Assessment Tools and Resources

Before you start planning changes, it is vital to first consider the environmental condition of your campus. No two campuses are alike; therefore, you want to identify your campus’ specific weaknesses and strengths in order to create the most effective programs. There are many assessment tools on the internet that can help you do the job. We recommend the following tools and resources:

Sustainable Campuses
This site offers a tool that will help you assess your campus’ sustainability and impact on the planet.

Good Company
This site provides a campus assessment tool that helps you understand your campus’ sustainability and performance.

Colleges and Universities Self Tracking Tool
This tool helps you measure the progress of your project so you know you when you are on the right track.

Clean Air – Cool Planet Campus Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory CalculatorThis calculator will determine the GHG emissions produced by your campus.

Relevant Case Study:

Colby College
At Colby College in Maine , Carolyn Hunt ('05 and Brandon Smithwood ('06) decided to do a study and compile a greenhouse gas emissions audit for their campus. Faculty members suggested the study to them after the students showed interest in doing something about climate change. Since the birth of this audit, various departments and student groups at Colby have made voluntary efforts to reach emission reduction goals established by the student audit. Hunt and Smithwood compiled the audit by analyzing 15 years of emissions data gathered from the business office, physical plant department records, and outside contractors. Collecting the various pieces of information was difficult because most departments were slow delivering the necessary information. Smithwood advises students interested in creating an audit for their school to give themselves plenty of time to work on the project because the process of gathering information is incredibly slow.  Once they had the data, they were able to assess the affect Colby is having on the climate using a GHG emissions calculator. Smithwood also advises students that if they plan to take on such a project, they should seek a faculty advisor to help with the project in order to alleviate any resistance students may encounter from administrations or departments when gathering information.

Courtesy of Beth Kopp at Colby College: Sarah Kelly ('06) at Colby stands next to her recycled art sculpture. Sarah replaced incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient compact florescent bulbs. She measured the energy savings and has used her data to educate the campus about energy conservation.