Harford CC Installs Solar Array
Harford Community College (MD) has installed 45 photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of its STEM Center. A monitoring system will be included to allow hands-on learning for students who will be able to observe the amount of energy being generated. Funding was made possible through a five-year pledge of $50,000 from the J.M. Huber Corporation.
Portland State U Saves Energy with Efficient Class Scheduling
Portland State University (OR) has reduced its Urban Center Building's electricity consumption by 18.5 percent by consolidating night and weekend classes to five buildings. The Buildings and Energy subcommittee of the university's Climate Action Plan Implementation Team worked to consolidate the classes, previously spread across 21 buildings, into the most energy-efficient buildings on campus. The team is working to further reduce energy demands by investigating ways to consolidate classroom assignments into building subsections that use the same heating and cooling supply.
University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc Launches Energy Analysis
The University of Wisconsin-Manitowoc has partnered with Honeywell to perform an in-depth energy analysis of all campus facilities and promote energy awareness on campus. The analysis will identify opportunities for energy savings and infrastructure improvements. Based upon preliminary analysis, savings opportunities in excess of 20 percent have been identified.
Brown U Debuts 168-Panel Hybrid Solar Array
Brown University (RI) has installed 168 solar panels on the roof of its new aquatics center. The hybrid installation combines a solar-powered electrical and heating system to provide electricity for the building and heat for the pool. The $800,000 project will be operational in April, when the building opens for students.
U Maryland College Park Installs Lighting Occupancy Sensors
The University of Maryland, College Park has installed more than 200 occupancy sensors in response to student concerns that many classroom lights remain on overnight and exceed campus building lighting standards. About 30 classrooms also received new energy-efficient fixtures with more planned. Funded through the Maryland Energy Administration State Agency Loan Program and PEPCO rebates, the project is estimated to save $100,000 in utility costs per year.
York U Turns Down Heat for National Sweater Day
In an effort to reduce campus energy consumption and draw attention to climate change, York University (ON) recently took part in World Wildlife Fund's National Sweater Day. The university's Sustainability@York initiative encouraged faculty, staff and students to participate by sending in photos of their sweaters for a chance to win a sustainability prize pack.
Austin College Reports $43K Savings in Energy Costs
Austin College (TX) has announced a savings of $43,603 over a six month period in 2011 with minor energy efficiency improvements around campus. The college raised building temperatures two degrees during the summer; installed a more efficient chilling system, and students participated in an energy reduction challenge in the residence halls. The college is aiming to use 100 percent renewable energy resources by 2015.
North Carolina State U to Install 5.5 MW Heat Recovery Generators
North Carolina State University has announced plans to renovate its Cates Utility Plant with two 5.5-megawatt heat recovery generators in August. Using waste heat from the combustion reaction, the new units are expected to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent and reduce greenhouse gas production by 8 percent. The university has entered into a performance contract for the $61 million project, and expects energy savings of $4.3 million in the first year.
U Wisconsin River Falls Leads UW System in Energy Efficiency
The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been named the most energy-efficient four-year campus in the University of Wisconsin system during the 2010-2011 academic year. Energy efficiency was measured by the number of British thermal units (Btu) of fossil fuels, electricity and overall energy used per gross square foot.
Cornell U Contest Saves $230K in Energy Use
A yearlong competition in Cornell University's (NY) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences department, sponsored by the department's Green Initiative and the university’s Office of Energy and Sustainability, has saved approximately $230,000 by reducing an estimated 2 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions in six buildings. Several students were responsible for identifying areas in which buildings could conserve energy or become more efficient.
Portland CC Announces New Solar Array
Portland Community College (OR) has announced plans to install a large ground-mounted solar array at its Rock Creek Campus. The 35,000-square-foot array is expected to provide 60 percent of the energy needs of a 72,000-square-foot campus building. The array will be built in partnership with the Energy Trust of Oregon, SolarCity, SolarWorld and the Oregon Department of Energy. The college is prepaying $830,000 for 20 years of solar energy under a power purchase agreement with SolarCity.
Southern Adventist U Plans Solar Panel Installation
Southern Adventist University (TN) has announced plans to install 806 solar panels atop its Plant Services warehouse. The electricity generated will be directed into the campus’ main power grid and is expected to provide approximately 3 percent of the university’s total power consumption. The project was initiated last year by the campus’ Students in Free Enterprise chapter.
U Chicago Announces Campus-wide Energy Efficiency Upgrades
The University of Chicago (IL) has announced an enhanced focus on campus-wide energy efficiency upgrades in 2012. Lighting changes and adjustments to heating and cooling systems are underway in several campus buildings and a total of 16 buildings will be retro-commissioned. An additional 19 buildings are in line for energy efficiency upgrades immediately afterwards. A $2.5 million grant is helping fund the projects.
U Kentucky Releases Campus Energy Dashboard
The University of Kentucky has released an interactive, educational resource featuring a web-based, real-time campus energy dashboard that measures energy consumption in residence halls, classrooms and labs, as well as offices and public spaces. The Empowered dashboard is accessible through touch-screen kiosks located around campus, a public website and a mobile version for smartphones and tablets.
U.S. Department of Energy Announces 2013 Solar Decathlon Teams
The U.S. Department of Energy has named 20 collegiate teams from around the world that will compete in the Energy Solar Decathlon 2013, slated to take place in Irvine, Calif. Competing in 10 categories ranging from architecture to energy production, the teams will build solar-powered, highly energy-efficient homes that combine affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence. The University of Maryland took the top honor during the Solar Decathlon 2011.
Virginia Tech Embarks on $5.3 M Energy Savings Project
Virginia Tech has partnered with Pepco Energy, Inc. to implement a comprehensive energy savings performance contract project. The company will install more than $5.3 million in new energy conservation measures for five buildings on campus. The improved energy infrastructure is expected to reduce energy consumption by more than 10 percent in each building for a savings of more than $8.4 million over the 11-year performance period.
Cumberland County College Approves 1.5 MW Solar Energy Project
Cumberland County College (NJ) has approved a 1.5-megawatt solar energy project. Funded by AMSOLAR, solar panels will be constructed as a canopy over existing parking spaces. In addition to savings of about $2 million over 15 years, the project will provide a hands-on educational experience for students with solar technology.
Davidson College Completes Solar PV, Thermal Installation
Davidson College (NC) has completed a two-part solar installation that is expected to save the college about $25,000 a year in energy expenses. Photovoltaic solar panels now provide electricity to the campus sports complex and solar thermal collector panels heat the campus pool and tennis showers. To help offset the $600,000 installation costs, the college received funding from a state grant and the Duke Endowment.
Montana State U to Invest $9.1 M toward Green Dorm Updates
Montana State University has announced plans to invest $9.1 million on updating residence halls with new windows, lighting, water conservation improvements and mechanical changes. Scheduled for completion in the next 20 months, the project is expected to yield about $370,000 in energy savings per year. Half of the money is being loaned by the Montana Board of Investments.
U Cincinnati Students Push for Green Energy
Members of the University of Cincinnati's (OH) Beyond Coal student organization are urging the administration to retire one of its campus coal-fired boilers. Students have gathered more than 2,000 signatures calling for the replacement of the aging boiler with a more efficient source of energy.
U Iowa Purchases Pilot Biomass Boiler
The University of Iowa has announced plans to replace a gas-powered boiler with a new $7.3 million biomass boiler that burns woodchips. If the boiler is successful on its smaller Oakdale campus, the university plans to implement renewable technologies on its main campus.
Arizona State U Partners for 1 MW Solar Power Plant
Arizona State University’s Polytechnic campus has announced plans for a 1-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant. The facility will be developed by SunPower Corp., which will sell the energy produced back to the university. The plant is expected to produce an amount of energy equal to that needed to serve about 225 SunPower customers.
California State U Fullerton Installs 3 Solar Power Systems
California State University, Fullerton has installed three solar power systems on the roof of campus buildings, each 1.16 megawatts in size. Including solar powered electric vehicle charging stations, the systems are expected to produce enough electricity per year to equal the elimination of 5,181 passenger vehicles from the road over the next 25 years.
Middlebury College to Create Solar Farm
Middlebury College (VT) has announced plans for a small solar farm consisting of 34 solar trackers that will produce enough electricity to power one of its residence halls. The system, slated for a spring installation, will also be used as an opportunity for student learning and research.
Princeton U Constructs 5.3 MW Solar Field
Princeton University (NJ) has started the installation of a new 5.3-megawatt solar photovoltaic panel field, to be completed by summer 2012. The university will host the field and lease the equipment from the project's funder and owner, Key Equipment Finance. After eight years, the university will have the option to purchase it at fair market value.
U Pennsylvania Debuts Energy-Efficient Ice Machines
The University of Pennsylvania has replaced two 1970s-era Zambonis with energy-efficient ice-resurfacing machines for its campus ice rink. The university also replaced a gasoline-powered ice edger with a zero-emissions model. With support from the Green Fund, the university plans to install a new water densification system this spring, designed to help reduce energy use in the arena.
Wilfrid Laurier U Launches Building Energy Dashboard
Wilfrid Laurier University (ON) has implemented a building dashboard system on campus to monitor energy consumption in real-time. The Lucid Design Group dashboard was funded by a $150,000 grant from the university president's Innovation Seed Fund.
U Pennsylvania Upgrades Campus Walkway Lights to LED Bulbs
The University of Pennsylvania has started upgrading about 500 existing campus walkway lights to LED bulbs and new higher-efficiency ballasts. The university expects the LEDs to use 75 percent less energy. The project is one of the first implemented as a result of the university’s Energy Reduction Fund, launched in September 2010 as a centralized mechanism to propose, prioritize and track energy-saving projects and energy retrofits for campus buildings.
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.
