SUNY Cortland Commits to 100% Renewable Electricity
The first in the 64-campus State University New York system, the university will receive electrical power from 100% renewable energy for all facilities. More than 700 new solar panels will be added, and the university will purchase 16 million kilowatts of renewable energy credits per year. Efforts to use renewable energy support its master’s program in sustainable energy systems.
Anna U Installs 3kW Solar Project
(India): The Indian university in Chennai has installed the photovoltaic array to reduce its dependence on non-renewable forms of energy. Projected to produce an average of 12 kilowatts per day, the array was donated by an alumnus. The university plans to set up similar solar stations at constituent institutions to meet the state’s solar mandate, which indicates that 6 percent of total power consumed by educational institutions be met by solar.
Montgomery County CC to Install Solar Panels
(U.S.): As part of a $4 million project with Siemens, 44 solar panels are set to be installed near the school’s Advanced Technology Center by October. The school plans to convert the on-campus electric vehicle charging stations to batteries charged by the photovoltaic panels.
Wooster College Deconstructs Coal Smokestack
(U.S.): After the college decided to stop burning coal for steam generation in March 2013, the 1939 smokestack was removed this summer. Moving to a natural gas boiler, the carbon footprint reduction is projected to be 50 percent and save the college $4 million in operating and maintenance costs over the next decade.
College of St. Joseph Athletic Center to Receive Solar Panels
Spurred by an agreement with a local utility, the college’s Athletic Center will host a photovoltaic system built with assistance from renewable energy and ecological design students from the nearby Green Mountain College. The project will feature reused materials from local area suppliers including roof-friendly rubber feet made from recycled tires.
U Virgin Islands Plans 3MW Solar Installation
A new power purchasing agreement with Illinois-based New Generation Power will allow for the university to install one photovoltaic systems on each of its two campuses. New Generation Power will build and maintain the systems for 20 years and, in exchange, will sell the university power at a cheaper rate than what is currently offered through the local utility. The university expects to save about $1 million per year.
UC San Diego Receives $7.2M in Energy Incentives
The $7.2 million check from San Diego Gas & Electric represents energy efficiency incentives earned through the university's implementation of energy-efficient projects from 2010 to 2012 including green building and renewable energy initiatives. During this period, the university has saved more than 21 million kilowatt hours and reduced more than 2 megawatts of demand.
Texas A&M U System Announces New Center for Solar Energy
In addition to housing a renewable power generation system that will power the A&M-Central Texas campus, the nearly $600 million center will act as an incubator for practical and emergent technologies relating to renewable energy and photovoltaic solar technologies.
Houghton College to Install 2.5 MW Solar System
The college has signed a power purchase agreement with Smart Energy Capital for the planned solar system, which is anticipated to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent. The energy generated by the system is expected to meet more than one half of the college's electric demands with an estimated savings of $1.3 million over the contract period.
U Toledo Hosts U.S. Dept of Energy Midwest Clean Energy Summit
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative brought together more than 250 business, elected, regional economic development and university leaders to discuss ways to expand and promote clean energy manufacturing throughout the region and across the nation.
Arizona State U Starts Solar Shade Installation
(U.S.): When complete, the two PowerParasol systems are expected to produce enough electricity to power 128 homes annually. Besides shading pedestrian areas, the solar systems will provide nighttime lighting for better security.
Madurai Kamaraj U Heads Toward Energy-Efficient Campus
(India): With the installation of solar panels on its administrative building, the university is starting the first phase of a campus-wide energy efficiency initiative. The university aims to produce all of its power through clean energy sources.
Sainik School Kazhakkoottam Debuts Solar Campus Streetlights
(India): The institution has completed the first phase of an energy efficiency project, converting 50 streetlights to solar power. In the next phase, the school plans to incorporate solar power in its hostels and the academic blocks, and possibly providing the surplus power generated to the local community.
U Albany Partners for Solar Energy Emergency Program
(U.S.): Following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy in New York this year, the university is teaming up with renewable energy consulting company Direct Gain Consulting to provide emergency backup renewable energy systems in the Hudson Valley. In addition to expanding on solar technology currently under development by university faculty, the goal of the "RE-START" program is to provide solar services at select gas stations, ATMs, food stores, health clinics and emergency service providers.
'This American Life' Features Campus Fossil Fuel Divestment
In the six months since 350.org founder Bill McKibben's fossil fuel divestment campaign tour, "divestment campaigns have sprung up on over 300 campuses, five small schools have divested...but calling around to student organizers I found that at most schools they are still in the very early stages, way too early to show results." The episode highlights one student's experience with trying to get her campus to divest from fossil fuels.
U Florida Debuts 251 kW Solar Installation
The new installation helps power a university apartment community of graduate students, faculty and staff while providing shade to the community's parking lot. The Gainesville Regional Utility will purchase the energy produced by this solar project.
U California Santa Cruz Debuts Green Labs Program
After a successful pilot with two labs on campus, the university's Green Labs Team has established a framework to evaluate and improve all labs on campus in the areas of energy efficiency, waste reduction and green purchasing.
Northern Arizona U Debuts Carbon Neutral Laundry Program
The Lighten Our Load initiative, a partnership between the university's Housing and Residence Life and Mac-Gray Campus Solutions, includes new water- and energy-efficient laundry machines in residence halls that are expected to offset nearly 800,000 pounds of carbon dioxide produced on campus.
Saint Mary's College Debuts Windmill at Legacy Garden
Spearheaded by the college's Green Living/Learning Community, the windmill charges a 12-volt car battery in a waterproof case that powers lights for about 18 hours, and automatically shuts off when the power drops too low. Student Charles Ahrens Feldman, part of the Green Living/Learning Community, chipped in $400 of his own money for the windmill project and was later repaid by the college through a Syufy Grant.
Luther College Completes $750K Campus Energy Efficiency Makeover
By the end of the month, the college's Baker Village commons building will have its own 20-kilowatt solar array, marking the end of a $750,000 U.S. Department of Energy award in support of the college's plan to cut its carbon footprint in half by 2015. With the funding, the college has also established an energy and waste steward position, and renovated two major residence halls with water-efficient flush toilets, improved HVAC systems and energy-efficient windows.
Regional Student Winners Named in Clean Energy Biz Competition
The U.S. Department of Energy has named six student teams to advance to the final level of the National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. The teams from Northwestern University, North Carolina A&T University, Purdue University, Brigham Young University, University of Arkansas and the University of California, Berkeley will compete for technical, design, public relations and legal assistance to help commercialize their technology.
Harvard Real Estate Buildings Achieve Energy Star Certification
Harvard Real Estate recently achieved Energy Star certification for three buildings in its portfolio. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star certification program uses an energy performance scale that scores the energy performance of a building on a scale of 1 to 100 as compared to buildings of a similar type and use around the United States. Buildings that earn a 75 or higher are eligible to apply for the Energy Star certification.
300K Students Compete in 2013 Campus Conservation Nationals
Lucid Design Group, in partnership with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, the National Wildlife Federation and the Alliance to Save Energy, has announced that more than 300,000 students at 120 colleges and universities in North America collectively saved over two million kilowatt-hours of electricity and $160,000 during the 2013 Campus Conservation Nationals. Students also saved over 1.6 million gallons of water.
U Buffalo Opens Publicly Accessible Solar Array
The University at Buffalo celebrated Earth Day with the opening of its Solar Strand, believed to be the nation’s most publicly accessible photovoltaic array. The university and the Western New York Environmental Alliance introduced the public to the facility with a 90-minute event showcasing how environmental initiatives can redefine the economy and improve quality of life.
EPA Announces Green Power Challenge Athletic Conference Winners
(U.S.): The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership tracks the collegiate athletic conferences with the highest combined green power usage in the nation. In April, collective conferences and single institutions were recognized as 2012-13 EPA Green Power Challenge conference champions. At more than 310 million kilowatt-hours, the Big 10 conference topped the list with the largest total purchase among all conferences.
Indiana U Purdue U Indianapolis Constructs Solar Array
(U.S.): A new $245,000 solar power installation atop the Business School of Public and Environmental Affairs generates 43 kilowatts of electricity a day. The project will provide research opportunities and is one of 18 Qualified Energy Savings Projects underway in several campus buildings.
Vanderbilt U to Switch From Coal Power to Natural Gas
U.S.): The university has announced it will replace its coal-fired co-generation facility, converting it to burn natural gas. Construction of the new natural gas facility will include the installation of two natural gas-fired boilers and one natural gas-combustion turbine, which will co-generate steam and electricity. The university hopes the switch will contribute to the reduction of its carbon footprint.
Agnes Scott College Installs Energy Efficient Lamps
The college has replaced fluorescent lamps across campus with more energy-efficient bulbs. The lamps are part of the college’s first green revolving fund project and are expected to save about $11,000 annually in electricity bills.
U British Columbia Deploys New Smart Grid Energy System
The university has unveiled a new $5.1 million energy storage system, created in partnership with Alpha Technologies Ltd. and Corvus Energy. The smart grid technology will allow the storage of clean power when it is generated and its use in times of peak demand.
Georgetown U Dedicates Solar Street Project
The student-spearheaded initiative, Solar Street, has installed 75 solar panels across rooftops of six university-owned historic townhouses. The project is expected to offset an average of approximately 40 percent of the electricity used in each townhouse, and provide up to $43,000 in savings to the student body government over the 20-year life of the power purchase agreement.
Indiana U Bloomington Sustainability Fund Announces First Project
The Student Sustainability Council has announced plans to install motion-sensing, energy-efficient lighting as its first capital project. The project will be funded by the student-supported and student-directed sustainability fund, which was established via an 11,000-signature student petition in fall 2010.
Arizona State U Polytechnic Campus Dedicates Solar Array
The university and SunPower Corp. have dedicated a one-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant on campus. Technology used in the plant concentrates the sun's power seven times to achieve one of the lowest levelized costs of electricity for solar power plants available today. According to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the system will offset the production of 1,277 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Central Michigan U Students Create Renewable Energy Device
Engineering and technology students are building an energy-harvesting device that will be used to power a temperature display in front of the Engineering and Technology Building. The device, which contains a material that generates energy when pressed, will produce electricity from the vibrations created by pedestrian’s footsteps as they walk in and out of the building.
Georgetown U Joins EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club
The university has been added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Leadership Club. The university purchased Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates equal to 109 percent of electricity use on the main, medical and east campuses.
San Diego State U to Receive Solar Project
North American Development Bank has provided a $19.2 million loan to NRG Solar to construct a five-megawatt solar project at the university’s Imperial Valley campus. The electricity generated will be sold to the IID, a California irrigation district and publicly-owned utility, under a 25-year power purchase agreement. The university will have access to the facility for research and educational purposes.
Washington U St. Louis Invests $30M on Energy Conservation
The university has announced plans to spend $30 million on energy conservation projects over the next five years. The roughly 60 projects, which will help improve energy efficiency, heating and cooling systems, and waste management, are projected to reduce emissions by more than 50,000 metric tons of CO2
Muskingum U Installs Solar Array
(U.S.): The university has constructed a 75-kilowatt, 297 panel solar array atop its Recreation Center. The array is expected to save about $15,000 annually in electricity costs. The project was paid for through university capital improvements funds.
Shanghai Jiaotong U to Construct Solar Decathlon House
(China): The university has partnered with JinkoSolar Holding Co. to construct an energy-efficient home for the 2013 Solar Decathlon China competition. Over 20 student teams have been selected to participate in the first Solar Decathlon China competition in August.
12 Canadian Institutions Participate in Earth Hour Competition
Twelve post-secondary institutions from across Alberta, Canada will take collective action against climate change through the One Hour, No Power: Campus Challenge. The fourth annual inter-campus competition, hosted by the University of Alberta’s Office of Sustainability, will see which school can get the greatest number of students, faculty and staff to pledge to power down all non-essential lights and appliances during Earth Hour 2013 on March 23.
Salisbury U Purchases Local Renewable Energy Credits
The university has committed to purchase 8,000 renewable energy credits from Ingenco, a renewable energy company operating throughout the mid-Atlantic. The company has partnered with the Wicomico County to use methane gas produced from a local landfill that is also used by the university.
Sierra College Student Constructs Solar Array
Students have constructed a solar array composed of 99 panels that will provide nearly 18,000 watts of annual energy production. The array was built over the last three years by over 50 students enrolled in the college’s Energy Technology Program.
U Minnesota Twin Cities Receives Energy Efficiency Award
The university has received the Platinum Award by Xcel Energy for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. The award recognized the Twin Cities campus for saving 35 million kilowatt hours of electricity over five years.
