Loyola University Chicago Achieves Carbon Neutrality on its Campuses
The University becomes the first in the Chicago area to achieve net-zero emissions.
December 3, 2024
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Christian Anderson
312.915.7266
CHICAGO – December 4, 2024
Loyola University Chicago announced today that it has achieved carbon neutrality on its Chicago-area campuses, becoming the first university in the Chicago area to achieve carbon neutrality.
The announcement marks the fulfillment of the University’s goal in its 2015 Climate Action Plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025. The ten-year period saw the growth of the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) and a drive to implement a wide range of innovative and effective green practices on Loyola’s campuses. These efforts have positioned Loyola as a national leader in interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability.
Loyola University Chicago is currently ranked among the top 25 universities in the United States for its commitment to campus sustainability, ranking #12 in The Princeton Review’s “Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition.” Earning a Green Rating of 99/99, Loyola is the highest-ranked Jesuit institution and the top school in Illinois on the list.
Propelled by the innovative expertise of SES and the Office of Sustainability, the University’s progress toward net-zero emissions has been marked by important milestones along the way: a commitment to 100 percent renewable electricity; $150 million invested in high-performing buildings and campus energy systems; investment in innovative carbon-reducing projects with savings from energy efficiencies; and the inclusion of sustainability in the University’s core undergraduate curriculum.
“Carbon neutrality is a landmark achievement, one achieved by only a handful of universities across the country,” said Aaron Durnbaugh, Loyola’s director of sustainability. “We’ve made significant strides toward reducing the carbon footprint on our campuses in the past 10 years, and we work with the Chicago-based partner Tradewater to help us reach net-zero through high-quality carbon-reducing projects that also create educational opportunities for our students.”
Carbon offsets comprise 15 percent of Loyola’s zero-emissions achievement and Durnbaugh says the University continues to work toward long-term sustainable solutions to improve efficiency and protect the environment.
“The higher education sector plays a leading role in helping society meet its climate and sustainability goals,” says Tim Carter, president of Second Nature, a nonprofit organization that accelerates climate action at colleges and universities. “Loyola University Chicago is modeling this leadership with a commitment to sustainability in academics, mission-aligned investments in energy efficiency, clean energy, and climate action projects.”
Carbon neutrality is a landmark achievement, one achieved by only a handful of universities across the country.
— Aaron Durnbaugh, director of sustainability
As part of its Climate Action Plan, the University completed a decarbonization study to identify strategies to cut emissions. It advanced its energy goals by installing geothermal wells throughout campus, optimizing space utilization, and making building-envelope improvements (wall insulation, roof insulation, window replacements).
“I applaud Loyola’s vision of the 2015 Climate Action Plan,” said 49th Ward Alderperson Maria Hadden, chair of the City of Chicago’s Environmental Protection and Energy Committee. “More important are the actions behind the plan—the University’s ongoing work towards a resilient campus, clean energy development, deep energy efficiency, and community-centered partnerships. Congratulations for meeting this milestone and Loyola’s work on environmental justice and climate action throughout the region.”
“Achieving carbon neutrality is an important element in Loyola’s comprehensive approach to our campus plan,” said Kana Henning, vice president for Facilities & Campus Management. “The core values of our planning efforts call for us to cultivate a resilient campus that will manage future challenges by creating an adaptable environment that advances environmental sustainability for the University and the community.”
“We’re always looking for ways to improve,” said Durnbaugh. “So, while we’re taking a moment to celebrate this significant accomplishment, we’re not resting on our laurels and instead seeking the next opportunities to make our campuses more sustainable.”
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About Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, with 16,693 students in Fall 2024.. The University has five campuses: four in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy. Ranked a leading national university by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is also among a select group of universities recognized for community service and engagement by prestigious national organizations including AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation. Loyola is a STARS Gold-rated institution by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and is currently ranked among the top 25 universities in the United States for its commitment to campus sustainability in The Princeton Review’s “Guide to Green Colleges: 2025 Edition.” To learn more about Loyola, visit LUC.edu or follow us on Twitter via @LoyolaChicago.
