Emerson College becomes the first college to decarbonize with eSteam™

The customer

Located in the heart of Boston’s Theater District, Emerson College’s expansive 1.5 million-square-foot campus is home to over 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Founded in 1880, Emerson has a long history of providing premier academic experiences, focusing on communication and the arts. Its bustling campus features state-of-the-art academic facilities that blend the historic charm of the city with modern green design and energy solutions.

Regularly ranked among the top 50 Green Colleges in the U.S., Emerson College has earned gold status in the AASHE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, which measures the sustainability performance of colleges and universities. Emerson’s Sustainability Action Plan further underscores its commitment to protecting the planet, aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral and resilient campus by 2030. Since setting its carbon neutrality goal in 2007, Emerson has reduced its carbon footprint by 46%. Through campus sustainability efforts, including rainwater recovery systems, energy-efficient lighting, trayless dining, water-efficient sinks and toilets, and composting, Emerson is a leading example for higher education institutions aiming to enhance their environmental impact.

With Emerson’s bold commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030 and the City of Boston’s emissions limits implemented as part of the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) 2.0 passed in 2021, the College needed an energy solution that would help it quickly achieve these aggressive goals without requiring significant capital for major infrastructure upgrades. As the College considered various energy solutions, the institution prioritized cost-effective solutions that would not significantly disrupt regular campus operations. Emerson turned to Vicinity, a long-term partner of the College, to leverage eSteam™, Vicinity’s carbon-free thermal energy solution, solidifying its standing as a sustainability trailblazer in higher education.

“This partnership sets a new standard for sustainability within small urban higher education institutions, and we are proud to lead by example, demonstrating that significant, sustainable change is possible and necessary for the future,” states Jennifer Lamy, associate director of sustainability at Emerson.

Building upon a longstanding partnership and legacy

Since 2004, Emerson has leveraged Vicinity’s district steam to provide heating and hot water for most of its Boston campus—a move that has reduced maintenance efforts and costs, optimized building space, improved energy reliability, and minimized capital costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

In the early 1990s, Emerson gradually relocated its main campus from the Back Bay to the historic Theatre District. Emerson steadily grew its campus footprint along the southeast end of the Boston Common, expanding its reach through acquisitions, new construction, and renovations. During this transformative time, Emerson demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by replacing large gas-fired hot water tanks with district energy. Emerson selected district energy to avoid the maintenance and upfront capital costs required for onsite equipment, support its evolving campus’ needs with a scalable solution, improve reliability, and make strides in achieving its sustainability goals.

For over two decades, Emerson has connected additional buildings to Vicinity’s district energy system, leveraging district steam for heating and hot water for 12 buildings across its campus, including dormitories, assembly spaces, offices, cafeterias, and classrooms. Steam purchased from Vicinity makes up 36% of Emerson’s emissions portfolio.

Emerson reduces upfront costs with Vicinity’s scalable solution

The scalability of district energy has always been an essential benefit to Emerson. Vicinity previously oversized the service connection to one of Emerson’s buildings, partnering closely with the College to support its campus master planning. The College planned to eventually eliminate gas boilers on the roof of one of its buildings during a future renovation, so they needed the ability to increase steam service when the time was right. This flexible approach allowed Emerson to meet its energy demands precisely when they needed it as the campus developed over time.

When Emerson evaluated alternative energy solutions more recently in 2024, the College considered converting to electric. This approach would require significant upfront capital investments to install a small electric boiler at one building instead of serving as a campus wide solution. Instead, eSteam™ enables Emerson to quickly and affordably decarbonize its whole campus without any infrastructure upgrades necessary. As Vicinity electrifies its operations in Kendall Square by installing electric boilers, industrial-scale heat pumps, and thermal battery storage, Emerson can easily convert from standard district steam to eSteam™ through its existing connection to Vicinity’s network of underground pipes.

“This project marks a pivotal moment in Emerson College’s journey towards environmental responsibility and sustainability,” said Emerson President Jay M. Bernhardt.

Emerson combats climate change with eSteam™

Emerson’s decision to transition to eSteam™ is a significant stride toward achieving a carbon-neutral and resilient campus by 2030. While the campus buildings have decreased their carbon emissions by 80% since 2007, this step is an important pillar of the College’s continued carbon reduction strategies, making Emerson’s thermal operations carbon-neutral. Leveraging a clean energy source aligns with Emerson’s goals to ensure that the campus community and its neighbors thrive in climate change, adopt justice-centered approaches in sustainability efforts, and integrate social and economic sustainability into its curriculum and operations. As demonstrated by the reach of the student organization Emerson Green, the popularity of sustainability-focused courses, and responses to an annual student survey, sustainability is core to the campus culture. Transitioning to eSteam™ will help Emerson attract sustainability-minded students and national attention for its impressive sustainability leadership.

Benefits