Green Initiatives at Colby

Colby is committed to sustainable practices in all building projects. The College will design and build all new buildings to a minimum of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver standard. For renovations, design and construction will follow the LEED template and incorporate as many principles as possible. For all applicable projects, the College will apply for LEED certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. All of Colby’s on-staff project managers are LEED-accredited professionals. In 2013 there were eight LEED buildings on campus.

Colby’s sustainability efforts have won national and state awards and recognition, including Green Power championships, Environmental Protection Agency awards, and LEED certification for new and renovated buildings. See the full list.

Colby is committed to environmental awareness and sustainability through its academic program as well as through activities on campus and beyond. Campus sustainability and resource conservation are core values articulated in the Colby College Catalogue.

Colby faculty and students collaborate with Sustain Mid-Maine, a coalition to raise awareness about climate change and sustainability. Students have contributed to greenhouse gas inventories, energy audits, a community climate action plan, community gardens, GIS analyses, and an organic dairy feasibility study. One student co-wrote a $170,000 grant to support community energy conservation. Through internships, courses, and independent study projects, students work with climate change experts, government officials, concerned citizens, and other decision makers.

Since 2007 Colby has followed sustainability guidelines for all jobs printed through the Office of Communications, and major print jobs were moved to digital-only media, drastically reducing paper use. For print publications, only green-certified, 100-percent postconsumer recycled papers manufactured using alternative fuels are used. All jobs printed use vegetable oil-based inks.

Colby's biomass steam plant began operating in January 2012. It replaces close to 1 million gallons of heating fuel each year (close to 90 percent of heating oil used by the College) with about 22,000 tons of low-grade wood biomass such as treetops, branches, and trees from thinning operations. Wood is harvested from sustainable forest operations within a 50-mile radius of campus. Twin 400-horsepower biomass-fueled boilers produce steam for heat, hot water, cooking, and cogeneration of electricity.