4 Tennessee Institutions Join Campus Energy Efficiency Program
The University of Tennessee Knoxville, Cleveland State Community College, East Tennessee State University and Maryville College have been selected to work with the Tennessee Valley Authority and local power companies to promote and implement a new energy efficiency program for campuses. The campuses will receive funding for projects and staff, consulting support from Willdan Energy Solutions, energy audit training, and a web-based energy-tracking tool to help measure and document energy savings resulting from projects.
Kentucky Higher Ed Institutions Compete in Conservation Contest
Berea College, the universities of Louisville and Kentucky, and Western Kentucky University will participate in Bluegrass Unplugged, a competition aimed at reducing electricity and water use. The three-week competition is part of the 2013 Campus Conservation Nationals campaign.
Ohio State U Signs 20 Year Agreement to Purchase Wind Power
The university will purchase 50 megawatts of energy annually from Blue Creek Wind Farm, a commercial wind farm with 152 turbines. The school expects to save about $1 million in energy costs for each of the next two years. University researchers will also have access to the farm for market data research.
U Alaska Fairbanks Fire Department Installs Solar Panels
The university’s fire department has completed the installation of solar panels that are expected to produce 25 percent of the station’s electricity needs. The RISE student sustainability board contributed $7,000 for the project collected through student fees.
U Iowa Turns Invasive Species-Infested Trees into Biofuel
The university will use 24 acres of dead and dying invasive species-infested pine trees as biomass fuel for its power plant. Once the pines and spruces are cleared and the invasive plants subdued, the land will be returned to the vegetative communities prevalent before European settlement.
Keele U to Install Solar Panels
(U.K.): The university has signed a contract with nPower Energy Services to construct solar arrays on three of their buildings. The system will comprise 636 panels and is expected to reduce the university’s carbon emissions by 70 metric tons per year.
U System of Maryland Enters Power Purchase Agreement
(U.S.): In partnership with the State of Maryland, the System has announced plans to enter into a power purchase agreement with Green Planet Power Solutions to purchase a minimum of 10 megawatts of electricity produced from animal waste.
Raritan Valley CC Joins EPA’s Green Power Partnership
The college has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership with its purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). The RECs purchased equal 800,000 kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which is enough energy to meet 10 percent of the college’s electricity use.
UMass Amherst Partnership to Reduce Campus Energy Costs
In partnership with Western Massachusetts Electric Company, the university has completed an energy efficiency project expected to save the campus more than $220,000 in energy costs per year and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 1,000 metric tons in 2013. The project uses a technique called “continuous commissioning” to identify low-cost operational and maintenance improvements in buildings where the original operating parameters may have changed over the years.
Cedarville U Announces Solar Power Installation
The university has announced plans to construct a 2,154-kilowatt solar array. A new, underground utility corridor for the solar array will allow the zero emission solar source to feed electricity to the university's distribution system. The system will include monitoring and display features that support the university's curriculum.
Colorado State U to Install New Solar Array
The university has reached an agreement with Namaste Solar to install a solar array on campus. Electricity generated from the array will be sold to the City of Fort Collins as part of a new solar energy purchasing program.
Northern Arizona U Builds Bike-Powered Charging Station
After nearly a year of planning and construction, a group of students have unveiled a bicycle-powered charging station that will be used to charge small electronic devices and raise student awareness about their energy consumption. The university’s Green Fund provided $2,900 for building materials, and the Yellow Bike program donated the bike for the project.
Purdue U Partners with U West Indies for Clean Energy Effort
Purdue University and the University of the West Indies have formed a partnership designed to boost clean energy efforts in the Caribbean and Central America. The project will develop a solar energy demonstration site at UWI's St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago. The 18-month project will include solar power research and a regional conference for education, government and corporate leaders.
U Vermont Installs 1,300 Exterior LEDs
The university is replacing more than 1,300 lamps in its exterior light fixtures with energy-saving LED fixtures. The conversion will be completed early this year and is expected to save the university $75,000 annually in electricity costs. The project received funding from the university’s Green Revolving Fund.
Bowie State U Launches Energy Conservation Campaign
(U.S.): The university has announced plans to launch an advocacy campaign to engage students, faculty and staff in a series of initiatives to reduce campus energy consumption and increase personal commitments to sustainability. A $25,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation will help fund the initiatives. Some initiatives include developing a campus "climate commitment" website, promoting alternative modes of transportation, implementing new technologies for energy conservation, and pursuing LEED certifications for new campus buildings.
Fordham U Undergoes Energy Audit
(U.S.): The university has completed an in-depth analysis to determine the energy and water efficiency of its facilities in compliance with New York City local laws. The audit took 16 months to complete and the report was filed with the city’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability.
Juniata College to Purchase Solar Energy Certificates
(U.S.): The college has committed to purchase 50 megawatt hours of Keystone Solar energy certificates annually for the next seven years. The college will also partner with Keystone Solar to provide access to an online learning platform that incorporates solar energy education lessons and tools into classwork.
Western Illinois U Installs Wind Turbine
(U.S.): A 2.4-kilowatt wind turbine has been installed to serve as a curriculum resource. The project was primarily funded by a $28,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and is part of the Illinois Wind for Schools program.
Oregon State U Installs Two Solar Arrays
The university has installed two ground-mounted solar arrays that will generate about 750 kilowatts of power. The installations are part of the Oregon University System's "Solar by Degrees" program, which includes a partnership with SolarCity to identify research opportunities through student internships and work with university faculty and staff.
U Florida Dedicates Solar Panel Installation
A 100-kilowatt solar panel system has been installed at three buildings and includes a solar energy information kiosk. Funding for the project was provided through the Progress Energy program and its SunSense initiative, which is providing no-cost solar installations to 10 public schools and one post-secondary institution per year through 2014.
U Oregon Students Help Others Reduce Energy Use and Costs
The university is implementing the Student and Community Outreach for Residential Efficiency program, which originated at the University of Colorado Boulder. The program provides a free one-hour home audit, in which student auditors assess homes and find ways to help their fellow students save money on utility bills. Administered by the Office of Sustainability, the program was launched this fall with a $10,000 grant from Eugene Water & Electric Board.
Eastern Illinois U Promotes Renewable Energy Initiatives
The university’s biological sciences department is collaborating with the Renewable Energy Center to promote clean energy initiatives through curriculum development and research programs. Current initiatives include a biomass project to identify local materials for generating power, and a biodiesel processing unit that is already providing power to a wildlife research vehicle.
Simon Fraser U Holds Green Lab Energy Reduction Challenge
The university recently held an energy reduction challenge to encourage occupants of the campus science and chemistry buildings to reduce their energy use. Facilities and Sustainability Office staff monitored fume hood and lighting usage in labs at different times of the day, and prizes were awarded.
Southern Oregon U Highlighted in Energy Department Video Series
The U.S. Department of Energy has released its fourth video in the “Clean Energy in Our Community” series, highlighting clean energy investments by the university. Some of the initiatives highlighted include the school’s investments in renewable energy, sustainability, and purchase of renewable energy certificates.
U California Riverside Students Build Mobile Solar Power System
Engineering students have designed and built a mobile solar power system aimed to replace gasoline-powered generators to provide clean energy everywhere including on- and off-campus projects. The Green Campus Action Plan, a student-approved green fee, provided funding for the $34,000 project.
U Washington Installs Eco Thermostats in Residence Halls
The university’s Division of Student Life has developed and installed an Eco Thermostat for new residence halls on campus, putting students directly in touch with their energy consumption. Total energy needs in buildings with Eco Thermostats are expected to be reduced by about five percent.
Urbana U Installs Solar Array
The university has installed a 500-kilowatt solar array that will provide one-fifth of its total electrical usage. The panels are owned and maintained by Melink Corporation under a 10-year purchase agreement.
Tamil Nadu Colleges to Harness Solar Power
(India): The state government has created a solar purchase obligation that requires colleges to meet six percent of their power usage from solar energy. Vellore Institute of Technology will surpass this quota by using solar power for 30 percent of its energy needs. Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering will expand upon a pilot project to use solar energy for street lighting on campus.
U Illinois Approves Plans to Construct Solar Farm
(U.S.): The university’s trustees have approved plans to build a 20.5-acre solar farm that is expected to provide two percent of the campus’ electricity. Phoenix Solar Inc. will build and operate the solar installation for the first 10 years, and the university will buy the energy produced under a $15.5 million power-purchase agreement. Subsidies to cover additional energy costs over the next 10 years will in part be covered with proceeds from a student sustainability fee.
Indiana U Pennsylvania Debuts Campus Energy Channel
The university has begun broadcasting a channel in the lobbies of residential buildings that displays energy use on campus. The goal of the project is to increase students’ awareness of their energy impact, while reducing energy consumption in the residence halls and promoting a lasting awareness among students of energy conservation and sustainability.
Reed College Signs Energy Efficiency Contract
The college has signed a $5.4 million energy savings performance contract with Ameresco Quantum Inc. The company will provide efficiency upgrades to eight buildings and will lead campus-wide energy efficiency lighting and water conservations efforts. The improvements are expected to save the college more than $2.7 million in energy costs over 10 years and reduce its annual carbon dioxide emissions by 2.65 million pounds.
U Toledo Debuts Friday Night Lights Program
Two student organizations, Engineers Without Borders and the Society for Environmental Education, have teamed up to create the Friday Night Lights Program. In an effort to reduce energy consumption, student participants will turn off lights in campus buildings that would otherwise be left on over the weekend. Energy savings will be monitored and recorded at the end of the semester.
Michigan State U to Install Renewable Energy Biogas Plant
The university has partnered with Anaergia Inc. to develop and install a campus-based anaerobic digestion system. When completed, the facility will convert 16,800 tons per year of campus food waste, manure from the university's dairy farm, and food processing waste from the local community into 460 kilowatts of renewable energy. The renewable electricity will be used on campus while the natural fertilizer created through the process will be used on agricultural land.
U Michigan Begins Solar Energy Installation
The university has partnered with DTE Energy’s SolarCurrents program to construct a ground-mounted solar array that is capable of producing up to 430 kilowatts. The energy produced by the utility-owned panels will be fed into the electric grid.
Bentley U Purchases Renewable Energy Credits
Along with the implementation of several energy efficiency initiatives, the university has invested $25,000 in renewable energy certificates. This has allowed the university to cut its carbon footprint in half and will also help to increase the amount of wind power in the electricity grid.
Lyndon State College Students Install Solar Panels
Students have assembled and installed twin-array solar panels as part of a class on energy and the environment. In addition, students are monitoring the system to gauge its capability and will also install a data collection system. A U.S. Department of Energy grant funded the project.
Ohio State U Studies Ways to Make Campus Operations Sustainable
The university has invested in a scientific study to improve the efficiency and sustainability of campus operations. An interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers will work with the university’s Energy Services and Sustainability Office to estimate the environmental footprint, and will then identify ways to reduce that footprint as well as operating costs. This project will help the university work toward achieving its 2050 carbon neutrality goal.
St. Lawrence College Completes Solar Installation
The college has completed the installation of a solar project, which included the installation of 1200 solar panels on the Kingston Campus and 442 on the Brockville Campus. The project is expected to generate approximately $230,000 in revenue annually in Kingston and $93,000 in Brockville. Students in the college's Energy Systems Engineering program will gather real-time solar data and learn how solar power generation is impacted by tilt angles, flat versus sloped rooftops, types of inverters, and different geographic locations.
Manipal U Debuts Solar Water Heaters
(India): Thirty-nine solar water heater units have been installed to provide hot water to the university’s hostels, medical colleges, and hospital. The university has also announced plans to install solar panels alongside its coastal community.
Rajiv Gandhi Technical U to Construct Solar Power Plant
(India): The university has announced plans to construct a power plant that will feature cross linear concentrated solar power as part of the Jawahar Lal National Solar Mission, an effort to produce 10,000 megawatts of solar thermal power by 2022. The 30-kilowatt plant will be used for air-conditioning on campus.
Thomas College to Install Solar Array
(U.S.): The college has announced a new partnership with ReVision Energy for a solar energy project. The 170-kilowatt, 700-panel solar photovoltaic array will be mounted on the athletic center and is expected to produce about 11 percent of the college’s energy needs. The project is being financed through a Power Purchase Agreement.
St. Peter’s U Launches Clean Energy Project
The university has created an energy resource area that contains equipment and software that will track the amount of solar energy being used on campus as part of a new energy conservation project. The project also includes installing solar panels, building a cogeneration plant and energy-efficient lighting in various campus locations. The university expects the new project to reduce the campus’ carbon emissions by 6.4 million pounds per year.
U California Los Angeles Debuts Solar Power Project
With the assistance of Facilities Management, students have installed 132 solar panels on the roof of the student-owned Ackerman Union. The panels will supply 2.5 percent of the building’s electricity. The university’s Green Initiative Fund provided a $176,000 grant to cover costs.
Eastern Connecticut State U Installs Fuel Cell System
Under a 10-year Energy Services Agreement, UTC Power has installed a combined heat and power fuel cell system at the university’s Science Building. With effective use of the thermal output, overall system efficiencies of up to 90 percent are possible.
Northern Maine CC Dedicates Biomass Boiler
The newly installed wood boiler will provide heat to the two largest buildings on campus while replacing nearly 70 percent of the college’s fuel oil consumption with local, renewable energy. The project is expected to save more than $43,000 in utility costs annually and replace an estimated 47,000 gallons of fuel oil with local pellets.
Ohio U Announces Energy Performance Contract
The university is expected to save $38 million over a 15-year period through an energy performance contract with Constellation. By implementing water and energy conservation measures in 72 campus buildings, the university expects to conserve an estimated 9 million gallons of water and avoid the creation of 50,145 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Temple U Announces Energy Conservation Campaign
The goal of the campaign is to reduce energy use per square foot of building space by 25 percent over the next two years. The campaign will begin with the development of a Utility Master Plan, the first phase consisting of an Energy Saving Strategies Plan to identify energy conservation strategies and develop large scale efficiency projects.
U Missouri Installs Wind Turbine
The 20-killowatt turbine has the ability to provide power to one small building and the excess energy will feed into the university’s power grid. Primarily to be used as an educational tool, students will have the opportunity to tour the project and have access to an online monitoring system.
