McMaster University will use over $2M to cut carbon emissions

McMaster University says it will use over $2 million in federal funding to cut carbon emissions by 23%.

The university plans to install electric boilers to reduce its natural gas usage, but climate change organizations who have criticized the university for installing gas generators say it’s not enough.

McMaster says it’s replacing 2 natural gas boilers with electric boilers, which will reduce its natural gas usage for campus heating.

The federal government says the more than $2 million to make this happen will come from a portion of the proceeds collected from carbon pricing. And it’s part of a larger $9 million plan that involves 3 universities.

Just a few months ago, McMaster University was criticized for installing 4 gas-fired generators on Cootes Drive, which would make electrical costs for the university cheaper, but at the same time emit a lot of CO2 emissions.

In March, students went on a hunger strike for 8 days to convince the university to divest from fossil fuels. They had to call it off after experiencing health issues. McMaster says the generators are necessary. The Ontario Clean Air Alliance views this as a contradiction.

McMaster says the new generators could be in use next summer, and the new electric boilers will be installed sometime next year.