American U Sharjah Students Harvest Power from Noise
The Institute for Engineering and Technology has recognized the efforts of four American University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) students, who have developed a device that can convert otherwise wasted mechanical energy, acoustic noise and ultrasonic waves into electricity. Using piezoelectric technology, the students looked toward places where a lot of mechanical energy or noise is wasted like footsteps on a pavement or the cacophony of a football stadium. One of their envisioned applications includes installing piezoelectric devices in shoes to capture the energy produced while walking or running to power small electronic devices like cell phones.
Banff and Buchan College Installs 100 Solar Panels
More than 100 solar panels have been installed at Banff and Buchan College (United Kingdom) as part of a continuing £20 million expansion. At peak daylight times, the solar photovoltaic array can generate up to 20 kilowatts of energy. The college will use some of the electricity for itself, but sell off the rest to the national grid.
Guam CC Installs Solar Energy System
Guam Community College has installed 200 solar panels on campus. The solar generated energy is expected to save the college $31,000 annually. The photovoltaic panels were also designed to withstand typhoons and run for approximately 25 years. A second set of solar arrays are set to be installed that will double the energy production by the end of the year. The college received funding provided by the federal government.
RIT Dubai Studies Residential Energy Efficiency
A Rochester Institute of Technology researcher at RIT Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is exploring ways to make residential homes in Dubai and other hot climates more energy efficient. The project, which was recently awarded $27,000 from the Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy, will include local field studies of residential villas and explore energy-saving alternatives in both the design and post-occupancy stages. Researchers will measure the effects of factors such as shading options, insulation, roof treatments, windows and ventilation. The findings will be reported publicly online. The United Arab Emirates has one of the highest per capita energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission rates, according to the lead professor on the project, adding to the urgency for renewable energy sources and energy conservation in a climate that requires significant cooling through much of the year.
U St Andrews Plans 12MW Wind Farm
The University of St Andrews (United Kingdom) has revealed plans to install six wind turbines totaling 12 megawatts to limit its "spiraling" energy bills, which have tripled to £5.4 million a year. The plan follows three years of research, which revealed that wind turbines could potentially generate enough electricity to meet the needs of the energy-intensive science department, as well as the rest of the institution's electricity demand.
U Tokyo Leads Energy Efficiency Efforts After Japan Earthquake
In the wake of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami in March, Tokyo universities are facing a government demand for a 15 percent cut in electricity use, according to a recent Chronicle of Higher Education article. Classroom temperatures are set at 82 degrees Fahrenheit and many have ended classes early to avoid the summer months. As one of the 10 largest consumers of electricity in the capital, the University of Tokyo has claimed to have shaved 350,000 kilowatts of electricity a day off its bill at its five campuses and aims to double the government target of 15 percent cuts in electricity use to 30 percent. The university's executive vice president sees the changes as an opportunity to transform the nature of the campus: "It's about aggregating small changes to change a system that has been plagued by inertia. If successful, we could be used as a model for other universities."
Antioch U New England Reduces Campus Electricity Use by 34%
The Sustainability and Social Justice Committee at Antioch University New England (NH) has announced that its Green Guru workspace energy efficiency initiative has resulted in a 34 percent cumulative reduction in electricity used during fiscal years 2007-2010 compared to peak electricity usage in fiscal year 2006. This savings represents 186 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions avoided and an estimated savings of $35,371 in electricity bills. The outreach initiative, launched a few years ago as part of the Carbon Counts: You Can Too campaign aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2020, targets individual behavior and provides energy-saving tips.
Southwestern College Installs Wind Turbine
Southwestern College (KS) has begun installing a wind turbine on its campus. The college plans to use the turbine to teach students and the community about wind energy and sustainability. The turbine is expected to produce 400 kilowatts of energy per month.
U Minnesota Building Earns EPA Energy Star Rating
The University of Minnesota's Donhowe Building on the Twin Cities campus is the first University of Minnesota campus building to receive an Energy Star Building rating by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The building earned a rating of 90, putting it in the top 10 percent of buildings around the country. The building's high energy efficiency is the result of a 2009 recommissioning project by the university's Energy Management group.
West Valley College to Install 1MW Solar Array System
West Valley College (CA) has started the installation of a $6.7 million solar array system. The solar panels will be installed on structures located in parking lots and will be connected to the college’s electrical system in October. The solar array system is expected to generate one-megawatt of power and cover 33 percent of the electricity needs of the campus. The project was funded through a combination of clean, renewable energy bonds and Measure H bond interest.
Harvard U Generates Energy with Spinning Competition
Harvard Business School (MA) hosted its first ever "Green Living Spinning Competition" recently. The event was organized by the HBS Student Association Cup, an athletics contest between the sections at HBS, with support from the Green Living Program and HBS Operations. Sixty-three competitors raced on spin bikes supplied by the Green Revolution, an organization dedicated to connecting health and fitness with the creation of clean renewable energy. An average person's workout on these machines will produce enough to power four compact fluorescent bulbs for an hour. The fastest-pedaling participant generated enough to power his laptop for almost three hours.
Iowa State U Designated EPA Green Power Partner
Iowa State University has been recognized as a Green Power Partner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its "significant purchase" of wind energy and support of sustainable technologies. For an organization to qualify as a partner, it must purchase at least 3 percent of its annual electricity use through green power. Eligible resources include solar photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, eligible biomass, fuel cells, biodiesel-fueled generators and certain types of hydropower. The university is now buying enough wind power to supply more than 7 percent of its electricity needs and is striving for a goal of 10 percent.
Texas A&M Signs Performance Contract to Reduce Energy Consumption
Texas A&M University has signed performance contracts with Siemens Industry, Inc. totaling $15.1 million. The agreement is designed to reduce the overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on campus, improve building occupant comfort and support campus sustainability. Performance contracting will allow a facility to complete energy-saving improvements within an existing budget by financing them through guaranteed annual energy savings.
Yuba CC District Plans 2.7 MW Solar Power Project
Yuba Community College District (CA) has announced plans to construct a multi-campus solar power project. The 2.7-megawatt project is expected to generate two-thirds of the power needed for the campuses. The district sought performance-based incentives of about $3 million from the California Solar Initiative and $4.5 million in federal subsidies to help pay for the project. The district expects to save $155,000 annually during a financing term of 16 years. After the financing period, the district projects savings of $1.5 million per year.
Texas State Technical College Installs Solar Electric System
Texas State Technical College has partnered with Meridian Solar to install a solar electric system that will be used as an instructional tool for students. The company will install 120 modules on campus. The project is expected to cost $200,000 and save the college $6,400 per year in energy costs. A grant from the State Energy Conservation Office will provide the majority of funding for the project. The newly installed system will also be used for consumer education for the public.
Western Kentucky U Celebrates Energy Savings
Western Kentucky University has been awarded a check for $106,390 from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Bowling Green Municipal Utilities for its investments in energy efficiency. The university has trimmed electricity usage more than 500 kilowatts since joining TVA’s EnergyRight Solutions for Business program in March 2010. The program, offered through the local power company, pays up to $200 for every kilowatt saved.
Antelope Valley CC Completes 1MW Solar, Energy Efficiency Project
Antelope Valley Community College (CA) has announced the completion of a 1.1-megawatt solar and energy efficiency project on campus in partnership with Chevron Energy. The project includes a new solar energy system, car charging stations and a central cooling plant and data center. Alongside numerous energy efficiency improvements made, the college expects to gain more than $1.1 million net savings in the first five years. The college also expects to save the district more than $25 million over the life of the project, including incentives from the California Solar Initiative. Chevron Energy Solutions designed, constructed and will operate the solar system. The company also engineered and installed energy-efficient improvements.
Arizona State U Tapped to Lead National Clean Energy Effort
Arizona State University will lead a consortium of higher education institutions and service providers that offer clean energy training and education to develop and implement programs worldwide, it was recently announced. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a $10 million cooperative agreement to the university; $3 million to build and develop the program and up to $7 million for country specific projects to be formed under the Vocational Training & Education for Clean Energy umbrella. Led by the College of Technology and Innovation on the university's Polytechnic campus, the initiative will help create curricula around the operation and maintenance of decentralized clean energy technologies.
Butte College Announces Grid Positive Status
Butte College has become the first institution in the U.S. to go "grid-positive," producing more than 100 percent of the electricity it uses from its on-site solar arrays. The solar arrays total 4.538 megawatts and will generate more than 6.5 million kilowatt hours per year. By eliminating its electricity bill, getting paid for excess electricity production and avoiding future electricity rate increases, the college estimates that it will save between $50 million and $75 million over 15 years. Watch for a formal press release to be released tomorrow on the college's website.
Dixie State College Launches Energy Saving Initiative
Dixie State College (UT) has initiated the Energy Saving Company, a project that will implement various strategies to reduce campus energy costs. The money saved will be used to purchase energy-saving equipment. Lights throughout campus including two sporting venues will receive upgrades. The project also includes the installation of solar panels and adjusted temperature controls of cooling and heating units. The college expects to save $200,000 a year if the project is successful.
Frostburg State U to Conduct Campus-Wide Energy Audit
Frostburg State University (MD) has announced that it will move forward with a campus-wide energy audit this fall. The university was awarded a Constellation Energy EcoStar grant in support of the student-led initiative. Audits will determine individual and collective energy usage on campus, aid in the effective implementation of energy saving devices and provide recommendations for individuals to change energy use habits. A team of students will be trained to conduct the audits, scheduled to begin this summer and continue through May 2012.
Lake Region CC Installs Solar System
Lake Region Community College (NH) has installed 15.57 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels on campus. The stationary 12.42-kilowatt panels were placed on the college’s Center for Arts and Technology academic building. Another 3.15-kilowatt photovoltaic panel has a built-in tracking system that follows the sun’s trajectory. The college expects to save $3,600 a year in energy costs and the project qualifies for a $12,000 incentive. The project was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the State Energy Program through the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning.
Bishop's U Announces Geothermal Heating Project
Bishop's University (QC) has announced plans for an $8 million campus energy efficiency project that will include a new geothermal heating system. Starting this month, the university will drill 60 wells under the campus soccer field. The university is also upgrading campus lighting with energy-efficient fixtures and optimizing campus building automated controls for heating, ventilation and air conditioning to fit the needs of each individual building and room. The project is expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60 percent, natural gas usage by 64 percent and will eliminate the use of oil to heat.
Colorado State U, East China Normal U Partner for Energy Research
Colorado State University and East China Normal University have partnered on a new Joint Research Institute for New Energy and the Environment. The institutions will work together to develop new energy solutions to help deal with the impact of energy on climate, air quality, land use and water resources. Colorado State University is also pursuing student exchange programs and research initiatives with other Chinese universities.
Montana State U Billings Installs Wind Turbine as Teaching Tool
Montana State University Billings' College of Technology has installed a new 10-kilowatt wind turbine. Students participating in the sustainable energy technology program will be monitoring and collecting data from the $80,000 turbine. The turbine will also generate electricity for part of the university’s campus.
U British Columbia Announces New Energy System
The University of British Columbia’s Board of Governors has approved a new $85 million district energy system that is expected to reduce campus greenhouse emissions by 22 percent and campus energy consumption by 24 percent. The five-year project will replace the university’s steam heating system with a natural gas-powered hot water plant. The university expects to save $4 million in operation and energy costs annually.
U California Berkeley Plans Campus LED Retrofit
The University of California, Berkeley has received 1,000 LED retrofit kits from Sentry Electric. The lights will be installed in decorative post-top luminaries on the campus. The LEDs are projected to deliver 81 percent in energy savings and the university hopes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 568 metric tons. The installation is a result of the California Public Utilities Commission’s approval of a proposal allowing the installation of LED lighting to customers that contract with the utility for street and highway lighting.
U Notre Dame Debuts First Wind Turbine
The University of Notre Dame (IN) has installed its first wind turbine on campus. The turbine was mounted on the roof of the university’s power plant and has the ability to generate up to four kilowatts of power. The turbine’s purpose is largely educational but will also feed power directly into the campus electrical grid. The turbine is small enough for residential use and the data collected may help community members decide whether wind is a viable option. The installation was made possible by institutional funding from the Northern Indiana Public Service Company.
Virginia Tech to Hold 'Lights Out!/Power Down!' Event
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Office of Energy and Sustainability has announced plans to hold a “Lights Out!/Power Down!” event this month. The university is encouraging all students, faculty and staff to turn off and unplug all lighting and electrical loads during the one-hour event to kick-off the university’s summer electrical demand management program. Facilities Services employees will canvass buildings to encourage and assist building occupants to turn off and power down. The university has also enrolled in “Interruptible Load Reliability,” a demand response program that pays customers in exchange for a commitment to reduce electrical load in the event of an electrical grid emergency condition. Program participants must successfully demonstrate for one hour their ability to meet their load reduction commitment.
American U Installs Energy Dashboard
American University (DC) has unveiled an energy dashboard with real-time energy consumption data for its 12 residence halls and 19 academic buildings. Energy usage can be viewed over the course of hours, days, weeks or months. The meters that provide the Lucid Design Group dashboard's information were installed in buildings last fall in anticipation of the university's participation in Campus Conservation Nationals. With the aid of the meters and the energy-saving efforts of faculty, staff and students, the university reduced its overall energy consumption by 8 percent during the competition period. Plans are also underway to link the university's new solar electricity projects to the dashboard to allow comparisons between solar electricity production and overall building consumption.
Chatham U Installs Solar Array Atop Residence Hall
Chatham University (PA) recently installed the first of two solar arrays atop one of its residence halls to provide students with solar heated water. The initiative was funded in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority.
Dept of Energy Announces $70 Mil Toward Geothermal Advancements
In support of partnerships with academia, national laboratories and industry, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced the availability of up to $70 million in new funding over three years for technology advancements in geothermal energy. The funding will be used to research and develop innovations in exploration technologies to locate geothermal energy resources and improvements in resource characterization, drilling and reservoir engineering techniques.
Harvard U Students Study Geothermal Feasibility
As part an “Engineering Design Seminar” course, 16 undergraduate engineering students at Harvard University (MA) have discovered that existing geothermal wells on campus can supply more energy without overwhelming the system. The students’ research, calculations, experimentation and sophisticated computer modeling concluded that the geothermal heating and cooling system that serves the university’s Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study will also be able to supply energy to the nearby Fay House, currently undergoing a $13 million renovation of its mechanical, electrical, plumbing and life safety systems. The students also took the investigation several steps further, recommending that the wells should all run simultaneously for the 15-hour day (rather than in shifts) and the building's thermostats should be raised gradually over the course of each morning for optimal efficiency.
Michigan State U Dim Down Program Reduces Campus Energy Use
Michigan State University’s Office of Campus Sustainability recently hosted the annual Dim Down program, designed to bring awareness to the amount of electronics people have on during the day, especially electronics not in use. From noon to 1 p.m. every Friday during the month of April, students and faculty were expected to unplug any unused electronics. By the end of the program, 4.2 percent was the highest energy reduction in a day and some departments on campus created their own monthly Dim Down event.
National Outdoor Leadership School Unveils 24.8 kW Solar Array
The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), which partners with colleges and universities for college credit, recently unveiled a 24.8-kilowatt solar array atop the NOLS Rocky Mountain's Noble Hotel. The hotel, located in Lander, Wyo., primarily provides housing to NOLS Rocky Mountain students and instructors, as well as a place to hold community events. This solar array is projected to provide 10 percent of the hotel's energy needs, making it an important step towards NOLS' 2020 carbon reduction goal of 30 percent below 2006 levels.
U Chicago Installs First Energy Dashboard
The University of Chicago's (IL) Searle Laboratory recently became the first building on campus to feature an energy monitoring building dashboard system. The Lucid Design Group interactive display of real-time energy consumption reveals energy data across multiple time scales and according to different unit equivalents including gallons of gasoline, tons of carbon or dollars. The dashboard is the first step in an eventual campus-wide installation of energy monitoring systems.
U Colorado at Boulder Installing Carport Solar Array
The University of Colorado at Boulder is installing 100 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic panels atop a new carport on campus. The university has partnered with design and construction company EcoDepot for project financing and has the opportunity to buy the solar installations after seven years at a fraction of the original cost.
U Minnesota Morris Educates with Fitness Center Solar Panels
The University of Minnesota, Morris recently celebrated the successful installation of a 32-panel solar thermal array at its Regional Fitness Center with two solar swims for the community and students. Organized by the Students Using Natural Energy (SUN-E) team, the swim gatherings are drawing crowds of about 100 people who swim in water heated by the sun and enjoy free pizza and a poolside DJ. This summer, the center will feature kiosks that show live temperature data at each juncture of the system, carbon dioxide output and the amount of energy produced by the solar panels over time. A diagram of the pool and the panels detailing the heating system as well as information on other green energy platforms on campus will complement the live data.
U Minnesota to Reduce Coal Use in Power Plant
The University of Minnesota has created a new plan to use natural gas and biomass to produce steam to reduce the amount of coal burned in the campus power plant. Oat hulls, a waste product from the General Mills cereal plant, will be used for the biomass. Coal will be reserved for the coldest days of winter, reducing its use by 85 percent.
U Washington Develops Software to Reduce Computer Energy Use
Researchers at the University of Washington have created an energy-efficient program that reduces the energy consumption of powerful computers, data centers and mobile devices. The program has cut energy use in simulations by up to 50 percent and has the potential to reduce energy use by as much as 90 percent. The software works like a dimmer switch, letting some transistors run at a lower voltage. Researchers are now designing hardware to test their results in the lab. The long-term goal is to improve the battery life of a computer.
Case Western Reserve U to Create Solar Energy Center
Case Western Reserve University (OH) has been recommended for a $2.88 million grant to work with industry to improve the productive lifetime of solar energy technologies, energy-efficient lighting, roofing and building exteriors. The grant will help fund the Solar Durability and Lifetime Extension Center. The center will include a sun farm on campus and provide companies with facilities to expose and evaluate materials, components and products under solar radiation and under extremes in temperature, humidity, freezing and thawing cycles. The grant is funded by Ohio Third Frontier.
Marshall U Evaluates Wind Energy Potential on Former Mining Sites
Marshall University’s (WV) Center for Environmental, Geotechnical and Applied Sciences has installed a wind turbine on three former mountain top removal sites (MTR). The university is using Second Wind’s satellite wind data service to evaluate the wind energy potential on former mining sites. The university’s goal is to help surface mine property owners determine whether they can make MTR sites productive again through conversion to renewable energy uses.
Penn State U Invests in PC Power Management Software
Pennsylvania State University has invested in PC power management software called BigFix. The software enables IT staff to ensure computers are in sleep mode when they are not being used and remotely wakes up the machines when they are needed. The software has been installed on 20,000 computers. The university expects to reduce its utilities bill by $800,000 a year.
St. Lawrence College to Install 1,200 Solar Panels
St. Lawrence College (ON) has announced a planned installation of more than 1,200 solar panels atop a variety of buildings on its campus. The 250-kilowatt project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The college expects the $3 million investment to pay for itself within the next 10 years. The rooftop solar project is part of an initiative created by the Ontario government to install 10 new solar panel projects at various locations throughout the city. The government will pay 71.3 cents for every kilowatt-hour generated.
U California San Diego Boosts Solar Energy Portfolio
The University of California, San Diego has partnered with Sullivan Solar Power for the installation of an 830-kilowatt solar project. Part of a $3.53 million project made possible with a $1.2 million rebate from the California Initiative and low-interest federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds financing, the panels will boost the university’s solar energy capacity to two megawatts and increase the total campus renewable energy portfolio to nearly five megawatts.
U Texas Austin Celebrates Solar Power System Completion
The University of Texas at Austin has completed the installation of a solar power system. The project consists of two grid-tied solar arrays. One system is a ground-mounted array of solar panels in a field and the other system is an array of panels over a newly constructed carport. A monitoring system has been installed to track the energy generated by each installation. The university hopes the project will offer instructional opportunities for academic engineering programs.
Arizona State U Tempe Campus Installs Solar Energy System
Arizona State University’s Tempe Campus has installed four new solar energy systems. The systems have a combined capacity of 750-kilowatts and utilize 3,572 solar modules. The rooftop installations were placed in strategic locations around campus for optimum solar energy usage. The new solar energy systems are part of the university’s goal to achieve 20-megawatts of solar generating capacity by 2020.
Arizona Western College Breaks Ground on Solar Project
Arizona Western College has partnered with Main Street Power and Arizona Public Service for a five-megawatt solar project. The solar system will feature both single-axis trackers and dual-axis trackers. The installation will have private demonstration systems featuring photovoltaic technology for corporate and government comparisons and will be made accessible to students and researchers. The university expects the installation to produce almost 100 percent of the campus’ daytime electric needs. The project was funded by the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Project.
Atlantic Cape CC Announces Solar Energy Project
Atlantic Cape Community College (NJ) has partnered with Pepco Energy Services, Inc. to install a solar photovoltaic system. The project will be designed, owned and operated by Pepco, and the college will buy the solar energy produced from the company. The solar panels will form two rows of carports, which will cover nearly three-quarters of a parking lot. Students and staff will have the opportunity to view a kiosk that will include information about the amount of energy being produced and the amount of carbon emissions being offset. The college hopes to save $220,000 in utility costs in the first year. The solar photovoltaic system is expected to be completed by mid-August.
College of William & Mary Launches In-House Carbon Offset Program
Faculty, staff and students at the College of William & Mary (VA) now have the opportunity to contribute personally to an in-house carbon offset program. The program offers individuals and institutions ways to contribute money toward carbon reducing projects that offset their personal carbon producing lifestyles. The college plans to direct 100 percent of the donations to campus energy reduction projects. An example offset is $23 for each 1,000 miles driven in an SUV, truck or minivan, which will contribute to projects including the installation of occupancy sensors, fan drive upgrades, and heating and cooling upgrades. Participants will be able to contribute to energy-saving programs underway through a website that features a contribution calculator.
