Luther College
Luther College is a private liberal arts college of 2600 students (all undergrad) located in Decorah, Iowa, a town of 8,000 near the borders with Minnesota and Wisconsin. Luther was founded in 1861 and is affiliated with the ELCA. Largest majors on campus include Biology, Education, Music, and Business.
Luther has made sustainability one of its three priorities in a strategic plan approved in May 2008 and has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 50%. Campus sustainability highlights include:
•Calculated “carbon footprint” for 6 years and ongoing monitoring of sustainability indicators.
•Invested $1.6 million in energy efficiency in 2003 – reduced electricity consumption by 22% and carbon footprint by 15%.
•Used geothermal heating and cooling in Baker Village and Center for the Arts.
•New Sampson Hoffland Laboratories and renovated Valders Hall of Science with LEED gold certification.
•Purchased seven hybrid vehicles for the college fleet.
•Purchased four all electric vehicles for Campus Facilities Services .
•Converting 100% of waste vegetable oil to biodiesel and using it in all grounds equipment.
•Conducting analyses of strategies for further reducing energy usage: efficiency, biomass for heating and electrical, wind energy, and photovoltaic solar.
•Hired a campus sustainability intern to work on energy education and sustainability initiatives.
