Oberlin College Connects Geothermal System
Oberlin has completed its Sustainable Infrastructure Program, a four-year program to convert the campus to geothermal heating and cooling. The project, which included upgrading its century-old heating infrastructure to a hot water system, is expected to reduce Oberlin’s water use by more than five million gallons per year, reduce sewer discharge by more than four million gallons per year, and improve campus energy efficiency by more than 30 percent.
Loyola U Chicago Conducts Multi-Campus Waste Audit
In advance of a waste reduction and diversion planning effort, Loyola University Chicago contracted a vendor, the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, to conduct a multi-campus waste characterization audit. In total over 4,000 lbs of materials across 10 activity zones was categorized into one of 33 categories. This effort helps identify areas for improvement but also set a baseline and inform potential reduction and diversion targets.
MIT, Harvard U & Tufts U Join Consortium to Purchase Renewable Energy
Eleven Massachusetts organizations comprising the Consortium for Climate Solutions, which includes MIT and Harvard and Tufts Universities, have signed a power purchase agreement to buy electricity from two large-scale renewable energy projects (wind and photovoltaic) totaling 408 megawatts.
U Chicago Launches Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth
The new institute combines research in economics, climate policy, and key energy and climate technologies. The institute plans to hire 20 new faculty members over the next five years, including in the fields of law, political science, economics, materials engineering and artificial intelligence.
Niagara U Connects 4 MW On-Campus Solar Array
The university recently completed a 17-acre, four-megawatt project, featuring 7,500 bifacial solar panels with sun tracking that follows the sun throughout the day to maximize energy production. Coupled with the university’s hydropower supply, the solar project allows the university’s electric consumption to become 100 percent carbon neutral.
Harvard U Expands Green Revolving Fund from $12 to $37M
The new $37 million green revolving fund (GRF) priorities are to 1) accelerate additional energy efficiency, especially heat/energy recovery and load reduction, in all buildings; 2) replace fossil fuel equipment with electric technology at end-of-life, whenever possible; and 3) when renovating space or changing HVAC systems or equipment, design the equipment to use low-temperature hot water for future flexibility. The GRF allows schools and units at Harvard to apply for a zero-interest loan and pay back the principal over up to 10 years.
