From Coal to Carbon Neutral: Catawba College Paves the Way

Catawba College, a private liberal arts institution in Salisbury, NC, has become one of only 13 colleges in the US to be certified carbon neutral. The college is currently executing a District Energy and Modernization (DEM) project that integrates a closed-loop geoexchange system to provide heating and cooling for 26 campus buildings, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 51 metric tons annually. This effort is complemented by a history of solar investments—including an 837 kW installation in 2015 and a 55 kW addition in 2024—and the transformation of a former coal-fired power plant (the Smokestack) into a net-zero student hub. New construction, such as a 130-bed residence hall designed to Passive House US standards, is expected to reduce energy use by 55% compared to typical regional construction. A net present value analysis suggests the DEM project will save the college approximately $10 million between 2025 and 2054 compared to business-as-usual practices.

• Catawba College is one of only 13 institutions in the United States to achieve carbon neutral certification.
• The college's District Energy and Modernization (DEM) project involves a four-phase installation of a closed-loop geoexchange system with 39 wells, intended to serve 26 buildings and reduce annual carbon emissions by 51 metric tons, while cutting 265 MMBtu of gas and 145,724 kWh of purchased electricity.
• Solar energy capacity was significantly expanded in 2015 with approximately 837 kW of panels, which were projected to save $5 million over 20 years, and further increased by 55 kW in 2024.
• The college is repurposing a former coal-fired power plant, known as the Smokestack, into a 10,000-square-foot net-zero student hub targeting LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge Core Imperative certifications.
• A new 130-bed residence hall designed to Passive House US standards is projected to reduce energy use by 55%, heating loads by 44%, and cooling loads by 75% relative to typical North Carolina construction.
• Financial projections indicate that the DEM project will result in approximately $10 million in savings between 2025 and 2054 when compared to business-as-usual operations.

APA

RMI (2025). From Coal to Carbon Neutral: Catawba College Paves the Way. https://rmi.org/resources/from-coal-to-carbon-neutral-catawba-college-paves-the-way/

Chicago

RMI. From Coal to Carbon Neutral: Catawba College Paves the Way. 2025. https://rmi.org/resources/from-coal-to-carbon-neutral-catawba-college-paves-the-way/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=From Coal to Carbon Neutral: Catawba College Paves the Way |date=16 December 2025 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/from-coal-to-carbon-neutral-catawba-college-paves-the-way/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2025from, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{From Coal to Carbon Neutral: Catawba College Paves the Way}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/from-coal-to-carbon-neutral-catawba-college-paves-the-way/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }