Lawrence U Installs Solar Panels
Lawrence University (WI) has installed the campus' first solar panel on the roof of Youngchild Hall. The 2.92 kilowatt unit, composed of 14 panels, will help reduce the College's monthly electric bill and will serve a curricular purpose as well. Data from the solar collector will be streamed live over the internet and be used in as many as three courses, including an introductory environmental science course, the physics course “Energy Society and Environment” and the chemistry course “The Energy Conundrum.”
St. Charles CC Announces Several Green Campus Projects
St. Charles Community College (MO) has announced several new green projects on campus. SCCC has received a Public Buildings and Energy Efficiency Retrofit grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in the amount of $187,718, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which will be used to purchase a high efficiency hot water boiler, advanced control valves to improve the efficiency of the chilled water cooling system, and sensors to control the lighting, heating, and cooling systems for classrooms. In addition, SCCC new brown rubber mulch made from recycled tires is being used in some college parking lot islands, a new "Team Green" committee has been formed, and $50,000 has been earmarked for the development of an outdoor classroom to be used by the College and local schools and community groups.
Thomas College Installs Solar Panels
Thomas College (ME) has installed a solar panel system on the roof of its main administration and classroom building. The panels are expected to produce 8.28 kW. The College also installed a grid-tied inverter, which changes the DC power made by the photovoltaic panels into usable AC energy, which is used to run lights and radios, for example. The panels are estimated to reduce the cost of electricity in the building by approximately $1,600 annually. The project was made possible by a $50,000 grant from Efficiency Maine.
U North Carolina Chapel Hill to Be Coal-Free by 2020
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has announced plans to end its use of coal by 2020. As a step toward ending coal use, the campus' cogeneration facility will test co-firing coal with biomass in the form of dried wood pellets later this spring and torrefied wood – a product similar to charcoal – this fall or winter. The University plans to replace 20 percent of its coal with biomass no later than 2015, and perhaps by 2012. Last year, the Sierra Club’s Coal-Free Campus Campaign targeted 60 U.S. campuses that are still burning coal, including UNC and its coal-burning cogeneration facility. The Sierra Club urged these campuses to lead by example, cut their pollution, and end burning coal as soon as possible. In response, Chancellor Holden Thorp appointed 10 students, faculty and community members to a task force to make recommendations before year’s end to reduce Carolina’s carbon footprint. The 2020 date for ending coal usage was one of six interim recommendations submitted to Thorp the end of April.
New Mexico State U Restores Solar-Powered Furnace
A group of New Mexico State University students, faculty, and staff have restored a university solar-powered furnace that was constructed in 1979 and has since fell into disuse and disrepair. Rather than electricity, the furnace produces heat, a type of energy production known as solar thermal energy. Graduate student Kyle Glenn and undergraduate Mike Dehmlow operate the furnace. They conduct demonstrations for visiting students to peak their interest in engineering and help them better understand how renewable energy installations, such as a solar furnace, operate.
NY Times Publishes Article on EPA's Energy Star Label for Dorms
The New York Times has published an article on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star labels for college and universities dormitories. The article mentions two green residence halls at Ithaca College (NY) and one green residence hall at Hamilton College (NY).
Syracuse U Receives International Award for New Green Data Center
Syracuse University has been named one of the 2010 Green 15 by GDC’s InfoWorld for the University’s new Green Data Center (GDC). The annual Green 15 award recognizes the 15 most innovative IT initiatives of organizations around the world that have embraced green technology to drive projects and develop products aimed at boosting energy efficiency, trimming waste, and reducing or eliminating the use or the production of harmful substances.
U Massachusetts Medical School Opens Green Data Center
The University of Massachusetts Medical School has opened its new data center on campus that promises to reduce energy use by 40 percent over the current data center. The 7,400-square-foot facility will house all Medical School servers, plus those used by the University President’s office. Energy savings will come from a range of carbon emission-reducing features, including a high-efficiency cooling system, a clean flywheel backup electricity storage system, and no need for lights inside the center. Energy savings will also come from using “air-side economizing” technology, which brings in outdoor air for cooling the indoor space.
Oregon Institute of Technology Dedicates Geothermal Project
Oregon Institute of Technology has dedicated its new geothermal electric project. The power plant has a maximum capacity output of 280 kilowatts gross power utilizing existing wells on the campus. A second geothermal plant is also planned. The 1.2 megawatt project will utilize a 5,300-foot deep well drilled in 2009, and is expected to be complete in 2012.
Washington State U Students to Install Green Energy on WSU Farm
The student chapter of Engineers Without Borders at Washington State University have begun a project to install a wind turbine and solar panels on the campus' organic farm. The wind installation will provide 500 - 1,000 watts and the solar panels will generate 200 - 500 watts of power. The system will include a bank of batteries, a 600-foot underground cable, data tracking computers, and a weather station. As an educational project, the system will accommodate student and community tours, with signs explaining the project. The installations should be complete this summer.
Louisiana State U Completes Energy Conservation Competition
Louisiana State University has completed its second annual UNPLUG energy conservation competition. Students living in on-campus residence halls and apartments at LSU yielded an average 14 percent reduction in energy consumption — an estimated $10,368 in savings — over a one-month time period. Nine residence hall communities, which altogether house 4,800 residents and 135 resident assistants, and three Greek houses participated in the competition. The West Campus Apartments led the Residential Life competition with a 26 percent reduction, and Phi Mu sorority won the Greek division with a 45 percent reduction.
Syracuse U Posts Lights Out Stickers on Campus
Syracuse University (NY) has announced the winner of its "Lights Out" sticker design contest held by SU's Sustainability Division, in partnership with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). The contest called on students to create a wall sticker for display above campus light switches to remind students, faculty and staff to turn off the lights when leaving an unoccupied room for more than 10 minutes. Winner Bill Hoelzer, a philosophy graduate student, designed a sticker that reads, "Steppin' out? Lights out! Help save juice in the 'Cuse." The sticker will be placed in nearly all SU offices and classrooms.
U California San Diego Installs Energy Dashboard
The University of California, San Diego has installed an Energy Dashboard that allows users to see up-to-the-second information on a structure-by-structure basis for 60 of the largest buildings on the La Jolla campus. The data is provided by UC San Diego Physical Plant Services from over 200 energy meters providing energy usage at the building level. The portal also features information coming from roughly 40 individual power meters that measure energy consumption in the office, e.g., a computer and monitor drawing power from a single socket. A denser deployment of meters, which would measure and display individuals’ energy use, is currently under planning and development. The Web portal provides statistics updated at least once every minute on total power consumption, power generation, imports from San Diego Gas & Electric, and a comparison between power usage and production.
U Kansas Enters $25M Energy Contract
The University of Kansas has entered into a $25 million contract with Overland Park energy company to help increase the campus's energy efficiency. KU expects to save nearly $2 million per year by addressing aging heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; by reducing energy and water use; and by educating the campus about responsible stewardship of resources. Work has begun and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2011.
U Kansas Installs 6 Solar Panels
The University of Kansas EcoHawks engineering group has installed six solar panels on a campus shed. The group plans to transfer energy captured by the panels into a battery used as a fueling station for their 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle.
Virginia to Form Universities Clean Energy Development Foundation
Virginia State Governor Bob McDonnell has signed into law a measure establishing the Universities Clean Energy Development and Economic Stimulus Foundation. The bill signing took place just two days after Virginia was given federal approval to become the first state on the East Coast to explore for and produce oil and natural gas offshore. Through a policy proposal promoted by McDonnell, 20 percent of future revenues received by the state from this offshore energy development will go to green energy research and development at the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium on the Old Dominion University campus.
Bucknell U Installs New Efficient Ventilation System
Bucknell University (PA) has announced plans to replace the old ventilation system with a new $500,000 system in its Elaine Lagone Center. The new system, which is partially funded with stimulus money, is able to adjust its air flow in various rooms depending on the number of occupants. The University expects to reduce its energy consumption in the buildings by 60 percent and save $100,000 annually. The project should be complete by mid-August.
Campuses Turn out the Lights for Earth Hour 2010
Hundreds of college and university campuses participated in the World Wildlife Fund's third annual Earth Hour event this year. In addition to turning out lights on campus, institutions furthered their celebrations by creating glow in the dark ultimate frisbee games, institution verses institution competitions, and candlelight images.
Guilford College Announces Solar Installation
Guilford College (NC) has announced plans to install 188 solar hot water panels on dormitories around campus. The panels will produce 9,000 gallons of hot water a day, which will result in 113 less tons of CO2 a year. The installation will be complete by the beginning of next semester, which will be the start to Guilford's "Year of Sustainability."
Lakeland CC Wins National Award for Sustainability Initiative
Lakeland Community College (OH) has received the Bellwether Award from the Community College Futures Assembly. The annual award is bestowed upon community colleges to recognize “outstanding programs that are at the forefront of innovation throughout the United States and Canada.” Lakeland was honored for its program “Going Green Doesn’t Have to be Sexy,” which began by benchmarking its energy performance against European best practices, developing a master plan, and partnering with Siemens Building Technologies to implement a comprehensive energy and resource efficiency plan. The project installed heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system upgrades; lighting retrofits; and other building improvements. Lakeland’s program resulted in the College achieving natural gas, electricity, and water volume reductions of 46 percent, 36 percent, and 18 percent, respectively, and a 40 percent reduction in direct and indirect creation of greenhouse gases.
Tufts U Receives Energy Efficiency Award
Tufts University (MA) has received an award from the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships. Tufts was recognized as a ‘Commercial/Business Leader for Energy Efficiency’ for its efforts in energy efficiency, which have resulted in a saving of $600,000 annually.
U Michigan Offsets Emissions with Purchase of RECs
The University of Michigan has purchased renewable energy credits (RECs) from DTE Energy to help offset its emissions. The renewable energy is produced by two wind turbines, which produce about 2 percent of the UM's energy needs.
U Toledo Completes 1.2 MW Solar & Wind Installation
The University of Toledo (OH) has completed a 1.2 MW solar and wind power system through an agreement with a Constellation Energy subsidiary. The project utilizes thin-film-on-glass photovoltaic solar technology that was originally developed based on research at the University of Toledo. A 132-foot wind turbine was also installed at the site.
Middle Tennessee State U Rec Center Buys Green Workout Machines
Middle Tennessee State University has purchased five elliptical workout machines that generate electricity when in use. With regular use, each machine will be able to produce one kilowatt hour of electricity every two days. The workout machines were funded by the University's student Clean Energy fee and the Campus Rec budget.
Victor Valley College Install Solar Farm
Victor Valley College (CA) has partnered with SolFocus, a local solar energy solutions company, to add a one MW solar farm to its campus. The six-acre installation will provide about 30 percent of the campus' energy needs and will allow for the College to add hands-on learning experiences to its solar technology curriculum. The project will also raise up to $4 million over five years through performance-based incentives from the California Solar Initiative program.
Auburn U Saves $12K with Resource Competition
Auburn University (AL) has completed its second annual resource competition, Sustain-A-Bowl. During February 2010, almost 4,000 students in 30 residence halls competed to reduce their electricity and water consumption and increase their recycling. The University saved a total of $12,374 in utilities as a result of the competition, increasing the amount saved from the 2009 competition by $4,000.
Bakersfield College to Install Solar Field
Bakersfield College (CA) has announced plans to cover one of its parking lots with solar panels that will track the sun as it moves across the sky. The power generated by the $8.3 million installation is expected to provide about one third of the College's energy needs. The power produced when classes are not in session will be sold back to the power grid. The system, which will provide shade for 756 parking spaces, could go live as early as the fall of 2010.
Bowdoin College Wins Grant for Solar Hot Water Project
Bowdoin College (ME) has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Maine Public Utilities Commission toward the installation of a solar hot water project on the roof of a campus dining hall. The project includes 24 glazed flat plate solar collectors, which will make up a 960-square-foot solar thermal array, and the piping to solar storage tanks. Energy provided by this solar thermal system will offset natural gas currently used to feed the dining hall's existing steam-to-water heat exchanger system.
St Petersburg College to Install Rooftop Solar Array
St. Petersburg College (FL) has announced plans to install its first photovoltaic system on its Clearwater Campus. The 3.5 kW system, which will generate power for the electrical grid, will be installed on the roof of the LEED Gold Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building. This system to be installed was selected because of its tolerance to hurricane force winds, harsh environments, better performance in lower light conditions, and flexibility.
Humboldt State U Students Relight Campus Stadium
Students at Humboldt State University (CA) have completed the Relight Redwood Bowl project. The initiative reduced the number of light poles on the track and football field from eight to four and reduced the number of light bulbs used from 96 to 60. The project has an estimated savings of 61,000-kilowatt hours and up to $8,000 per year.
Middlebury College Announces Building Dashboard
Middlebury College (VT) has installed a Building Dashboard touch screen system in its Franklin Environmental Center. The system allows people to monitor, visualize, and contextualize resource use in real time. The dashboard, which is also available online, features animated graphs and the ability to convert data to miles driven in a car or number of hours a laptop is left running.
U Albany to Install 49 kW Solar Panel System, Purchases RECs
The University at Albany has received more than $287,000 in federal stimulus money to fund the installation of a 49-kilowatt solar panel system on a campus building. The project is expected to save approximately $63,000 a year. The University also purchased Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and carbon offsets. The institution purchased 800,000 kilowatt hours of wind energy with the RECs, which will help support wind farms in New York State.
North Shore CC Receives Funding to Make Campus Greener
North Shore Community College (MA) has received $3.6 million from Governor Patrick's Commonwealth Clean Energy Investment Program to make its Danvers and Lynn campuses more environmentally friendly. The Program, which was launched at NSCC, will install solar panels on the Danvers campus and new lighting and energy management systems, along with new chillers, boilers, and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units, at the Lynn campus.
U New Hampshire's EcoLine Wins EPA's Project of the Year
The University of New Hampshire's EcoLine has been named the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Project of the Year. The EcoLine is a 12.7 mile pipeline that goes from campus to the Turnkey Recycling and Environmental Enterprise landfill. The pipeline transports methane that the University uses to power 85 percent of its electricity and heat.
Keystone College Receives Lighting Grant
Keystone College has a received a $200,000 grant from the State of Pennsylvania as part of the PA Conservation Works program. The grant money will be used to replace lighting throughout the campus with energy-efficient systems and to install motion sensors and energy-efficient emergency exit signs throughout campus. The upgrades are expected to create at least a 25 percent increase in energy efficiency on campus.
Luther College Turns Off Lights in Vending Machines
Luther College (IA), in collaboration with Pepsi, has removed the lights from 32 beverage vending machines on campus in an effort to conserve energy as part of Luther’s sustainability initiative. The once energy-consuming lights have been replaced by signs that explain why the lights are out, educating students about the energy saved by de-lamping the vending machines. The College expects to save approximately 1,219 kilowatt hours per year.
U Central Florida Installs Solar Carport
The University of Central Florida has added a new solar-electric carport to its campus. The new installation, which is large enough to provide energy to four cars at once, cost $380,000 and was paid for with a grant from the Florida Energy Systems Consortium. When cars are not using it, the power is fed back into the University's energy system.
U Minnesota Duluth Saves $$, Emissions With Winter Break Shutdown
The University of Minnesota, Duluth has announced that energy conservation efforts during its 11-day winter break reduced greenhouse gas emissions and saved the institution money. UMD reduced heating and ventilation of campus buildings during the break, resulting in reductions of 13 percent in natural gas usage and 6.3 percent in electricity. The measures saved UMD $18,399 in energy costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 196 tons.
Vermont Technical College to Use Biomass to Heat Building
Vermont Technical College has announced plans to install a wood pellet boiler on its campus. The boiler will serve as a heating source for a campus building and as a hands-on learning tool for students interested in the field of renewable energy. VTC received $185,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy to help fund the project.
Yale U Installs Energy Consumption Monitors in 2 Dorms
Yale University (CT) has installed monitors that provide students with real-time information about energy consumed in two campus residential colleges. Accompanied by an educational campaign about residential energy consumption at Yale and nationwide, the monitors aim to provide students with direct and immediate awareness of the effects of their consumption decisions. Designed by Lucid Design Group, the system displays real-time data on energy used for electricity, heating, and cooling. Large, interactive touch-screen monitors that have been installed near campus dining halls allow viewers to see energy consumption patterns over time, compare between colleges, and display in unit equivalencies such as gallons of gasoline, hours of use for hairdryers, microwaves, and laptops as well as the monetary. Funding for the monitors comes from a grant received through the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Accelerating Campus Climate Initiatives program.
Emory U Energy Turndown Saves $15K
Emory University (GA) has announced that it saved an estimated $15,000 during its 2009 holiday season energy turn-down. For the six-day period, Emory avoided 2,511,000,000 BTUs and 458,000 pounds of CO2 emissions.
Saint John's U Opens Solar Farm
Saint John's University (MN) has partnered with the Order of St. Benedict and Westwood Renewables, a local company who received a $2 million solar grant from Xcel energy, to build a 1,820 panel solar farm. Located on a 14-acre farm field, the 400-kilowatt solar array is expected to produce four percent of the University's energy needs. The solar farm is also being used as an educational tool, providing tours and other learning opportunities.
U British Columbia Announces Plans for Biomass Plant
The University of British Columbia has announced plans to install an on-site biomass-fueled combined heat and power generation system. The $26 million project will operate in co-generation mode for electric power production and thermal mode to produce steam. It will produce two megawatts of cost-effective clean electricity – up to six percent of the campus’s average electrical demand in co-generation mode – and up to 25 percent of the campus’s base requirement for steam in thermal mode. It will also provide research and learning opportunities for faculty and students.
Atlantic Cape CC Signs Power Purchase Agreement
Atlantic Cape Community College (NJ) has signed a power purchase agreement with Pepco Energy Services, Inc. The agreement allows Pepco to build, maintain, and operate solar arrays on ACCC campuses, and establishes that ACCC will purchase the energy generated at a fixed rate. The 2.3 megawatt installation will generate 48 percent of the College's power needs and is expected to save the school $220,000 the first year and $6.8 million over 20 years.
Edinboro U Receives Grant for 210 kW Solar Array
Edinboro University (PA) has received a grant to install a 210-kilowatt solar array atop its McComb Fieldhouse. The Governor of Pennsylvania announced the $474,000 as part of the new "Green Energy Works!" program. Besides generating electricity for the University, the array will allow Edinboro to market and sell solar renewable energy credits and will create 10 skilled-labor jobs.
Furman U to Harness Energy from Elliptical Machines
The Furman University (SC) Senior Class has announced plans to purchase 15 elliptical machines that are capable of producing energy while in use. A 30-minute workout on an elliptical cross-trainer typically produces enough electricity to power a light bulb for between two and three hours or a desktop computer for around a half hour. Furman officials expect the initial setup of the system to cost between $15,000 and $20,000.
Minnesota Schools Receive Grants to Cut Carbon Emissions
The Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon Project has announced the award of over $200,000 in 19 grants to 23 public high schools, colleges, and universities across Minnesota. Projects range from making energy improvements such as energy efficient lighting and motion sensors; installing renewable energy projects including solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems; increasing recycling and composting; reducing paper use and food waste; supporting community greenhouse production of local foods; and increasing sustainable transportation options by encouraging walking, biking, carpooling and bus riding to school. Higher education grant recipients include: Bemidji State University; Dakota County Technical College; Hibbing, Itasca, Mesabi Range, Rainy River, and Vermilion Community Colleges; University of Minnesota, Deluth; University of Minnesota, Morris; and Winona State University.
Mount Union College Installs 54 kW Solar Array
Mount Union College (OH) has begun operating its new 54 kW solar panel installation on the roof above the Peterson Field House. The panel produces enough energy to power the fitness center in the building below.
U Albany Reduces Energy Costs by $319K
The State University of New York at Albany has announced that it reduced energy costs by a total of $319,000 through energy-saving steps during the fall semester and winter intersession. The biggest savings, $241,000, came through the Intersession Energy Savings campaign with the remainder through the University’s Fall Energy Campaign. U Albany's Intersession Energy Savings initiative, which ran from December 18, 2009 through January 14, 2010, led to a 30 percent decrease in electricity use, 11 percent decrease in fuel use, and 10 percent decrease in water consumption over the same period, prior to initiating these energy initiatives in 2008.
Bowdoin College Launches Building Energy Dashboard
Bowdoin College (ME) has launched a building dashboard that provides real-time measurements of energy use of campus facilities. Visitors to the building dashboard site can select a building and view total consumption for the day, or usage on a per-person or square footage basis. They can also select a timescale — usage over a day, week, month, or year — and construct comparisons between buildings.
