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ASK THE EXPERT

What is the role of a campus energy system in achieving carbon neutrality?

At B&D, we know that energy systems are at the heart of how campuses operate—keeping buildings safe and comfortable, shaping the student experience, and driving progress towards climate goals. In this month’s Ask the experts, we take a closer look at the role of energy systems in higher education: what they are, why they matter, and how they connect to resilience and carbon neutrality.

To help unpack these issues, we sat down with B&D’s Kevin Laycock, who has worked with campuses across the country to plan and implement sustainable energy strategies.

B&D: Kevin, when you talk about campus energy systems in higher education, what exactly does that include?

KL: Almost always, I’m talking about thermal energy systems—the heating and cooling systems that keep campus buildings running. They burn fuel or use electricity, and they’re tied into the broader electrical systems. These thermal systems are the biggest contributor to GHG emissions on campus.  This is either what we call Scope 1 emissions from fossil fuels combusted on campus or Scope 2 emissions from purchased electricity

B&D: Why are campus heating, cooling, and energy systems so critical for colleges and universities?

KL: First and foremost, they safeguard comfort, health, and safety. Students and faculty cannot study, research, or work productively if buildings aren’t properly heated, cooled, or ventilated. And if systems aren’t maintained—or weren’t designed well in the first place—schools face very real health and safety risks.

Of course, efficiency and cost savings matter, but energy systems are more than just a line item in a budget. They are the foundation for a productive learning environment. Without them, an institution simply cannot deliver on its academic mission.

B&D: Many colleges are exploring a Campus Climate Action Plan. What is a Climate Action Plan for universities, and why is it important?

KL: A Climate Action Plan is essentially a roadmap for how a campus will address climate change. It is not just about facilities; it is a strategic commitment that brings together environmental responsibility, operational efficiency, financial resilience, and even academic opportunity.

When a plan is in place, schools have a clear pathway toward decarbonization and carbon neutrality. It’s a way for campuses to contribute to global efforts to address climate change.  It also strengthens their ability to compete for grants and funding, recruit students and it helps them meet the expectations of students, faculty, and the broader community.

B&D: For institutions that already have a Climate Action Plan, how do energy systems support goals like decarbonization and carbon neutrality?

KL: If a campus has set a target like carbon neutrality (balanced emissions and absorption) by a certain year, energy systems are at the heart of achieving that goal because they account for most of the greenhouse gas emissions.

Those emissions are typically described in three categories, or “scopes.”

• Scope 1 includes what is burned directly on campus—boilers, furnaces, or refrigerants that can leak from cooling systems.
• Scope 2 refers to the electricity purchased from the grid. Institutions may not be producing those emissions directly, but they are responsible for them. And then there is
• Scope 3, which covers everything else that happens off campus but is tied to the institution—commuting, air travel, the goods and services purchased, and even leased space.

Here is the key point: scope one and scope two together typically account for something like 80-90 percent of a campus’s total emissions. And those are the ones institutions can directly control. That is why Climate Action Plans almost always focus heavily on energy systems—because that is where the biggest impact is possible.

B&D: If a university is planning to upgrade or modernize its campus energy system, what should be the top priorities?

KL: Two priorities rise to the top. First, resilience. Climate change is already here, and systems need to withstand more extreme conditions. But resilience is not only physical—it is financial as well. By electrifying and leaning on renewable energy, institutions can stabilize costs and avoid the volatility that comes with fossil fuels.

Second, integration with the academic mission. Campuses have a unique opportunity to treat their energy systems as a living lab. Upgrades often involve advanced technologies, which can be connected directly to curriculum, research, and the student experience. Increasingly, students want to attend institutions that are leading on climate solutions. These projects not only make campus buildings more efficient—they also strengthen reputation, recruitment, and innovation agendas.

We’d like to thank Kevin Laycock for sharing his insights and experience in this month’s column. His perspective highlights the critical role energy systems play in shaping resilient, future-ready campuses.

Got a topic you’d like one of our experts to tackle in a future column? Submit it here. Thanks for reading—we look forward to your ideas!