This is a guest post by Crosslands resident Allen Prindle.

This KCC (Kendal-Crosslands Community) Carbon Footprint Study for 2025 follows similar reports for 2023 and 2024.  (1,2)  It is intended to be informative and document CO2 emissions for calendar year 2025. 

I obtained invoices for the delivery of the energy sources and created the summary table below.  It shows the total CO2 emissions for 2025 were 4625 metric tons, of which about 80% was from electricity.  This compares to 5590 metric tons in 2023 and 5390 metric tons in 2024. 

SourceUnits  DeliveredUnitLbs. of CO2 per Unit (1)Total   CO2 (lbs)Metric Tons% of  Total
Electricity (2)13,693,161kWh0.5978,174,8173707.4072.72%
Natural Gas205,840Ccf12.082,486,5471127.6922.12%
Gasoline19,104Gallons20.68395,071179.173.51%
Propane8,341Gallons12.7105,93148.040.94%
Diesel3,508Gallons22.4578,75535.720.70%
Solar Elect(3)67,361kWh000.000.00%
TOTAL    5098.01100.00%
(1) Source U.S. Energy Information Administration, eGRID
(2) Includes 7,502,939 kWh at KAL, 6,090,862 kWh at XL, and 99,360 at Worth Bldg.
(3) Includes 48,169  kWh at Crosslands, 4,941  kWh at KAL Lot 10B, 14,251 kWh at Kendal HC1
Table 1: 2025 CO2 Emissions for KCC

The largest percentage of the CO2 emissions was from electricity use.  KCC used about 13.7 million kWh purchased from the grid during 2025, which was an increase of about 3 percent from the previous year.  The total electricity used by KCC includes the purchased amount plus the solar output.  In 2025, solar output produced about half of one percent of KCC’s electricity use. 

More than 67,000 kWh of electricity was produced by the three solar arrays at KCC. These arrays include 108 solar panels at Crosslands that went into operation in 2023, 12 panels at Kendal Lot 10B that went into operation in 2024, and 114 panels at Kendal Health Center that went into operation in September 2025.  Each kWh of 100% clean solar energy output reduces the amount purchased and the CO2 emissions from the grid electricity.  A second solar array at Kendal Health Center with 86 solar panels is expected to go into operation in 2026.

 It should be noted that the grid electricity is getting cleaner, as coal generators are closed down.  The grid CO2/kWh is about 8 percent cleaner in 2025, compared to the previous year. 

Natural gas use at KCC is for heating in the community centers, for heating the swimming pools, for the campus laundry, and for the kitchens.  Natural gas use for 2025 was 205,840ccf.  This is less than one percent less than in 2024.  Natural gas use makes up more than 22% of the CO2 emissions for KCC. 

Gasoline is used at KCC for vehicles and garden equipment.  Gasoline use in 2025 was 19,104 gallons.  This is about 8% less than in 2024.  I am not aware of deliberate efforts to reduce gasoline use, such as replacing vehicles with electric vehicles, or replacing garden equipment with battery powered equipment.  This is an area for future discussion. 

Propane is used at KCC for heat in the maintenance buildings and for outdoor events.  During 2025, KCC used 8,341 gallons.  This compares to 6,023 gallons in 2024, an increase of 38% from the previous year.  Propane use added only one percent of the year’s CO2 emissions for 2025. 

Diesel is used for some utility vehicles and for the emergency generators.  Therefore most of the variation in use depends on how many electricity interruptions occurred during the year, and how long they lasted.  During 2025, KCC used 3,598 gallons of diesel fuel.  This compared to 6,427 gallons in 2024, a decrease of about 44%.

This report addresses Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions only.  It does not address Scope 3 emissions.  Scope 1 emissions are for direct use of fossil fuels at KCC, including natural gas, gasoline, propane and diesel as discussed in this report.  Scope 2 is for the use of fossil fuels in electricity generation.  Scope 3 includes indirect CO2 emissions from KCC activities and services, including those in the products purchased, staff travel and commuting, food resources, waste disposal, and more.  I have not attempted to estimate Scope 3 emissions.

KCC Goal:  Carbon-Neutral by 2050. In March 2026, the KCC Board approved a Strategic Plan that included the goal of “Carbon Neutral by 2050,” This goal coincides with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.  KCC will work with residents, staff and external partners to create a Sustainability Plan to reach the goal.  Carbon emissions will be monitored in the future. 

In January 2026, KCC began to purchase 100% clean electricity from a wind farm.  Substituting wind energy for grid energy will reduce the CO2 emissions for 2026 significantly.  Adding clean solar energy will reduce KCC electricity purchases. 

Footnotes:

  1. Prindle, Allen, “Kendal-Crosslands Carbon Footprint Study, June, 2024.  Available at.  https://kendaljourney.com/2024/06/24/kendal-crosslands-carbon-footprint-study/