Rapid Decarbonization of Campuses – What are the keys to success?
Hundreds of U.S. and Canadian Universities and Colleges have set the goal to cause no greenhouse gas emissions within the next two decades and to capture other breakthrough benefits from the energy transition. Despite these goals, many if not most, institutions struggle to put in place the deep changes at the scale and speed needed. This panel representing the three very different academic institutions presented in this session, from the U.S. and Canada, will explore what it takes to successfully get on a path to achieve rapid climate breakthroughs, and what more needs to be done. In addition to the technical aspects, the panel will explore the institutional leadership and decision-making processes, the investment and team planning, and the social and cultural aspects. This session will provide valuable insight for any institute of higher education with aggressive climate goals. Since a campus is basically a neighborhood, the panel will also be useful for communities aiming to develop net zero neighborhoods in the future.
Speaker Bio
Peter Garforth leads a specialist consultancy based in Toledo, Ohio, and Brussels, Belgium. He is also a founding board member of an affiliate consultancy in Guelph, Ontario. He advises major companies, cities, communities, property developers and policy makers on developing competitive approaches that reduce the economic and environmental impact of energy use. His specialty has been in profitable business development implementing energy productivity. He effectively strives to ensure that any recommended investment approach has a sound business basis and reflects the larger movements in the energy market. Peter is well connected in the energy productivity business and regulatory community around the world. Because of his reputation in the energy community, Peter is often asked to provide quotes and interviews as an expert advisor on the topic. He is also a published author and currently contributes a monthly column to Plant Services magazine as the “Energy Expert”.
Peter has long been interested in energy productivity as a profitable business opportunity and has a considerable track record establishing successful businesses and programs in the United States, Western and Eastern Europe, Indonesia, India, Brazil, China, Japan and elsewhere. He has held senior management roles around the world at Honeywell, Landis & Gyr (now Siemens) and, most recently was Vice-President of Strategy for Owens Corning, the largest U.S. manufacturer of insulation and other materials.