Colleges & Universities
Achieving net zero on and around campus.
Post-secondary educational institutions across North America can play a key role in the energy transition of our society. Most have a goal of reaching net zero emissions operations within the next 20 years, and there are great opportunities for them to adopt clear pathways to achieving these goals in practice.
Furthermore, colleges and universities can be an influential stakeholder and resource to help their host communities achieve breakthrough energy and climate performance.
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Perhaps most importantly, colleges and universities play a key role in providing the skills training that support the acceleration of the energy transition and our low-carbon future.
Garforth International has supported multiple colleges that have embraced these opportunities. The schools are teaming with their host communities to reach the broader zero emissions goals, and are systematically delivering on their own breakthrough goals.
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Through the rapid and consistent implementation of key strategies, these institutions and their communities are benefiting from a myriad of economic, social and environmental benefits of working towards their visionary goals.
Case Studies
Please explore some examples of our work with communities below.
Sheridan College - Oakville, Brampton, ON
Integrated Energy and Climate Master Plan (IECMP)
Sheridan College teamed with Garforth International to develop an Integrated Energy & Climate Master Plan (IECMP) for all three campuses in Oakville, Brampton and Mississauga. Operationally the goal was to achieve breakthrough reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions with attractive economic returns. The Plan also has the goal to offering excellence in energy and climate education aligned with the energy transformations underway globally. The Plan’s comprehensive recommendations were approved by Sheridan’s Board, creating a road-map for a successful multi-year implementation.
Sheridan College - Oakville, Brampton, ON
IECMP Implementation Support
Sheridan College retained Garforth International to provide support during the implementation of the College’s breakthrough Integrated Energy & Climate Master Plan. The support included ensuring the Plan’s strategic integrity was maintained throughput the detailed pre-engineering phase.
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Garforth's global team of associates assisted in ensuring
key aspects of the implementation reflected best practices and costs from around the world. This included the districtenergy system, existing and new building energy guidelines, and flexible low-carbon energy supply options. The IECMP’s original goals are being met in practice, and Sheridan is now on a path to net-zero emission performance well before 2050.
Henry Ford College - Dearborn, MI
Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP)
In 2017, Garforth teamed with Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan to develop an IEMP as a 20-year roadmap to increase energy efficiency by 60%, water efficiency by 40%, improve energy reliability, halve GHG emissions, all with acceptable economic returns. The Garforth Team created a flexible technical solution, supported by proven technologies that can evolve with the College over decades. A new on-campus Energy Learning Center will supply competitive, clean, and reliable energy from efficient sources. It will also be a “living classroom” for energy and climate courses.
Henry Ford College - Dearborn, MI
IEMP Implementation Support
Following the approval of the IEMP, Henry Ford College, assisted by Garforth International, designed an innovative 20-year Performance Partnership approach, that would ensure all operational and educational aspects of the Plan are implemented.
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An international team, led by Johnson Controls, was selected as the Performance Partner. Garforth International also assists the College in other areas including ongoing policy and technical guidance, curriculum development, community engagement and communications. Just three years from launch, energy efficiency has increased by 27%, water by 71% and greenhouse gas emission have dropped by 26%.
Humber College - Toronto, ON
Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP)
Humber College’s Integrated Energy Master Plan was developed by a collaborative team comprising both College and Garforth International members. The Plan calls for best-in-class energy and water efficiency, GHG emissions reductions, acceptable investment returns and world class academic offerings. A few years after the Plan’s approval, Humber is following its comprehensive implementation, and on track to meet or exceed all goals.
Lakeland Community College - Kirtland, OH
IEMP and Implementation Support
Lakeland Community College teamed with Garforth International to develop its Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP) - one of the first such plans in North America. Following approval of the Plan, Garforth was retained to provide ongoing strategic guidance and implementation support for some years.
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In under five years from starting implementation, Lakeland had cost-effectively cut electricity use by 40%, natural gas by 50%, water by 30%, and GHG emissions by 40%. In the same year the College received Bellwether Award for Green Initiatives as North American “Best in Class” for energy performance.
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Lakeland has continued to rigorously apply the expectations of the IEMP to all existing and new facilities on the campus.
Owens Community College - Toledo, OH
Integrated Energy Master Plan
Owens Community College retained Garforth International to develop an Integrated Energy Master Plan. This plan addressed all aspects of the College’s energy control, distribution and supply on the Toledo and Findlay campuses.
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The final recommendations were a long-term road map to an overall 30% efficiency gain, 40% greenhouse gas emissions reduction with returns on incremental investments that exceeded 15%.
Lorain County Community College - Elyria, OH
Integrated Energy Master Plan
Lorain County Community College retained Garforth International to develop an Integrated Energy Master Plan. This plan addressed all aspects of the College’s energy control, distribution and supply on the Elyria Campus.
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The final recommendation formed a long-term road map to an overall 37% efficiency gain, 40% greenhouse gas emissions reduction with returns on incremental investments that exceeded 8%.
Terra State Community College - Freemont, OH
Integrated Energy Master Plan
Terra State Community College retained Garforth International to develop an Integrated Energy Master Plan. This plan addressed all aspects of the College’s energy control, distribution and supply on the Fremont Campus.
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The final recommendation formed a long-term road map to an overall 28% efficiency gain, 38% greenhouse gas emissions reduction with returns on incremental investments that exceeded 7%.Terra State
IUPUI - Indianapolis, IN
Lecture Series
For three years, Garfroth InternationaI founder, Peter Garforth, taught a 3-credit hour undergraduate course on “Economic and Business Aspects of Energy” in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI.
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Each course included team assignments develop real world integrated energy solutions that were both economically viable and achieved breakthrough environmental outcomes.
Garforth also worked with the School to initiate a “Go Green” initiative which enabled students to attend a summer-school in Mannheim, Germany, to gain first-hand experience of a range of energy projects. The “Go Green” program continues.
California State University - Sacramento, CA
Integrated Energy Master Plan
California State University retained Garforth International to develop an Integrated Energy Master Plan addressing all aspects of energy control, distribution and supply on the Sacramento Campus.
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The final recommendation formed a long-term road map to an overall 34% efficiency gain, 38% greenhouse gas emissions reduction with returns on incremental investments that exceeded11%.
Drexel University - Philadelphia, PA
Integrated Energy Master Plan
Drexel University retained Garforth International to develop an Integrated Energy Master Plan addressing all aspects of energy control, distribution and supply on the Philadelphia and Sacramento Campuses. The final recommendation formed a long-term road map to an overall 33% efficiency gain, 39% greenhouse gas emissions reduction with returns on incremental investments that exceeded 9%.
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Garforth also facilitated strategic discussion with international participants to explore options to integrate the campus energy networks with neighboring systems.
