Watch the presentation.

Academics and activists presented a white paper on Cornell’s decarbonization pathways The Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative (TCCPI) meeting on January 31.

They analyze how Cornell’s operational emissions will change as a result of near-term versus delayed heat decarbonization on campus. They find that pursuing near-term decarbonization by installing heat pumps in new construction or renovations will save emissions, relative to continued use of Cornell’s gas-fired power plant.

They conclude that near-term decarbonization on campus will advance Cornell’s and Ithaca’s climate goals. These findings carry significance for the Ithaca Energy Code Supplement, the local “Green Building Law” that Cornell wants to change in order to exempt themselves from the fossil-fuel phaseout on new construction.

Learn more about the coalition effort to decarbonize Cornell and fulfill Ithaca’s fossil-fuel phaseout - and take action with us.