New York U Power Plant Featured in NY Times Green Blog
The $125 million effort to open a natural gas power plant on the New York University campus was recently profiled in The New York Times' Green blog. The plant, now in the final stages of development, will provide electricity for the university's lights, elevators and computers, and steam for heating and cooling water. At nearly 90 percent efficiency, the new plant gets almost three times as much useful energy out of a unit of fuel as a typical utility power plant does and its carbon dioxide output is 23 percent smaller than the university's old system. While the university has been generating its own electricity since the 1970s, the switch to natural gas was spurred by air pollution regulators that told the university that it must reduce emissions of the conventional pollutants that resulted from its old power plant.
Pennsylvania State U to Transition from Coal to Natural Gas
The Board of Trustees at Pennsylvania State University has approved a plan to convert its coal plant to natural gas, reports the Chronicle of Higher Education. Because forthcoming federal regulations on coal burning would have required expensive upgrades and the expectation that coal emissions could be subject to stricter regulations in the future, the university will spend $25 to $35 million on the conversion. Cornell University (NY), Duke University (NC) and the University of North Carolina are also among the major institutions that have started switching to natural gas.
U Wisconsin Madison Exceeds Energy Conservation Goals
The University of Wisconsin, Madison has announced its achievement of a 25 percent annual energy reduction relative to 2006 levels as a result of its We Conserve campaign. Implemented in April 2006, the environmental stewardship program has exceeded its goal of a 20 percent annual energy reduction by 2010. The program tackled projects like updates in heating and cooling systems, lighting upgrades in buildings and parking ramps and the retro-commissioning of older campus buildings. The university will now shift its focus to the "Be the We" campaign that aims to foster conservation and sustainability as a state of mind.
MIT Exceeds 'Efficiency Forward' Energy Saving Goals
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently learned that its expectations for the first-year energy savings of its Efficiency Forward program were exceeded by 30 percent. Launched in May 2010 with NSTAR, the institute aimed for a campus-wide energy savings of 10 million kilowatt-hours with the energy conservation and efficiency initiative. The school achieved a 13 million kilowatt-hour reduction. Since the program's initiation, the school has created a campus-wide lighting retrofit project, implemented a project to reduce a dorm fan energy by 40 percent and improved campus building heating and cooling strategies.
Ohio State U to Install Geothermal System for Dorms
The Ohio State University has announced plans to drill 450 geothermal wells in a parking lot on campus. The well field will be part of a closed loop geothermal system that will circulate water to regulate the temperatures of five campus dorm buildings. Using a heat exchanger, the system will pull the warmth from the ground to heat the buildings on cold days, and remove the heat from the buildings on warm days, transferring it back into the ground. The $4 million geothermal system will use 34 percent less energy than the university's natural gas system, saving $200,000 a year. The university expects a return on investment in about 12 years.
Purdue U Trustees Consider $200 Mil Wind Farm
Trustees at Purdue University (IA) are considering the installation of close to 60 wind turbines near its Animal Science Research and Education Center as part of a commercial wind operation that would cost about $200 million. In addition to creating sustainable energy, the turbines would be used for research and educational opportunities among several departments on campus.
Santa Clara U Installs Test Wind Turbine
Santa Clara University (CA) recently announced the installation of a wind turbine atop its Facilities building in an experiment to see how much energy it can realistically produce. As part of campus efforts to reach climate neutrality by 2015, the university hopes the turbine will show a significant level of production that will call for more turbines in the future.
U Pennsylvania Students Save Energy with Power Down Challenge
During the University of Pennsylvania's Power Down Challenge over winter break, student efforts yielded a 7.2 percent daily reduction in electrical use and $2,300 in savings. Designed as a contest among its residence halls, winners were measured by the highest number of student pledges by percentage and by absolute numbers. With support from college house and Greek chapter Eco-Reps, more than 2,000 students pledged to turn down, turn off or unplug appliances during December's break.
Bowdoin Awarded $50K Grant for Expanded Solar Hot Water System
Bowdoin College (ME) has received a $50,000 grant from the Efficiency Maine Trust to double the size of its existing 960-square-foot solar hot water system atop its largest dining hall. Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the grant will help provide additional solar panels that will aid in preheating the domestic hot water used in the building. Following the completed installation this spring, the college estimates that 50 percent of the hot water used in the dining hall will be heated by solar panels.
Ohio U Beyond Coal Members Protest Use of Coal on Campus
Representatives from Ohio University Beyond Coal gathered recently to protest the university's use of coal energy. The gathering was held in anticipation of a meeting between university officials and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club this month, during which the fate of the university's coal heating plant will be discussed. Proposed alternatives include natural gas and geothermal power.
Rutgers U Students Complete Renewable Energy Analysis for Milford
Students in Rutgers University's (NJ) Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy recently completed a report analyzing the potential for renewable energy in Milford, N.J. The city is in the process of creating a master plan provision to be more active in biomass, wind and solar. The students found that solar was more feasible than biomass or wind and has recommended to the city that it concentrate on solar power and install a photovoltaic solar array. The city has identified an 80-acre property for the project that could sustain enough energy to feed the entire municipality's electric needs.
U South Florida to Build Solar Power Plant
Funded by a grant from the state of Florida through the Florida Energy Systems Consortium, a team at the University of South Florida's College of Engineering has announced plans to build a solar power plant on campus. Also in development is a thermal storage system with a $3.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The team will concentrate on making solar energy available around the clock at affordable prices.
Climate Corps Fellows Improve Fortune 1000 Energy Efficiencies
As part of the Environmental Defense Fund Climate Corps fellowship program, 51 MBA students identified ways to save $350 million and 400,000 metric tons of pollution combined. The students spent the 2010 summer working for Fortune 1000 companies like Dow Jones, Xerox and Pepsi to help improve energy efficiency in operations. Individual achievements of the fellows include a thermal ice storage system installation recommendation that would save Verizon $9.16 million over the project lifetimes and avoid more than 8,700 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually; and the identification of energy rebates that would save Sunrise Preschools, Inc. $1.14 million. Because resources and time are often barriers to energy efficiency improvements for companies, Climate Corps fellows are trained with a specific focus on energy efficiency, allowing them to make a compelling business case and overcome organizational barriers.
Colorado State U Plans New Energy Policy Center
Colorado State University has announced plans to unveil the Center for the New Energy Economy and Senior Scholar as part of its School of Global Environmental Sustainability. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter will head the center, working closely with the university's rural economic development activities to advance statewide economic initiatives related to clean and renewable energy. The center will be completely funded by private support, initially by the California-based Energy Foundation and the Colorado-based Bohemian Foundation. The university is in talks with other organizations interested in funding the center for the long term, which will focus on facilitating science-based policy, research and education to support the growth of the new energy economy statewide, nationally and globally.
U Oregon Wins 'Energy Civil War' Against Oregon State U
Students, staff and faculty helped the University of Oregon win the "Energy Civil War" competition with Oregon State University by converting the most calories to kilowatts. Combined, the two universities generated 75 percent more energy using ReRev elliptical machines in their respective recreation centers than they did during a similar event last year. The competition ran from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, 2010.
Bakersfield College Unveils 1.1 MW Solar Energy System
Bakersfield College (CA) has revealed a new 1.1-megawatt solar energy system. The system features a 3.1-acre parking lot canopy structure with nearly 3,700 SunPower solar panels that track the sun throughout the day, providing shade in the lot and solar electrical power for campus. The solar array is expected to supply approximately one-third of the college’s electricity demand.
Harvard U Installs Solar Thermal and Steam Heat System
Harvard University (MA) has installed 3,200-square-feet of solar panels atop three buildings. The panels are part of a solar thermal and steam tunnel heat-recovery project that is expected to supply at least 60 percent of domestic hot water for the buildings. A network of glycol-filled pipes connects the rooftop solar panels to the hybrid heating system. The 1,000-gallon buffer tank, which replaces the need for gas-fired boilers, pre-heats City of Cambridge water to 130 degrees before it is pumped to the buildings. A monitoring system has also been installed to allow residents to assess the system’s productivity.
Students to Install Wind Turbine on Mesabi Range College Campus
Mesabi Range College (MN) has received a wind turbine that students in the wind energy technology program will refurbish and install on campus. The college received a grant from Iron Range Resources to purchase the wind turbine. The college began its wind energy technology degree program in 2009.
U California San Diego to Construct 2.8 MW Fuel Cell
The University of California, San Diego has begun the construction of a 2.8-megawatt fuel cell as part of a renewable energy project with the City of San Diego and Biofuels Energy. The fuel cell will turn waste methane gas from a wastewater treatment plant directly into electricity without combustion. The university expects the installation to provide 8 percent of the university’s total energy needs.
Stanford U Launches Green Energy Initiative
Stanford University’s (CA) law and business schools have launched a joint interdisciplinary research center that will focus on the development, policy and financing of clean energy technology. The Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance is being funded with a $7 million donation from Stanford alumni. The center is part of a $100 million energy initiative that Stanford launched in 2009. That effort also includes the Precourt Institute for Energy, which researches sustainable energy sources.
U Kentucky to Embark on $25 Million Energy Savings Project
The University of Kentucky has announced a new Energy Savings Project that will overhaul 61 campus buildings. Efficiency improvements will include lighting upgrades, water conservation, insulation, upgraded boilers, steam system improvements, domestic solar water heating and HVAC system replacements. Along with the efficiency improvements to the buildings, the project will feature an energy education and awareness program to help students and university faculty and staff embrace a more sustainable lifestyle. The overall project is funded by university-issued bonds valued at $25 million and will produce anticipated annual savings of about $2.4 million.
Central College Installs New Solar Energy Project
Central College (IA) has installed a new 25-kilowatt solar array energy system. The roof-mounted array is intended to produce power and reduce energy use and cost, while serving as a renewable energy educational tool for students and the community. The solar project was funded by a $250,000 grant from the Iowa Office of Energy Independence and the college expects to save $2,500 per year in utility costs.
Clemson U Uses Renewable Energy to Power Football Game
As part of its push toward a sustainable campus, Clemson University (SC) recently used renewable energy to power its rivalry football game against the University of South Carolina. The university partnered with Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative and South Carolina power supplier Santee Cooper, companies that generate renewable energy at landfill biogas and solar stations around the state.
Lone Star College Hosts Alternative Energy Education Project
Lone Star College-Montgomery (TX) has been chosen by the National Algae Association to host a commercial-scale, closed-loop photobioreactor. The photobioreactor will generate green crude from pond scum, which will be used with waste vegetable oil collected from the community to create biodiesel fuel. Students will have the opportunity to help the biotechnology program conduct research through on-site internships and develop partnerships within the energy industry.
Missouri U of Science and Technology Announces Geothermal Project
The Missouri University of Science and Technology has announced plans to replace a 65-year-old campus power plant with a geothermal system. The university’s project was approved for debt financing by the University of Missouri Board of Curators and will receive $32.4 million in revenue bond financing. The system is expected to save $1.4 million in energy and campus operational costs annually. The project will take approximately five years to complete.
Syracuse U Forms Clean Energy Collaborative
Syracuse University (NY) has partnered with Impact Technologies Group of Syracuse to form the Clean Energy Collaborative, which will work to develop innovative wind turbines and bring to market wind- and solar-powered street lights. The alliance is working on prototypes of new light poles that integrate wind, solar energy and new LED lamps to illuminate streets, parking lots and pedestrian paths. The group is focused on small wind turbines that generate 100 kilowatts or less and how best to utilize them in an urban setting. Students will have opportunities to work on the projects with professional designers and engineers.
U California Davis Launches Smart Lighting Initiative
The University of California, Davis aims to reduce its lighting energy use by 60 percent by 2015 with its newly-launched Smart Lighting Initiative. The university has installed energy-saving projects in campus parking structures, dorms and staff office buildings and future projects will be based on innovations developed or refined by designers and engineers at the California Lighting Technology Center. The initiative is expected to cost $39 million. The California Statewide Energy Partnership Program will fund $4 million and the remaining $35 million will be paid for by energy savings.
U Wisconsin-Whitewater Installs Solar Array
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater has installed solar panels on top of its College of Business and Economics building. The 32.4-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array is expected to generate about 39,755 kilowatts per year. The solar installation was funded by grants from Focus on Energy and WE Energies. The university hopes the solar array will provide students with an ongoing example of how solar energy can contribute to the energy supply needed to keep a building running.
Bates College Initiates Heating Curtailment Plan for Holidays
Bates College (ME) has announced plans to turn down the heat in buildings across campus during the winter break in an effort to reduce campus energy consumption. Buildings occupied during the break will be maintained at an average of 65 degrees Fahrenheit and unoccupied buildings will be heated to 55 degrees. The college’s Committee on Environmental Responsibility and Energy Task Force estimates that the curtailment program will save more than $50,000 in energy costs over the break.
Carleton College Announces Installation of Second Wind Turbine
Carleton College (MN) has announced plans to erect a second, utility-grade wind turbine that will provide power directly to the college’s electrical grid. Pending final approval from City of Northfield and Rice County officials, construction will begin in spring 2011. The proposed output of the turbine is estimated around 5,000 megawatts of power per year, potentially reducing the college's annual consumption of purchased electricity by 30 to 40 percent.
DePauw U Named Top Reducer in Campus Conservation Nationals
The results of the 2010 Campus Conservation Nationals reveal DePauw University (IN) as the top electricity reducer among the 40 institutions that participated in the first annual nationwide electricity and water use reduction competition. To achieve its 25.8 percent reduction, the DePauw Energy Wars team motivated students by listing energy-saving "Battle Tactics" on residence hall bulletin boards to illustrate concrete ways to reduce energy consumption. Students could also become "Conservation Vigilantes," going beyond individual actions to coordinate with others in their residence hall. Toward the end of the 19-day competition held this month, the university organized "The Big Turn-Off," an hour-long event that encouraged students to turn everything off in their rooms and congregate in the main area. DePauw University will receive Lucid Design Group's Building Dashboard software for two buildings, allowing students to view, compare and share building resource use data. Taking home top water reduction honors was Humboldt State University (CA) with a 15.4 percent reduction in participating residence halls. In total, participating institutions saved $50,200 in energy costs and averted 816,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
North Shore CC Installs Solar Panels
North Shore Community College (MA) has partnered with Division of Capital Asset Management to install 352 solar photovoltaic panels on its Frederick E. Berry building. The solar panels are expected to produce 5 percent of the building’s electrical requirements. The college received $333,469 in federal funds to cover the cost of the installation. Energy savings from the project will pay for the $148,050 federal government loan for Clean Renewable Energy.
Santa Clara U Completes First Phase of Microgrid Installation
Santa Clara University (CA) has completed the first phase of its smart microgrid installation, scheduled for a December 2011 completion. The microgrid will help the university maximize energy savings by tying its power source, transmission, distribution and consumption data to weather reports. The power source can be solar, wind, geothermal or another kind of electricity generator. The microgrid will also deliver data in real time and measure carbon emissions. The university has completed the installation of sub-meters in 14 campus buildings and integrated the smart microgrid's on-site alternative energy sources including solar and fuel cells. The next phase will connect the entire campus to the microgrid. Once completed, the university expects to reduce energy consumption by 50 percent and save about 20 percent in energy costs.
SUNY ESF to Install Freewatt System in Campus Residence
State University New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry has partnered with National Grid and ECR International, a designer and manufacturer of hydronic and HVAC equipment, to install a freewatt plus home energy system in the campus-owned residence of the college president. The system operates using micro-combined heat and power technology, which uses a high-efficiency gas furnace or boiler combined with an engine/generator to generate heat, producing electric power as a byproduct. The electricity generated by the freewatt system can be used to power the college residence or can be sold back to the electric grid.
Paul Smith’s College to Launch Campus Energy Reduction Retrofit
Paul Smith’s College (NY) has partnered with Johnson Controls, Inc. to launch a campus-wide energy conservation program. Through building and lighting retrofits, weatherization measures and the installation of an integrated building management system, the college expects to save $4.6 million in energy costs over the next 15 years and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings on campus by 22 percent. The program is expected to be complete in December 2011.
U North Texas Set to Install 3 Wind Turbines
The University of North Texas' System Board of Regents has approved the installation of three community-scale wind turbines on its Eagle Point campus. The turbines will replace unsustainable campus energy sources with wind energy in an effort to reduce the university's carbon emissions. The university recently completed a wind turbine feasibility study that included fish and wildlife assessments, avian studies, noise analyses, air transportation impacts, engineering reports and statistical estimates. The turbines are slated for a fall 2011 installation.
San Diego State U Children's Center Goes Solar
San Diego State University (CA) has installed three solar trees in its Children's Center parking lot. Solar trees are pole-mounted solar panels that produce energy and shelter vehicles from the rain or sun. The new installation is a component of the university's Associated Students Green Love Sustainability Advisory Board project to make the campus community more eco-conscious.
U Hawaii Manoa Challenges Campus Hall to Save Energy
The University of Hawaii at Manoa has launched an energy challenge between the seven floors of its Saunders Hall. With Hawaiian Electric Company and the Electric Power Research Institute, the university's Sustainable Saunders Initiative constructed a website to provide real-time and historical energy use data for each floor in the building. The website debuted during the first round of the competition at the start of the school year for faculty, staff and students to monitor their energy use in relation to other floors. During the second round, energy savings rose 65 percent as departments in the building were offered financial incentives in proportion to their actual energy savings. Round three of the competition concludes on Nov. 23, 2010.
California Institute of Technology Unveils 1 MW Solar Array
The California Institute of Technology has unveiled a new 1.1-megawatt solar energy system. The 4,500-panel system has been installed on the rooftops of seven campus buildings. The institute entered a 20-year contract with Perpetual Energy Systems and Suntech, during which Caltech will buy the energy generated from the system at a predefined rate.
Elon U Introduces Building Dashboard
Elon University (NC) has unveiled a building dashboard that allows users to monitor the electricity usage from any of the 53 buildings on campus. Created by Lucid Design Group, the dashboard provides real-time, online data in a variety of units including kilowatt hours, pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and dollar amounts.
George Washington U to Install Solar Thermal Systems
The George Washington University (DC) has announced plans to install solar thermal systems to heat water for three residence halls with the goal of reducing about 70 tons of carbon annually. The installation will also further the university's goal to be a test bed for renewable technologies and generate 10 percent of energy from on-campus renewable sources by 2040 as outlined in its Climate Action Plan. The system will work by converting sunlight to thermal energy, where the heat is then sent to a hot water tank that pumps the water for use in the residence halls.
Santa Clara U Installs Solar Energy System
Santa Clara University (CA) has installed a 967.68-kilowatt solar energy system to compliment the university’s existing solar array. The panels have been installed on the rooftops of three campus buildings. The university entered into a power purchase agreement with Perpetual Energy Systems, enabling the university to host the solar installations without capital outlay. Under the agreement, the university will purchase the clean solar energy produced by each installation at a predetermined, fixed rate.
Santa Monica College Completes Energy Retrofits
Santa Monica College (CA) has completed a $3.6 million solar and energy efficiency project expected to produce total savings of $14 million for the campus. Installations include a 408-kilowatt solar system on top of two parking structures that generates power for the parking garages and a portion of the college's Business Building. The campus also increased its energy efficiency with a lighting retrofit, variable speed drives, new hot water boilers and emergency circuit upgrades.
U North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wins EPA Building Competition
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the winner of its first National Building Competition. The competition challenged teams from 14 buildings across the country to measure their building's energy use and reduce waste. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Morrison Residence Hall reduced its energy use by 35.7 percent in one year, saving more than $250,000 in energy bills and reducing more than 730 metric tons greenhouse gas emissions. Strategies included improvements to the building's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and outreach to Morrison Hall residents. A computer touch-screen helped residents keep track of their energy consumption and competitions between dorm floors encouraged students to turn off lights and computers.
Campuses Making Energy Reduction Strides Through Green IT Plans
As campuses struggle with the immensity of the carbon neutrality challenge, information technology is often the leader in small sustainability initiatives that reduce energy and galvanize the campus for larger work ahead, reports Campus Technology. The news outlet profiles Alfred University (NY), where the IT department has been instrumental in automating processes to make the campus as paperless as possible; and Scottsdale Community College (AZ), which has switched to lower-wattage computers, converted CRT monitors to LCD models and implemented programs to shut off computers in student labs that haven't been used in the last 30 minutes.
Drexel U Commits to Wind Energy
Drexel University (PA) has partnered with Community Energy, Inc. to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates equal to 100 percent of its energy use. The purchase will ensure that electricity consumed will be matched annually with wind energy entering the electricity grid. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator, the environmental benefit from this purchase is equal to offsetting approximately 60,518 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, the annual impact of which is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 12,904 acres of trees or removing 11,571 passenger vehicles from the road.
Eastern Illinois U Constructs Renewable Energy Center
Eastern Illinois University has announced the construction of its Renewable Energy Center. The $80 million center will burn 27,000 tons of wood chips a year to heat the campus, replacing an older heating plant that burns coal. The university will consider adding grasses or corn stalks to the fuel mix after a year of operation.
Eastern Mennonite Installs Solar Photovoltaic Array
Eastern Mennonite University (VA) has partnered with Secure Futures, LLC to install a solar photovoltaic array on the library roof. The system will have the capacity to generate 104.3 kilowatts of electricity with enough power to supply the total average annual electricity cost for nine homes. The university has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement to buy the solar-generated electricity at a “grid-parity” price equivalent to the rate the university pays for power from its current provider.
College of Wooster to Install Solar Roof
The College of Wooster (OH) is set to install a 20,000-square-foot solar roof on top of a new student recreation and athletic facility. The 271,000-kilowatt solar rooftop installation will be leased to the college, which has signed a power-purchase agreement for a period of 12.5 years. At the end of that term, the college will get the title to the solar installation. The center’s solar installation is expected to provide enough electricity year-round to power one of the student residence halls.
Franklin and Marshall College Installs Energy Dashboard
Franklin and Marshall College (PA) has installed energy meters in seven residence halls to observe energy consumption rates and encourage campus-wide awareness of energy consumption and sustainability practices. Live data from the meters will be available through Lucid Design Group's Building Dashboard website, providing instant comparison among buildings and between live and historical data.
