Hocking College has set a goal of reducing our carbon footprint by 40% over the next ten (10) years, 2020. This percentage was chosen as realistic goal by calculating the potential reductions that our initiatives currently in place have the ability to produce. These initiatives include an energy conservation plan and land management plan, both detailed in our report. We will be submitting annual progress reports charting our advancement of carbon reduction. Furthermore, we will be submitting additional long term plans to address the remaining 60% of our footprint as we near 2020.

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We have implemented two major initiatives in the academic year of 2009-2010 that will help us achieve our first step in the ultimate goal of climate neutrality. The College had an Energy Conservation Plan conducted by Aleron, Inc. in the fall of 2009 which yielded 11 Energy Conservation Measures (ECM) to consider. The implementation of these ECMs began in the spring of 2010 and will continue for the next several years. These projects will result in cost savings, improved work environments for Hocking College employees, aesthetic facility improvements, and reductions to our emissions. Secondly, we have begun to develop a comprehensive land management plan for our nearly 2,500 acres of forested campus property. This plan is being developed with the goal of seeking certification through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The land management plan will create a plethora of educational opportunities involving sustainability, develop a healthier ecosystem and maximize the potential to count our campus property as a carbon offset. Further plans are included in our report for the College to consider for the next stage of emissions reduction.

Hocking College has recently went through a nearly complete change in its senior administration. One of the results of this change is a new president and cabinet that have made sustainability a priority at our campus in terms of operations and curriculum. We are also preparing to transition from quarters to semesters. This transition creates the need to reevaluate curriculum, making an opportunity to further support our sustainability mission,“Living, working and learning in an environment that we commit to maintain and improve for future generations“. This involves incorporating sustainability into all of our curricula wherever it is appropriate so that all of our graduates will leave Hocking College viewing sustainability not as a new concept, rather an approach to living.
We will accomplish this through large projects such as our land management plan discussed in our CAP report. Additionally, new stand alone classes on topics such as global climatic change, sustainable agriculture, sustainable living, sustainable business concepts and green building certification will be offered. Finally, we will utilize our Success Skills process to incorporate sustainability throughout our curricula as an educational thread wherever there is a contextual fit.

Hocking College is a technical college focused on preparing graduates for careers. This puts a very heavy emphasis of teaching on our faculty. While we do have some faculty conducting research, it is not their primary responsibility. However we do expect new ideas and possible technology to emerge from our Hocking College Energy Institute. This branch of the institution is focused on fuel cell technology, vehicular hybrids and alternative energy.

One of the central themes to all of Hocking College's sustainability actions is, "Keep it Local". This is evident in our long term land management plans where we intend to help local private land owners or small local businesses manage their forested lands responsibly. We are working with several non-profit organizations to try to promote local farmers so that they can evolve into a food system for our community. Our waste management plans include evolving our recycling program to the point where the city of Nelsonville,Ohio can drop off materials at our campus. Furthermore, the College is planning on supporting local alternative energy projects through purchasing green tags and/or collaborating with local businesses to develop new alternative energy projects in our region.