From: Michael Adhern
Happy new year. We hope that your year has started out well and that the term is wrapping up nicely for you.
Last year, Oberlin College and Conservatory took an ambitious step toward carbon neutrality, as we launched the campus-wide conversion to geothermal heating and cooling, positioning the institution as a national leader in clean energy. Oberlin’s drive toward carbon neutrality will continue this spring with the second phase of construction for the Sustainable Infrastructure Program (SIP). To make way for efficient transmission of geothermal heating and cooling, select trees will be removed on campus January 24 to February 4 to support 2022 construction activities.
Eighty-five (85) trees have been identified for removal and replacement, with a greater than 1 for 1 replacement ratio. The work will take place mostly in the area of north campus along Woodland Street north of Lorain Street with a few trees also being removed south of Lorain Street. Removing and replacing trees is necessary to upgrade the existing steam pipes with new hot water and chilled water pipes for the new campus energy system. Engineers have worked with the grounds department and Oberlin’s campus arborist to make every effort to route the energy system distribution pipes on a path that will cause the least disruption to healthy trees.
Trees are an important aspect of the Oberlin campus and community and the trees that are being removed this winter will be replaced with 110 trees in the coming year. New trees will be selected with a wide range of considerations—such as the city’s tree replacement guide, Ohio native species, interplay of diverse species, structural integrity of a species, and aesthetics. To learn more about tree selection, read the campus news article from December, “Phase One of SIP Project Ends with a Campus and City Tree Planting.”
A portion of the wood from removed trees has been identified for reuse on campus in a project to be determined by students and community members.
To learn more about carbon neutrality and SIP visit Oberlin College’s Sustainable Infrastructure Program.
As 2022 construction ramps up in the spring, weekly email communications regarding project details will resume.
