EPA Proposes First National Standard for Coal Plant Emissions
Following recent canceled plans for coal plants by institutions who cited potentially strict environmental regulations surrounding coal emissions, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed the first national standard for emissions of mercury and other pollutants from coal-burning power plants on Wednesday. Lisa P. Jackson, the agency's administrator, estimated the total cost of compliance at about $10 billion and said that roughly half of the nation's more than 400 coal-burning plants have some form of control technology installed. Installing and maintaining smokestack scrubbers and other control technology would create 31,000 short-term construction jobs and 9,000 permanent public utility sector jobs. The EPA will take public comment on the proposed regulations for the next several months and anticipates publishing a final rule at the end of this year or early next year. The rule would take effect fully three or four years later. In related news, the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee recently voted a bill through to block EPA climate rules. The bill would permanently eliminate EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources like power plants and refineries, amending the Clean Air Act to forbid consideration of CO2 or other greenhouse gases. The bill is expected to come up on the House floor in the coming weeks.
Mismanagement of LA CC District Energy Plan Uncovered by LA Times
An investigation by the Los Angeles Times has found that an expensive and ambitious plan to make the Los Angeles Community College District a leader in green technology and renewable energy was largely mismanaged. The district's Executive Director for Facilities, Planning and Development Larry Eisenberg, who oversaw the project, was fired on March 9. With planned updates that included extensive solar panels, geothermal heating, hydrogen fuel-cells and wind-turbines, the Times investigation reveals that these unrealized plans cost taxpayers $10 million with little to show except for a demonstration wind turbine. Blunders include three solar power arrays that were scrapped when it became clear that the chosen locations sat atop seismic faults, and insufficient space on the district's nine campuses to house all the generating equipment that would be necessary to power the district through renewable energy sources. Of the 60 megawatts of solar projects that Eisenberg said would be necessary to meet all the campuses' power needs, the Times says that college presidents have agreed to build 16 megawatts.
Syracuse U Promotes Energy-Saving Device
Syracuse University’s (NY) Sustainability Division is promoting a new tool to help students and staff save on their energy consumption. The Kill A Watt is a small device that shows power usage and cost for specific household items, such as a toaster. The digital screen allows an individual to determine how much energy an appliance is using and how much that energy costs. The device is available at the university’s library for students, staff and faculty to rent.
Top 10 University Clean Technology Initiatives
Many top venture capital firms keep their eyes on universities to see what renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies are being produced, says a recent blog by the president and founder of Sustainable World Capitol. The blog profiles what it considers to be the top 10 initiatives coming out of universities today. Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Clean Energy Prize, along with initiatives from Imperial College London (UK); University of Tokyo (Japan); University of California, Berkeley; Institute of Singapore; University of Minnesota; Tel Aviv University (Israel); Cornell University (NY); Australian National University; and University of Melbourne (Australia) are featured.
U Calif System Seeks Energy-Efficient Solutions to Budget Cuts
Facing Gov. Jerry Brown's recent call to cut $500 million from the University of California system for the 2011-2012 school year, University of California leaders are looking for system-wide efficiencies in the areas of energy usage, among other solutions. The University of California, Riverside, for example, is looking to reduce its power usage by turning down air conditioners.
Academic Impressions Examines Campus Solar Trend
As institutions like the University of Maryland, College Park and Princeton University (NJ) announce plans for large solar installations, Academic Impressions looks at how the solar market is changing and what questions institutions need to address as they consider investments in solar energy. The article, which includes resources for reviewing state incentives for renewable energy and a checklist of critical questions to consider, notes that a swift decline in the cost of solar installations and a rise in state incentives available for financing solar installations have contributed to making solar power more affordable for colleges and universities in recent years.
McMaster U Strikes Deal with IBM to Improve Energy Efficiency
McMaster University (ON) has formed a partnership with IBM to create an energy-smart campus power grid. The university will use IBM software to monitor and forecast energy consumption in 60 campus buildings. The energy analytics software will track hot water usage, lighting and electrical output. The university will refer to the information gathered for ways to reduce operating costs and cut back on greenhouse gas emissions.
U Massachusetts Dartmouth Plans Wind Turbine Installation
The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus is planning to install a 243-foot wind turbine on campus, a move that is estimated to reduce energy costs by $125,000 per year. Financing for the turbine is part of a $35 million state-funded capital investment plan for renewable energy efforts on campus that includes the installation of solar panels on the roof of the university's athletic center.
U Massachusetts Plant Receives EPA Energy Efficiency Award
The University of Massachusetts' $133 million central heating plant has received a 2011 ENERGY STAR CHP award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The award recognizes highly efficient CHP (combined heat and power) systems that reduce emissions and use at least 5 percent less fuel than comparable, state-of-the-art, separate heat and power generation. The plant’s energy-efficient features include a 10-megawatt solar combustion turbine, heat recovery steam generator, four-megawatt steam turbine, three natural gas boilers and the 160,000 gallons of water used in the plant each day is treated wastewater. The plant has reduced campus-wide greenhouse gas emissions by about 75 percent.
Utah State U EcoCenter Recognized for Energy Leadership Efforts
Utah State University's Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter has been recognized for its role in establishing Park City, Utah as a national "green" leader. Park City Municipal received the 2010 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in October, an award given to communities that go above and beyond the standard for purchasing green power, which includes wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro powers. Five nonprofit organizations in Park City were awarded for their contributions during a Park City Sustainability Roundtable last month. The Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter was recognized for its ongoing clean energy use, energy efficiency (54 percent cost savings over conventional design), educational programs and its efforts on "This Green Earth," an environmental radio show.
Utah State U Installs Thermal Energy Cooling Tank
Utah State University has built a 30-foot-tall concrete thermal energy storage tank that will hold two million gallons of water, which will be used to cool buildings on campus. The water in the tank is cooled using electric chillers. The chillers will operate at night and the tank will store the water throughout the day. This project is estimated to save $100,000 a year in electricity costs. The annual savings will help the university pay for the $2.5 million investment in the tank.
Clackamas CC Energy Renovations Save $1.7 Mil
Since 2005, Clackamas Community College (OR) has saved $1.7 million in energy costs. The college accomplished this by upgrading natural gas boilers and facilities lighting, implementing a digital control system for energy management, and through close monitoring of its heating and cooling systems.
Colorado State U Solar Panels Observed as Model for the Military
Former U.S. Army Brigadier Gen. Steven Anderson recently visited Colorado State University for a tour of its solar-panel installations. Anderson is currently the senior vice president of battlefield services company Relyant. His tour was organized by the nonprofit organization, VetVoice, which provides a platform for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The former general said that $3 of diesel fuel can end up costing $300 to deliver to the battlefield. Anderson is interested in touring the university’s facility to see how the military could implement similar solar arrays.
Rockingham CC Installs Solar Array
Rockingham Community College (VA) students enrolled in the electronics program have installed 40 solar panels that are capable of producing 5.2 kilowatts of electricity. This latest solar addition compliments the 3.2-megawatt array installed by students in 2009. The power generated by the entire system is plugged directly into the campus power system.
Seattle Central College Plans Energy Systems Upgrade
Seattle Central College (WA) has entered into a partnership with Ameresco Quantum for campus energy-efficiency upgrades requiring no capital investment. A grant from Washington's Department of Commerce will fund $2 million of the $4.7 million project. The initiative will replace HVAC equipment, upgrade lighting and install energy management systems throughout buildings on campus. The improvements are expected to generate $200,000 in energy, water and maintenance savings each year, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 650 tons annually.
St. Lawrence U Implements Building Energy Dashboard
St. Lawrence University (NY) has partnered with Lucid Design Group to develop a building energy dashboard to allow the public to view real-time electricity usage in any of its 72 buildings. The data is available to anyone with Internet access, and it is user-friendly by making electricity-saving suggestions and allowing users to view the data in a variety of charts and graphs. The intent is to raise awareness about energy use and to encourage people to make decisions based on energy conservation.
U North Carolina Wilmington Energy Renovations to Save $8.9 Mil
The University of North Carolina Wilmington has implemented a host of energy-efficient upgrades that are expected to save the university $8.9 million. The upgrades include energy-efficient boilers, solar tubes and day lighting. The estimated savings are expected to occur during the 20-year contract with Trane Comfort Solutions. According to the contract, the university can use future energy savings to finance the initial capital investment.
Ghana Plans for Renewable Energy University
Ghana's Brong Ahafo region has broken ground for the public University of Renewable Energy, the first of its kind in the region. The university will offer electric, petro-chemical and mechanical engineering programs with courses in energy and natural resources. A national task force will oversee the initiation of this new university.
Persian Gulf Universities Study Alternative Energy
Governments across the Arabian Peninsula are establishing programs and institutes dedicated to research into alternative energy and environmental sustainability, reports The Chronicle of Higher Education in a January article. The carbon-based wealth that fueled the growth of countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar has created a dependence on oil-powered desalination plants for water to a degree that salinity levels in the Persian Gulf have risen noticeably in the past few decades. More efficient desalination processes is just one environmental problem being tackled in new research centers around the Persian Gulf. Scientists and graduate students from around the world are also working on green technologies including more-affordable solar cells and new biofuels for aviation. Governments hope that new green technologies will spur commercial innovation and bring diversity to these oil-dependent economies.
Shanghai Normal U Installs Solar Powered Street Lights
Shanghai Normal University (China) has installed eight solar energy street lights on its Fengxian campus that can be complemented with wind power. With an average daily use of 10 hours, the solar street lights are expected to save 7,304 kilowatt hours per year.
U Belize Receives Government Funding for Solar Project
The University of Belize’s Central Campus has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the nation’s government for a photovoltaic solar project. The funding for this project comes from the government of Belize and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The government of Belize will own and manage the PV system for the first decade and then transfer its ownership to the university at no charge.
UN Secretary Recognizes Renewable Energy Efforts of Masdar Inst
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently recognized the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology's (Abu Dhabi) commitment to advancing and commercializing innovations in renewable energy and clean technology. "The future is showcased in Masdar," the Secretary-General said following a tour of the campus. "The technology on renewable and future energy will help economic growth, achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) targets, and bring healthcare, while benefiting the entire planet." The graduate school dedicated to clean energy research and education, developed with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, began classes in fall 2009. The campus is designed as a living energy efficiency laboratory with rooftop solar electric and thermal panels; building automation software and meters to monitor and control air conditioning and other energy use; and a fleet of driverless pods powered by onboard batteries for traveling around campus.
Cornell U Power Plant Wins EPA Energy Efficiency Award
Cornell University's (NY) combined heat and power plant has received a 2011 ENERGY STAR CHP award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The award recognizes highly efficient CHP (combined heat and power) systems that reduce emissions and use at least 5 percent less fuel than comparable, state-of-the-art, separate heat and power generation. Operating since December 2009, the university's system requires about 29 percent less fuel than the separate production of thermal energy and electricity and prevents an estimated 89,300 tons per year of carbon dioxide emissions.
U Texas at Austin Receives $1.6 Mil for Solar Project
The University of Texas at Austin has received a $1.6 million grant from the State Energy Conservation Office. The grant money was made available by federal stimulus funds and will be used to finance 80 percent of the cost of two solar systems on campus. The systems have the potential to create 434,000 kilowatt hours each year. The total cost of the project amounts to $2 million and the university will pay for the remainder of the project. Work on the project has already begun and is projected to be completed this April.
Agnes Scott College Installs Touch Screen Energy Monitors
Students in two first-year residence halls at Agnes Scott College (GA) will compete for the title of "greenest residence hall" with the help of new touch screen displays that will tell them how much electricity their building is using in real-time, and how much it has used in the past. The displays also reveal how much power the building is using compared to its rival residence hall. The college is planning to add displays in several other campus buildings over time but has chose the two first-year residence halls as the initial sites. The data for the displays is generated by the college's energy dashboard, which tracks electricity in seven buildings on campus. Natural gas and water tracking will be added to the displays and energy dashboard in the near future.
Lynchburg College Slashes Energy and Water Consumption
Lynchburg College (VA) has saved 4.5 million gallons of water in the first semester of a $4.65 million campus conservation project. The college achieved its goal of saving 30 percent of its water usage by installing low-flow toilets, faucets and showerheads throughout campus. The college's electricity consumption dropped by 8 percent due to the installation of solar panels and energy-efficient light bulbs in buildings. New meters have been installed in dormitories to track water and electricity consumption. The project is expected to pay for itself by reducing the college’s utility bill by about one third.
Pomona College Wins Claremont Colleges Power Down Challenge
With an overall reduction of 10.5 percent in dorm electricity use, Pomona College (CA) won the Claremont Colleges Power Down Challenge that took place in November 2010. The residence hall that with the largest energy savings on campus, the Oldenborg Center at 23.4 percent, will decide which campus sustainability project they will fund with $6,000 provided through the college's President's Office and Office of Facilities and Campus Services. Contenders include the expansion of the campus compost program and the installation of a hydration station for filling reusable water bottles.
Sam Houston State U Undertakes Energy Conservation Program
Sam Houston State University (TX) has announced a new 20-year contract with Schneider Electric Buildings Americas, Inc. to renovate campus buildings to reduce energy and water consumption. Slated projects include the installation of water-efficient appliances, campus-wide lighting retrofits, laundry machine upgrades and energy monitor installation in the 117 facilities on campus. These projects will save the university an estimated $33 million over a 20-year period.
U Maryland College Park Announces 631KW Solar Project
After receiving a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration Project Sunburst Initiative, the University of Maryland, College Park is scheduled to install more than 2,600 solar panels on the roof of its Severn Building. Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. will finance a portion of the project in return for the university’s agreement of a 20-year purchasing contract. The result of this project amounts to one of the largest solar power systems in Maryland. It will produce 792 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, reducing the university’s carbon footprint by more than 600 tons a year.
U Mass Medical School Adds Natural Gas Turbine to Power Plant
The University of Massachusetts Medical School is expanding its power plant to accommodate a new 7.5-megawatt gas-fired combustion turbine that will boost the plant's capacity to generate steam, electricity and chilled water. Fueled by natural gas, the new turbine will replace a 35-year-old gas and oil-fired boiler. The turbine will also feature a catalytic reduction system to remove pollutants before the exhaust gasses are discharged through the existing smokestack.
U Northern Iowa Installs Solar-Wind Hybrid Station
The University of Northern Iowa's new solar-wind hybrid power station recently celebrated its first day of power. The station, which will help to power the campus grid, is funded by a grant from the Iowa Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Development, state and local funds, educational institutions and the private sector. In the works since March 2010, students, faculty and contractors worked together to implement the 12-kilowatt station.
Zero Net Energy Plans for U California Santa Barbara Rec Center
The University of California, Santa Barbara's Recreation Center has been chosen by Southern California Edison as a "Zero Net Energy Demonstration Showcase." The electric utility company will perform an energy efficiency analysis of the center and provide recommendations for achieving zero net energy performance within the facility. With assistance from the utility company's incentive and rebate programs, the university will purchase and install the recommended solutions. The university hopes to make all of its facilities energy independent by the 2015-2016 academic year.
California State U San Bernardino to Install Fuel Cell Plant
California State University, San Bernardino has announced a partnership with Southern California Edison Company to install a utility-owned 1.4-megawatt fuel cell power plant on campus, powered by natural gas. The excess heat generated by the plant will be used in a combined heat and power configuration to heat the university’s water system.
Elon U Kicks Off POWERless Competition
Elon University (NC) plans to launch a competition called POWERless to increase awareness on campus about energy consumption. Pitting residence halls against each other, the competition will measure which residence hall has the greatest energy reduction. The competition, now in its fifth year, will take place from February 15 to March 15. This year’s overall goal is for a 10 percent energy reduction.
Emory U Saves $30K From Holiday Energy Turndown
In a joint effort between Emory University's (GA) Office of Sustainability Initiatives and Campus Services, the university saved approximately $30,000 in energy costs by turning down thermostats in 32 major campus buildings and residence halls. Over two four-day periods, the buildings' thermostats were set to 50 degrees resulting in roughly twice the savings of last year's holiday break efforts. The increase is attributed to the participation of more buildings this year.
Mount Wachusett CC, West Chester U Announce New Energy Projects
Mount Wachusett Community College (MA) and West Chester University (PA) are in the process of significant renewable energy campus upgrades, The Chronicle of Higher Education recently reported. The community college is installing two 1.65-megawatt turbines that will cover all of the college's electrical demand. The project will cost $9 million with $3.2 million coming from U.S. Department of Energy grants and the rest in clean-energy bonds through the state and the federal stimulus package. The turbines are expected to start generating power in March. The university, which already has 15 buildings on geothermal, will use $5 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy to add three buildings to its geothermal system. The conversion of the three buildings will reduce emissions by 4.7 million pounds per year and is expected to save $1 million per year in energy costs.
Plans for 150 Coal Plants Abandoned Since 2001
Purdue University's (IN) recent decision to cancel plans for its new coal-fired boiler brings the total number of scrapped coal plant plans to 150 since 2001, according to the Sierra Club. Recent switches away from coal by Purdue University and Pennsylvania State University cite potentially strict environmental regulations surrounding coal emissions in the future as a factor.
U Arizona to Sell Solar Power
A 1.6-megawatt tracking array at the University of Arizona will allow customers to begin buying solar energy. Utility company Tucson Electric Power owns the solar infrastructure, but the solar operation is located at the university’s Science and Technology Park. The $6.7 million facility, besides supplying itself with power, produces enough to service 266 additional households in the Tucson, Ariz. area.
U Central Missouri Honored for Energy Efficiency
The University of Central Missouri was recently honored with Trane's "Energy Efficiency in Leader Education" award for $36.1 million in campus-wide energy-saving infrastructure upgrades that resolved $20.1 million in deferred maintenance. The upgrades, which will be funded directly from energy savings and related costs, are expected to save more than $735,000 in annual energy costs. The university used a performance contract to pay for the improvements directly from energy saving and other future avoided costs. The contract allows the use of future energy and operational savings to finance infrastructure improvement projects.
Wartburg College Launches $2 Mil Energy Upgrade Project
Wartburg College (IA) has begun a $2 million sustainability project that includes numerous energy efficiency upgrades to 17 existing structures on campus and is estimated to save the college $260,000 per year. Upgrades include an efficient steam boiler, control units for heating and cooling, and low-flow water fixtures. This initiative is expected to create 31 jobs between now and September 2011. The Office of Energy Independence helped kick off the project with a $666,000 grant.
Austin CC Completes Solar Panel Installation
Funded by $1.6 million of stimulus money, Austin Community College (TX) has successfully installed enough solar panels on its Eastview campus to save the school $44,000 each year. Besides saving the college money on its utility bill, the project also created five jobs and contributed to 48 others at Jamail & Smith Construction and Texas Solar Power Company.
John Brown U Announces Planned Wind Turbine Installation
John Brown University (AR) has announced plans to construct a wind turbine expected to produce 2,000-3,000 kilowatts per year. At 60-feet tall with a 3.5-kilowatt capacity, the turbine will be used to power trail lights around the campus. The turbine is a donation from the Spanish manufacturer Sonkyo Energy.
Natural Gas Scrutiny Highlighted in NY Times, Chron of Higher Ed
As institutions like Pennsylvania State University, University of Central Florida and possibly Purdue University (IN) make the switch to natural gas, the fossil fuel is getting a fair amount of attention in the media. The Chronicle of Higher Education and The New York Times' Green Blog both point to a ProPublica article that says the assumption that natural gas produces 50 percent less greenhouse gases than coal is not taking into account the methane and other pollutants emitted when gas is extracted and piped to customers. When all emissions are counted, gas may be as little as 25 percent cleaner than coal or less. The benefits of natural gas are also weighed, including the fact that it's a cleaner-burning fuel and doesn't have the devastating effects that the mountain top removal method of coal extraction has.
Princeton U Plans 5.3 MW Solar Installation
Princeton University (NJ) has announced plans to install a 5.3-megawatt solar collector field on 27 acres owned by the university adjacent to its main campus. Construction could begin as early as this summer on the system, which will include 16,500 photovoltaic panels. The collector field is expected to generate eight million kilowatt-hours per year, enough to meet 5.5 percent of the total annual campus electrical needs. The renewable energy source will be funded and owned by Colorado-based Key Equipment Finance, which will lease it to the university. The university will pay for the lease through incentives and by initially selling solar renewable energy credits associated with the system.
San Bernardino CC District Begins Alternative Energy Program
The San Bernardino Community College District (CA) has initiated a five-year Alternative Energy Concept Plan that is expected to reduce energy consumption at two campuses and the district offices. They will accomplish this with additions in solar panels at the Crafton Hills campus and the consolidation of electrical control at the Valley College central plant. These sustainability-driven modifications will cost the district $10 million. With savings estimated at $1.2 million a year, the district is expecting this initiative to return its investment in 10-15 years.
U Central Florida Breaks Ground on Natural Gas Plant
A Mitsubishi engine 30-feet long and 10-feet wide will run on natural gas and provide the University of Central Florida's main campus with a third of its energy. The $9 million project is scheduled for completion in December 2011 and university officials estimate it will save $2.5 million per year. Along with electricity, "absorption chillers" will capture escaping heat and power the campus water cooling system.
U Utah Scientists Implement Ice Ball System for Air Conditioning
Scientists at the University of Utah have installed an experimental system on campus that will store winter cold underground in a giant ball of ice to use as air conditioning in the summer. A team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering created a system of 19 connected vertical pipes that extend 50 feet into the ground. The pipes will circulate a refrigerant that when exposed to the winter air, will become chilled. As it goes back into the ground, it's expected to freeze moisture in the soil, creating a ball of underground ice about 35 feet in diameter. In the summer, the refrigerant will be pumped up to the building's air-conditioning system to cool the building as the ice ball melts. The university expects the $20,000 installation to pay for itself in reduced energy bills within two years if used on a building with a high demand for cooling.
Clatsop CC Installs Solar Panels
Clatsop Community College’s (OR) Towler Hall can now generate 42.5 kilowatts of its own energy with the recent installation of rooftop solar panels. Through its Power Purchase Agreement with SolarCity, the college is able to purchase power generated by the panels to service Towler Hall. If the panels produce more than Towler Hall consumes, the solar provider will pay the college for the energy it produces. The college will monitor the energy production of the solar panels on its website.
Coppin State U Develops 500 kW Solar Installation
Coppin State University (MD) has initiated a contract with Constellation Energy that will produce 500 kilowatts of on-site solar power for the university. The energy products supplier will own, operate and finance the project, which, in turn, will produce electricity that the university will purchase at a reduced rate over a 20-year period. Approximately 2,040 roof-mounted crystal photovoltaic panels will supply more than 600,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Production is scheduled to begin in spring 2011.
Higher Ed Research Examines Viability of Renewable Energy Future
The complete world switch to power from only the wind, sun, waves and heat from the Earth in a matter of a few decades is both possible and affordable, say two researchers from the University of California, Davis and Stanford University (CA) who are profiled in a recent National Geographic News special series. Their study tallies the build-out that would be required to supply renewable energy for all the world's factories, homes and offices, as well as cars, planes and ships. Some estimations toward 100 percent renewable energy include four million, five-megawatt wind turbines and 90,000 large-scale solar plants for which, the pair says, there is no significant economic or environmental constraints on the production of the bulk materials like concrete and steel that this would require. The main bottleneck could be the production of rare earth materials like neodymium for which the worldwide production would have to more than quintuple. However, the researchers suggest the recycling of rare earth metals. No such recycling program exists today, says the article.
