Catawba College

In April 2023, Catawba College announced it had achieved carbon neutrality, becoming the first college in the Southeast to reach this milestone. This achievement was accomplished through a combination of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and purchasing carbon offsets for emissions that have not yet been eliminated. The offsets were purchased from a solar farm that generates zero-carbon electricity by capturing and destroying methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from a landfill. However, Catawba's ultimate goal is to become a zero-carbon campus, eliminating all greenhouse gas emissions and making the purchase of offsets unnecessary. 

To help achieve that vision, Catawba partnered with CMTA to develop a comprehensive decarbonization roadmap that identifies practical, financially responsible strategies for eliminating the college's remaining emissions, most of which are associated with fossil fuel use and purchased electricity. The roadmap includes energy efficiency improvements, electrification of buildings and transportation, expanded on-campus solar generation, strategic renewable energy purchases, and long-term campus infrastructure investments designed to reduce carbon emissions while improving campus operations. 

A key component of the plan is the implementation of a campus-wide geothermal district energy system. The first phase of this effort transformed the 27,612 SF Corriher-Linn-Black Library through the installation of 39 closed-loop geothermal wells, 15 high-efficiency water-source heat pumps, and a new digital building controls system. The project reduced carbon emissions by 51.4 metric tons annually while saving an estimated 145,667 kWh of electricity and 2,650 therms of natural gas each year. These reductions translate to more than $12,000 in annual energy cost savings while eliminating the library's dependence on fossil fuel heating. 

The college has continued advancing its carbon reduction efforts through additional building upgrades, including modernization of the Mariam and Robert Hayes Athletic Field House with high-efficiency heat pumps, energy recovery ventilation, and new controls. Building on this success, the project’s third phase expands the geothermal system into a campus-wide district energy network. The scope includes a central geothermal pump plant, a large underground wellfield located beneath existing athletic practice fields, and a campus geothermal loop that will connect future buildings over time. The district energy system is designed to support ongoing facility renovations and new construction while reducing onsite carbon emissions in alignment with Catawba's long-term sustainability goals.  

Throughout the planning process, CMTA worked closely with Catawba to evaluate the financial impact of each sustainability strategy. Life cycle cost analyses demonstrated that investments such as geothermal heating and cooling systems can deliver significant long-term value when energy savings, utility rebates, and federal incentives are considered. By pairing ambitious environmental goals with fiscally responsible decision-making, Catawba is demonstrating how colleges and universities can successfully transition toward a zero-carbon future. 

Catawba College continues to serve as a model for higher education institutions nationwide, proving that meaningful carbon reduction is achievable through thoughtful planning, innovative infrastructure, and a commitment to long-term stewardship.