Evergreen Valley College Breaks Ground on 1.5 MW Solar Project
Evergreen Valley College (CA) has started construction on a ground-mounted solar panel system with a capacity of about 1.5 megawatts of power. Expected to be completed in early 2012, the system will meet 33 percent of the college's energy requirements.
U Wisconsin-Waukesha Undergoes Energy Audit
The University of Wisconsin-Waukesha has begun an in-depth energy analysis of all campus facilities to identify opportunities for energy savings and infrastructure improvements. The viability of various renewable energy opportunities on campus will also be examined through the audit. All costs incurred for the implementation of any energy conservation measures will be funded by the state’s performance contracting program for energy efficiency.
Allegheny College Installs Six Solar Panels
Allegheny College (PA) has installed a new array of six solar panels that was funded by savings generated by a campus energy conservation challenge. The panels are expected to produce more than 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
Arizona State U Debuts Solar Panels on Downtown Campus
Arizona State University has installed 322 solar panels on the roof of its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. The university will purchase the energy produced by the 77-kilowatt installation from independent solar power producer Solar Power Partners, which owns and operates the panels.
De Anza College Installs Solar Energy System
De Anza College (CA) has installed a solar panel array that doubles as shading for campus parking lots. The panels will have a capacity of 1.1 megawatt hours and are expected to save the college $250,000 per year in electricity costs. The power generated from the panels will be tracked and integrated into a campus-wide system showing all green energy production on campus. The $1.4 million project was funded through Measure E.
San Francisco State U Demos Fuel Cell Project
San Francisco State University (CA) has partnered with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to connect a new fuel cell plant with its heating infrastructure. The demonstration project is part of a California Public Utilities Commission-approved initiative to construct fuel cell facilities on several California State University and University of California campuses. The plant, funded by PG&E, will generate a total of 1.6 megawatts of electrical power connected directly to PG&E’s local distribution grid. The university will earn back its $550,000 investment through an estimated $250,000 in annual energy savings.
U Guam Incorporates Alternative Energy Systems on Campus
The University of Guam's Center for Island Sustainability has installed 30 stand-alone solar streetlights and 40 stand-alone solar walkway lights around the campus. The university has also commissioned two 6-kilowatt solar photovoltaic systems and ordered two wind turbines to offset the energy consumption of campus buildings. One of the turbines will be used as a demonstration model for teaching and data collection. Funding was provided from a state energy program as part of federal economic stimulus grants.
U Texas Arlington to Save $1.1 M Annually with Energy Upgrades
The University of Texas at Arlington has completed a $9.9 million package of efficiency-boosting facility upgrades that will save the university about $1.1 million each year in energy and maintenance costs. Funded through a low-interest loan from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 55 campus buildings received upgrades including heating and air-conditioning system retrofits, roofing repairs and the replacement of two thermal energy plant chillers.
U Vermont Partners with National Lab on Smart Grid Project
The University of Vermont has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories to create the Center for Energy Transformation and Innovation. The center will focus on integrating renewable energy into the power grid; ensuring reliability and security of smart grids and meters; and providing capacity for electric vehicles. The $15 million effort will be funded by the university, U.S. Department of Energy and Vermont state government over three years.
Connecticut College Installs Geothermal System
Connecticut College has begun installing a geothermal system that will provide all of the heating and air conditioning needs for its new science center. The geothermal wells, which will be completely hidden underground at the completion of the project, will be located at the center of campus. Scheduled for a spring completion, the college expects to make up the $1 million project cost in reduced energy bills over six to seven years.
Jefferson CC Students Help Install Solar Panels
Jefferson Community College (NY) has installed 14 solar panels with the help of students from the Jefferson-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services' New Visions alternative energy course. Before installing the panels, students earned basic electrical wiring and construction skills. The panels will generate electricity for the child care center and are expected to reduce its energy costs by 25 percent. The project was funded by a $14,138 federal Perkins grant.
Saint John's U Commits to No Coal
Saint John's University (MN) has committed to stop burning coal on campus with the use of "cleaner natural gas," at least through 2013. The university, which currently has solar collectors that generate 20 percent of the campus' electrical needs during peak hours, is looking into geothermal, wind energy and energy-efficient building retrofits.
U.S. Institutions Embark on $4 Billion Energy Efficiency Program
With the hope that it will be a major job generator in the construction sector, the White House has announced that a variety of college and university buildings will be part of a $4 billion program to improve energy efficiency over the next two years, reports a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article. Institutions include Allegheny College (PA), which plans to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent in 1.3 million square feet of space by 2020, and the University of California, Irvine, which has committed to cutting energy consumption by nearly 9 percent in seven million square feet of space. Government agencies will contribute $2 billion to the initiative and institutions, cities, private companies and other entities will collectively contribute the other $2 billion.
Broome CC to Teach with Solar Panels
With the aim of providing students with hands-on alternative energy experience, Broome Community College (NY) has announced plans to install 16 solar panels on its Applied Technology building. The $20,000 project was funded through the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority.
Mid-South CC Debuts Renewable Energy Center
Mid-South Community College (AR) has opened a $9 million renewable energy facility for green jobs training. The 35,000-square-foot center also houses a biofuel production facility.
U North Dakota Pilots Project to Reduce its Use of Coal
The University of North Dakota has announced a pilot project to reduce the use of coal at its campus power plant by 10 to 20 percent using glycerin, a product originally derived from canola oil. The university has partnered with Benchmark Energy Corp., which is planning to build a local plant that can refine up to nine million gallons of glycerin a year. The university will purchase 45,000 gallons of glycerin a month during the pilot phase.
Utah State U Debuts 33.5 kW Solar Array
Funded in part through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Utah State University has installed a 33.5-kilowatt photovoltaic solar array. The system includes 108 modules integrated into the architecture of the building and will be monitored through an online interface.
U Texas San Antonio Installs 170 kW Solar Research Grid
The University of Texas at San Antonio has installed a 170-kilowatt solar grid, split between two roofs on campus. In addition to generating power for 10 electric vehicle charging stations, data collected from wireless monitoring of the grid will be used to provide insight on how cities might use solar power to meet a larger portion of electricity demand. The university expects to save $86,000 a year in electricity costs.
Mission College Dedicates 1.1 MW Solar Power System
Mission College (CA) has installed a 2,640 solar panel array totaling 1.1 megawatts. The 1.5-acre parking lot canopy structure will generate approximately one-third of the college’s electricity demand and reduce electricity costs by $8.5 million over 25 years.
Point Loma Nazarene U Installs Solar with Student Green Fees
Financed by its Student Green Fund, Point Loma Nazarene University (CA) has installed two new solar systems. The two projects - a 620-kilowatt photovoltaic system and a 54-kilowatt solar thermal hot water system - are expected to save the university up to $1.6 million over the next two decades.
RIT Partners for LED Upgrades, Fellowship Program
To reduce its electricity and maintenance costs, Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) has partnered with Trans-Lux Corporation to install energy-efficient LED lights in place of fluorescent tube lighting on campus. The partnership will also support a fellowship program for students interested in developing new applications for LED technology.
Building Upgrades at Merced College to Save $180K Annually
Merced College (CA) has partnered with Honeywell for energy-efficient campus building upgrades that will be used as a real-world case study for teaching students conservation strategies. The 15-year, $3.1 million performance contract includes the installation of energy-efficient lighting and upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in 16 campus buildings that aim to reduce annual operating costs by $180,000. Sustainability interns will track the resource usage in each building and develop a newsletter to update the campus community on the program's progress.
Carleton College Installs Second Wind Turbine
Carleton College (MN) has installed its second wind turbine. The turbine will provide power directly to the college’s electrical grid and is expected to provide one-third of the annual energy needs of the campus. The installation was made possible by a gift from two alumni.
Edinboro U Unveils Solar Array, Energy Kiosks
Edinboro University (PA) has unveiled a $1.16 million array of solar panels that will partially power the McComb Fieldhouse, where most of the university's sporting events take place. The array is expected to produce 251,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. Students and staff will be able to monitor the energy produced through two kiosks installed in the Fieldhouse and Cooper Science building. The project was partially funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Goshen College Begins Fitness Center Solar Panel Installation
Goshen College (IN) has begun a solar panel installation to heat the water for its recreation and fitness center. Members of the Sun Shower Collective, consisting of students, faculty and staff, began planning the project in the fall of 2008 and expect to complete the installation by the end of this year. Individual donors and a grant from the Ecological Stewardship Committee funded the project.
Hobart and William Smith Colleges Powered Solely by Wind
Hobart and William Smith Colleges (NY) has announced a partnership with a renewable energy marketer and developer to supply all of its electricity needs with wind energy. The college will purchase Renewable Energy Certificates equal to 100 percent of the campus' electricity use, which will be matched annually with wind energy entering the electricity grid in the U.S. The effort is expected to offset the equivalent of about 8,275 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.
U District Columbia to Undergo Energy Efficiency Upgrades
The University of the District of Columbia has been awarded a $65,000 incentive grant from a local utility company for campus energy efficiency upgrades. The university will install new energy-efficient light fixtures and a lighting management program for an estimated energy savings of up to 15 percent.
Duke U Installs Solar Thermal Panels
Duke University (NC) has installed 45 solar thermal panels to heat up to 40 percent of the water at its Bryan Center. Through a partnership with Holocene, the university's only financial commitment to the project is to purchase the solar thermally heated water from the renewable energy company, which will own and operate the installation for seven years. After that, the university will own the solar panels and not have to pay an outside source for hot water.
North Carolina State U Introduces Online Energy Conservation Tool
North Carolina State University's Sustainability Office has introduced a new web-based tool that allows students to see the energy being consumed in various settings around campus including residence halls, classrooms, kitchens and laboratories. Students can manipulate 360-degree virtual rooms to determine the energy consumption of various appliances and other devices. The project was developed by Springleaf Strategies, a marketing and sustainability consulting firm, as part of a campaign to reduce campus energy consumption by 5 percent.
Portland CC Debuts Twin Fuel Cell Project
Portland Community College (OR) recently unveiled twin fuel cells at its Sylvania Campus that, by converting natural gas into electricity and heat, are providing power and heat to the campus' Health Technology Building. The U.S. Department of Energy covered the bulk of the $162,037 project, which is estimated to save the college 3 percent of its total annual utility bill.
U Central Florida Wins EPA's 'Battle of the Buildings'
The University of Central Florida has been named the winner of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2011 Energy Star National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings. The university decreased the energy use in a parking garage on its main campus by 63.2 percent. In its second year, the competition featured teams from 245 buildings across the country in a battle to save energy, reduce costs and protect people's health and the environment. Together, competitors cut their energy costs by $5.2 million.
Philadelphia U Launches Energy Education, Awareness Campaign
Philadelphia University (PA) has partnered with Honeywell to launch Act! Earth, a campus-wide energy education and awareness campaign aimed at promoting sustainable practices among students, faculty and the local community. Honeywell hired a coordinator to manage the campaign and develop educational events and student activities, and promote the university's initiatives through social media. As part of the campaign, an energy dashboard kiosk will be installed in the new Center for Sustainability.
Rider U Debuts Solar Energy System
Rider University (NJ) has installed a new .74-megawatt solar farm. The system is comprised of 2,640 ground-mounted panels that are connected directly to the electric grid. The project is part of the Public Service Electric and Gas Company's Solar 4 All program, a solar effort to help New Jersey reach its solar energy goals while fostering economic development.
Smith College Launches Energy Dashboard System
By spring 2012, two-thirds of student residences will be on Smith College's (MA) recently launched energy monitoring building dashboard system. The Lucid Design Group interactive display of real-time energy consumption reveals energy data across multiple time scales and unit equivalents. The college hopes that the competitive aspect of the dashboard display will urge students to reduce energy consumption, and that faculty will tap the data for class projects.
U Minnesota Plans 38 kW Solar Panel System
The University of Minnesota will use $230,000 of a $1.35 million grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce Office of Energy Security to install solar panels on its Office Plaza Building. The photovoltaic panels will produce an estimated 38.4 kilowatts of electric power, saving 3 to 5 percent of the building's energy consumption. An online interface will also be installed to show a live feed of the energy generated and saved by the solar panels.
Davidson College to Install 2 Solar Arrays
Davidson College (NC) has announced plans to install two arrays of solar panels atop its sports complex. The installation is expected to save the college $25,000 a year in energy expenses. The $600,000 cost is being funded by the college, the Duke Endowment and a state grant that is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Eastern Illinois U Opens Renewable Energy Center
More than two years after its Board of Trustees approved the construction, Eastern Illinois University has opened its $55 million renewable energy center. The facility, which houses a biomass gasifier, can store enough wood chips to supply the campus steam needs for 10 days and is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent. The energy savings will finance the center.
Medical U South Carolina Achieves $28K in Energy Savings
The Medical University of South Carolina achieved $28,000 in energy savings by participating in a local Green Business Challenge. For the challenge, which aimed to promote environmental sustainability while enhancing profitability, occupants of the university building worked together to turn off lights in unoccupied rooms and pull down blinds to reduce heating effects.
MIT Recognized as Business Leader for Efficiency Forward Program
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been recognized as a Business Leader by the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership for its MIT Efficiency Forward program. MIT plans to invest more than $13 million and use incentives from local utility provider NSTAR over the next three years to reduce campus electricity use by 15 percent by 2013. In its first year, the program exceeded goals by 30 percent with a savings of more than 13 million kilowatt hours.
U Southern Mississippi Cuts Energy Costs by $2 Mil
With the installation of energy meters, energy-efficient boilers and energy management systems that adjust energy settings when buildings are unoccupied, the University of Southern Mississippi has achieved energy savings of nearly $2 million in the past year. The savings are a result of a three-year energy efficiency initiative that included a campus-wide energy assessment, the implementation of new technology and energy use adjustments, and an outcome analysis.
U Wisconsin Stevens Point Installs Solar Panels
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has installed solar panels on a campus residence hall to help heat water for the building. The university is also looking to upgrade existing solar panels once funding is available.
Pennsylvania Creates Campus Energy Efficiency Fund
Pennsylvania State Treasurer Rob McCord has unveiled a Campus Energy Efficiency Fund investment opportunity aimed at generating $45 million in campus improvements at as many as 12 schools through projects creating more than 700 jobs. Over the 20-year useful life of these projects, institutions are expected to save $150 million in utility costs and reduce their carbon dioxide footprint by 1.4 million tons. Drexel University has signed on as the inaugural participant.
San Diego State U Installs Locally Produced Solar Modules
San Diego State University (CA) has installed 1,680 locally produced solar modules atop a campus parking building. The system is designed to resist wind uplift and mitigate seismic concerns. The Associated Students of San Diego State University funded the system through a student-approved green fee referendum.
U Montana Students Initiate Solar Panel Installation
Students in an environmental studies service learning course at the University of Montana led the recent installation of 10 solar panels on the roof of a campus building. A grant from the Kless Energy Fund and matching funds from the university were used to help launch the project.
Monmouth U to Increase Solar Energy System Capacity
Monmouth University (NJ) has announced that it will increase its on-campus solar-generated electricity to 650 kilowatts under a new Power Purchase Agreement. Pro-Tech Energy Solutions and partner Torcon, Inc. will equip seven of the university’s buildings with solar panels.
Montgomery County CC Uses Energy Savings for a Greener Campus
Montgomery County Community College (PA) has announced plans to use funds from energy savings for energy-efficient campus upgrades. The college will weatherize buildings and install wind turbines, photovoltaic solar panels and low-flow plumbing. The college expects a total energy savings of more than $6 million and will use the money to offset construction costs.
U Dayton Students Receive Energy Consumption Report Cards
The University of Dayton (OH) has begun issuing monthly energy report cards to students living in university-owned houses. Eighty-five percent of the 469 residences earned an average or better score during the 2010-2011 school year, during which the university estimated a savings of $20,000 on gas and electric. A group of engineering students compiled a grading model of "A" through "F" based on the last six years of energy data for each of the houses.
U.S. Higher Education Solar Capacity Leaps 450% in 3 Years
AASHE has released a new database of hundreds of campus solar photovoltaic installations that reveals higher education's rapid adoption of solar. Among the notable findings is a 450 percent growth of installed solar capacity in the higher education sector over the last three years. The database enables higher education solar advocates to browse success stories at campuses of a similar type, size and location. To learn more, view additional charts and graphs, and contribute to this new resource, visit the database.
U Texas San Antonio Expands Solar Energy Program
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has announced plans to install 600 solar panels on its School of Medicine and a campus carport. The university expects the installations to collectively generate 131 kilowatts of power and provide 100 percent of the Academic and Administration Building’s energy needs at certain times of the day.
