Higher Education Makes the Grade in Adopting Geothermal Heating and Cooling
The number of colleges and universities making strong commitments to addressing climate change and achieving net zero goals continues to grow. Renewable energy sources play an essential role in those efforts. Increasingly, that includes adopting geothermal heating and cooling systems for many types of buildings and facilities on campus.
According to the 2023 Race to Zero Progress Report, 1,193 colleges and universities around the world have signed on to the Race to Zero for Colleges and Universities. In the U.S., nearly 700 institutions have signed on to the American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), which includes pledging to eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from specified sources in their campus operations. Those 700 institutions represent six million students, a demographic category that’s particularly concerned about environmental issues.
The Princeton Review’s 2024 College Hopes and Worries Survey quantifies the importance. The survey of 7,935 students included a question about how much comparative information about colleges’ green commitment would contribute to their decision to apply to or attend a school. 6% of students selected “strongly,” 15% chose “very much,” and 40% stated somewhat, representing a clear majority of student respondents at 59%.
To provide students with comparative data, The Princeton Review also recently released its 2025 Guide to Green Colleges. According to its news release, the schools were selected for their exceptional programs, policies, and practices related to sustainability and the environment. Of the top 25 schools on the list, 11 have active or planned installations of geothermal heating and cooling systems.
The list includes new and established geothermal projects. For example, the second-ranked school, American University, started construction of its first geothermal heating and cooling system in May 2024. Colorado State University, number 14, was honored for its Moby GeoX Project as ENR Mountain States project of the year in 2021.
To learn about how several colleges and universities are realizing the many benefits and advantages of geothermal heating and cooling systems, here are three case studies from the Department of Energy: the College of Southern Idaho, Colorado Mesa University, and Montana State University.