the building, and in warmer months, it reverses the process, drawing heat out of the building to cool it.
Traditional heating methods rely on gas, oil or other fossil fuels, which release harmful emissions and chemicals into the atmosphere when burned. These emissions, like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, then accumulate and trap heat from the sun that would normally radiate back to space. This causes the Earth’s temperatures to rise and contributes to many of our world’s most pressing environmental issues like sea-level rise, biodiversity loss and intensifying storms. In contrast, geothermal heating uses significantly less energy and produces zero emissions on site. Thus, this new system will reduce Bernstein Hall’s emissions by 70%. Colgate stands as a role model for other universities to embrace renewable energy.
This stride towards a more sustainable campus is nothing new for Colgate, seeing as the University became the first college in New York to reach carbon neutrality in 2019. More recently, Colgate received recognition for its efforts when it achieved an impressive fourth place overall among baccalaureate institutions in the 2024 Sustainable Campus Index, which is published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This index is based on the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) that measures sustainability achievements across several areas such as energy use, waste reduction, curriculum integration, campus engagement and green building practices. Colgate stands out once again as a leader in sustainability and as a university which sticks to its word rather than setting high goals and never actually making progress towards achieving them.
Bernstein Hall is not a one-off experiment at Colgate. In fact, Colgate has many long-term plans with even more impressive environmentally friendly technology. These plans, outlined in Colgate University’s 2024 Green Building Standards, prioritize energy conservation, decarbonization as well as sustainability for all new construction and major renovations. According to these standards, all new buildings and major renovations are required to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification or higher. A standout feature of Colgate’s approach is the adoption of passive house principles, which maximize energy efficiency by using advanced insulation, airtight construction and energy recovery ventilation. This means every bit of energy is carefully managed, reducing waste and boosting sustainability.
Bernstein Hall’s geothermal heating is just the beginning; future endeavors related to water efficiency, LED lighting and electric vehicles for Campus Safety are all part of Colgate’s long-term plan. Additionally, Colgate’s Office of Sustainability and others on campus have been working for over a year to figure out the logistics of organizing a large-scale compost system. They are hoping to start that partnership for industrial composting in Spring 2025 for Frank Dining Hall and O’Connor Campus Center (the Coop) for a test-run. This new system would significantly reduce the amount of waste that Colgate sends to landfills. This has been an ongoing issue for Colgate since there are no recycling or composting sites in Madison County.
The geothermal project is expected to serve as a case study for courses in sustainability and environmental economics, allowing students to engage with real-world applications of the concepts they study in class — so keep an eye out for this in the next round of course selection!
