Brown U Purchases & Retires Energy From 40 MW Solar Project

The university began receiving in mid-November clean electricity from a 40 megawatt photovoltaic project that is projected to meet two-thirds of on-campus electricity consumption.

MIT, Harvard U & Tufts U Join Consortium to Purchase Renewable Energy

Eleven Massachusetts organizations comprising the Consortium for Climate Solutions, which includes MIT and Harvard and Tufts Universities, have signed a power purchase agreement to buy electricity from two large-scale renewable energy projects (wind and photovoltaic) totaling 408 megawatts.

U Chicago Launches Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth

The new institute combines research in economics, climate policy, and key energy and climate technologies. The institute plans to hire 20 new faculty members over the next five years, including in the fields of law, political science, economics, materials engineering and artificial intelligence.

Niagara U Connects 4 MW On-Campus Solar Array

The university recently completed a 17-acre, four-megawatt project, featuring 7,500 bifacial solar panels with sun tracking that follows the sun throughout the day to maximize energy production. Coupled with the university’s hydropower supply, the solar project allows the university’s electric consumption to become 100 percent carbon neutral.

U California Irvine Health to Complete 1.4 MW Photovoltaic Project

The university announced a new partnership to install two solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays atop new parking structures at the UCI Health – Irvine Campus Medical Complex.

Harvard U Expands Green Revolving Fund from $12 to $37M

The new $37 million green revolving fund (GRF) priorities are to 1) accelerate additional energy efficiency, especially heat/energy recovery and load reduction, in all buildings; 2) replace fossil fuel equipment with electric technology at end-of-life, whenever possible; and 3) when renovating space or changing HVAC systems or equipment, design the equipment to use low temperature hot water for future flexibility. The GRF allows schools and units at Harvard to apply for a zero-interest loan and pay back the principal over up to 10 years.

AASHE Inaugurates 107 STARS Data Quality Certified Professionals

A total of 107 higher education sustainability professionals from eight countries are now STARS data-quality certified professionals. These individuals are trained to contribute to high-quality and accurate STARS assessments–either through leading a STARS assessment or serving as a reviewer on one. The next STARS data quality training program is on May 22, 2025.