Geothermal System Comes Online at Oberlin College
Oberlin has completed its Sustainable Infrastructure Program, a four-year program to convert the campus to geothermal heating and cooling. The project, which included upgrading its century-old heating infrastructure to a hot water system, is expected to reduce Oberlin’s water use by more than five million gallons per year, reduce sewer discharge by more than four million gallons per year, and improve campus energy efficiency by more than 30 percent.
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.
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.
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.
Dillard U & Partner to Receive $19M for Resiliency & Pollution Reduction
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced over $19M in community grant funding for the university and United Way of Southeast Louisiana to reduce pollution and strengthen community resilience to natural disasters. This funding will improve transportation access, expand bike sharing programs and increase EV chargers. Several buildings will be retrofit with energy-efficient HVAC systems, solar power and energy storage so they can serve as community resilience hubs during emergencies. The university will also launch new non-degree certificate programs in clean energy and climate resilience.
Miami U Receives $5M Gift to Support Campus Solar Park
A recently received $5 million gift from alumni will help the university reach its 2040 carbon neutrality goal through the creation of the Sharon and Graham Mitchell Sustainability Park. The park will encompass two ground-mounted solar panel installations. Money saved from solar energy will be invested in a donor-designated endowment fund.
Thompson Rivers U to Begin Low-Carbon District Energy Installation
The university recently broke ground on a low-carbon district energy system that is projected to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 95 percent. Replacing the university’s natural gas boilers, the high-efficiency electrified district heating system will feature air-source and water-source heat pumps, along with backup and peaking boilers.
Bentley U to Purchase 100% Wind Power
The university recently signed a four-year agreement to purchase electricity from a wind farm in Maine. The purchase is anticipated to supply 100 percent of the electricity needs of the university through 2027. The wind site will be incorporated into an intensive field course on renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Sonoma State U to Complete Solar Array & Battery Bank
Projected to help the university save $6 million over 30 years, the 4.5-megawatt solar array and 1.5-megawatt battery bank installation is expected to meet one-third of the university’s annual electricity consumption when it becomes active in spring 2025.
