Air Travel is the third largest component of Greenhouse Gas Emissions at CSU (behind electricity and natural gas). In partnership with the City and local utility providers, we are well on our way to meeting our 100% renewable electricity goal by 2030. Steps are also being taken to reduce the use of natural gas on our campuses (including one of the largest geo-exchange systems in the state).
Air travel emissions must be reduced and offset to make progress towards our goal of climate neutrality by 2040. The air travel offset program launched in February 2022 and funds a CSU Emissions Reduction Fund that is used for direct emission reduction projects at the University.
Starting February 1, 2022, the University started assessing a $10 offset fee for domestic air travel trips and $20 for international air travel trips paid for by the University. Fees are assessed per trip rather than per leg or segment of a trip. With air travel prices fluctuating on a daily basis, these nominal fees fall within the daily price fluctuation range. Please note that sponsored research travel is exempt from this fee due to specifications on how those dollars can be spent. Likewise, air travel paid for with personal funds and not reimbursed by the university is exempt.
Business and Financial Services runs a report each month to track air travel purchases paid for by the University and Facilities Management collects the fees for a dedicated CSU Emissions Reduction Fund. The front-end process for booking and purchasing air travel will not change.
The process for booking and paying for air travel has not changed. Each department continues to schedule and pay for air travel as they have been.
Business and Financial Services tracks air travel purchases paid for by the University (with the exception of sponsored research travel) and runs a report monthly. The report is sent to Facilities Management, who assesses the fee and charges each department accordingly. The fee money is put into a dedicated CSU Emissions Reduction Fund that the CSU Facilities Energy Team uses for direct emissions reduction projects at the university.
For questions related to the fee and accounting process please contact Stephanie.Swanson@colostate.edu.
Air travel offset fees are put in a dedicated CSU Emissions Reduction fund that the Facilities Management Energy Team uses for direct emissions reduction projects across the University like LED lighting retrofits, on-demand water heaters, and replacing energy-intensive equipment with more efficient models. This program allows the University to lower carbon emissions directly on campus rather than purchasing third party offsets.
All areas of the University are eligible for projects and projects will be selected by the Energy Team based on impact and available funds.
The President’s Sustainability Commission will track fees collected, projects completed, and carbon reduction impact on the University’s greenhouse gas inventory.
For questions related to the CSU Emissions Reduction Fund please contact Carol.Dollard@colostate.edu.
Tips to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint while Traveling
- Forego flying and meet virtually – this has the biggest carbon reduction impact.
- For shorter distances, travel by means other than flying (charter bus, train, or carpool in CSU fleet vehicle).
- Combine trips – pair a conference with a site visit or complete two meetings in one trip rather than flying back and forth.
- Fly non-stop – taking off and landing uses the most fuel so direct flights are more efficient than lay-overs
- Fly on planes that emit fewer emissions – larger and newer planes are typically more efficient than smaller and older planes.
- Travel in coach – the larger seats and expanded leg room in business and first class equal three times as many emissions as the efficient coach seats.
- Pack light – more weight on the plane means more fuel needed.