U Utah Wins Accolades from EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the university as a top school for green power purchasing in its College and University Green Power Challenge. The university ranked eighth in the nation by purchasing 85,926,100 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy.
U Chichester to Install Renewable Energy to Meet Goals
(U.K.): In an effort to reduce overall carbon emissions by 43 percent by 2020, solar panels will be installed on the student union by a community energy cooperative, which encourages cost sharing in renewable technologies.
Georgia Tech Initiates Campus Energy Program
The new Smart Energy Campus Program allows university researchers to obtain and analyze energy systems data aided by modeling and simulation tools to evaluate and optimize different energy systems on the university's campus. The project is designed to save labor hours, resources and money by quickly identifying buildings that have unusually high energy usage.
U California Berkeley, MIT & U Chicago Partner for Energy Study
The new alliance just received a $5 million research grant from the California Energy Commission to test an energy management system at 100 factories throughout the state. The goal is to provide reliable evidence on whether giving factories real-time data and analysis about their energy use spurs them to reduce waste and save power.
North Carolina State U Increases Research Capacity With Solar Panels
The latest investments in the university's research facilities are soaking up the sun. Nearly 100 solar panels generating approximately 29,000-kilowatt hours of electricity annually were installed in April and are expected to produce energy for at least 25 years. A time lapse video shows the installation.
Eastern Washington U Hosts Water & Energy Conservation Competition
The university's Housing and Residential Life Department recently completed its successful three-week Water and Energy Conservation Competition among all eight residence halls. Designed as an awareness and educational program for reducing water and energy use within the residence halls, its message was that conservation helps to make the world a better place.
Northwestern U Becomes EPA Green Power Purchaser
Through a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the university substantially increased its commitment to renewables, now purchasing renewable energy certificates (RECs) equivalent to 50 percent of total electricity usage totaling 122,000-megawatt hours.
U Northern Iowa Discusses Ethics of Energy Production
With the understanding that energy production effects everyone, and ethical issues arise through the process, the recently held gathering of students and the public addressed concerns about how the U.S. will meet future energy needs, economic effects, environmental impacts, legal aspects, agricultural viewpoints, and employment prospects.
Skidmore College Cuts Ribbon at Historical Micro-Hydro Facility
The college's most recent renewable energy project is a historical micro-hydro facility built in the early 1800s along an existing fault line at Chittenden Falls, NY. This facility produces bout 18 percent of the college's electricity needs, and will serve as an academic classroom. Photo Credit: Patrick Cashin
Five Universities Team Up for Conservation Event
The University of Kansas, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Toledo, Pennsylvania State, and the University of Texas at Austin will participate in the second Campus Lights Out event on April 24, 2015. Campus Lights Out is a joint conservation endeavor, combining the efforts of each university’s conservation program in order to save energy and resources.
Michigan State U to Stop Burning Coal
In a move that will reduce emissions at its T.B. Simon Power Plant and significantly advance its Energy Transition Plan, the university is taking steps to stop burning coal by the end of 2016, with a majority of coal purchasing and burning ending in 2015.
Stanford U Transitions to Efficient Heat Recovery System
The Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI) system helps the university transition from a 100 percent fossil-fuel-based CHP plant to grid-sourced electricity and a more efficient electric heat recovery system. This system is anticipated to reduce campus emissions approximately 80 percent from current levels and save 15 percent of campus potable water.
Northampton CC Plans Wind Turbine Project
The college is now acquiring bids for the installation of an on-campus 10-kilowatt wind turbine to sit atop a 73-foot monopole. The electricity-producing machine will be connected to the school’s electrical system in its electrical wiring laboratory.
U Kentucky Breaks Ground on 30KW Solar Array
Tied into a campus building, the 30-kilowatt electricity-producing system, projected to produce approximately 1.5 percent of the buildings' needs, will provide a learning opportunity for students and the public through an online solar production tracking system.
Leicestershire College to Install Biomass Boiler
(U.K.): In an effort to avoid 45,000 pounds ($66,000) in utility costs and reduce associated carbon emissions, the university's new boiler system will use wood chips in order to reduce its dependence on oil.
Missouri State U to Install Solar Bike Parking Canopy
(U.S.): The university's Student Government Association will be installing the new renewable energy electricity structure, funded through the green fund, to decrease the university's dependence on coal and provide a covered shelter for bicycles.
U New Mexico Connects Solar Electric System
(U.S.): The new photovoltaic system, generating approximately 70 percent of the campus' electricity, enables the university to use cost avoidance savings to support future renewable energy projects on campus.
U Zamboanga Partners for 120KW Solar Installation
(Philippines): As as part of the university’s corporate social responsibility on the environment, the recently signed memorandum of agreement indicates the 120-kilowatt system will be installed by late summer 2015.
Visvesvaraya Technological U to Install Renewable Energy
(India): Despite some solar electricity in residential areas, the university plans to install photovoltaic systems on academic buildings at five of its campuses in order to reduce the capital expense of electricity and to supply energy to adjoining villages.
Dean College Completes Energy Efficiency Project
The college's newly completed project in seven campus buildings, including residence halls, consists of mechanical and lighting measures, and behavioral measures to engage building occupants.
Elon U Breaks Ground on Solar Farm
Projected to be completed in spring 2015, the 3-megawatt photovoltaic array, supplying electricity to Duke Energy, is being installed near the university's Environmental Center, a research facility for the university's academic programs that includes a greenhouse, agricultural plots, responsible architecture studio, and a composting facility.
Rochester IT to Complete 2MW Solar Farm
With expected completion in spring 2015, the 2-megawatt photovoltaic array will be connected directly to the institution's electricity grid, helping to meet peak electricity demand by producing roughly 3.2 percent of the campus' total consumption.
EPA Recognizes Chevy for University and College Partnerships
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded Chevrolet with its Climate Leadership Award for Innovative Partnerships for it's Chevrolet Clean Energy Campus Campaign that enables participating campuses to create a new source of funding for large-scale energy efficiency efforts. The funding comes from carbon credits from the voluntary carbon market. Participating institutions include Ball State University, Valencia College, Portland State University, Spelman College, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Boston University, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Grand Valley State University and Southern Oregon University.
Northern Arizona U Heats Air With the Sun
In an effort to decrease fossil fuel use and create a culture of sustainability, the newly installed solar thermal air system is projected to reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by three tons per year.
St. Olaf College Acquire Solar Power for Carbon Neutrality
The college recently announced plans to lease 90 acres of land for the development of 15 one-megawatt solar electric arrays. The college will acquire 40 percent of the project's output. This along with 10 percent from another project enables the college to achieve 100 percent carbon-free electrical power.
North Central College Invests in LED Lighting
A $200,000 investment allowed the university to recently complete the light-emitting diode (LED) retrofit in three buildings, avoiding $35,000 annually in electricity costs. The new lighting includes occupancy sensors and dimming features.
Cornell U Installs LED Lights in Athletic Centers
(U.S.): Contributing to the school's climate sustaining efforts, the Department of Athletics and Physical Education have begun installing light-emitting diode (LED) lightbulbs in all campus athletic facilities. The project is estimated to save more than 1.7 million-kilowatt hours of electricity and preventing about 450 tons of carbon dioxide annually, avoiding nearly $136,000 in utility bills.
Five Universities Participate in 'Solarize U' Program
(U.S.): Eastern Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, University of New Haven, University of Connecticut, Wesleyan University and Yale University are now participating in the State of Connecticut program to offer faculty, staff and students' families the opportunity to compare online competitive bids from pre-screened installers of solar energy systems.
U Asia and the Pacific Installs 300KW Solar System
(Philippines): Helping to reduce energy costs and its carbon footprint, the university's new 300-kilowatt photovoltaic system is supplying electricity to its parking and sports building, and feeding electricity onto the electrical grid.
U Iowa Begins Growing Energy With Biofuels
(U.S.): With the goal of achieving 40 percent renewable energy consumption by 2020, the university will soon be growing a variety of grass that will be harvested and used to supply power, steam and chilled water to the main campus as part of its Biomass Fuel Project, designed to reduce the use of fossil fuels by substituting locally available renewable materials in the main power plant.
Rice U Signs Agreement to Purchase Solar Electricity for One Year
In an effort to better manage energy consumption and spending, a recent one-year agreement with a power company was enacted that allows the university to purchase approximately seven percent of the university's purchased electricity from clean energy at the same rate as fossil fuel-powered electricity.
San Francisco State U Completes Lighting Upgrade
A project spearheaded by students in a management class led to the removal of unnecessary lamps on the second floor of the university's business building over winter break. Electricity consumption of hallway lighting on this floor has decreased 40 percent as a result.
Cornell U Conserves Energy With New Chiller
The new air conditioning system air-cooled chiller is fully automated for seasonal and daily on/off and will use less electricity to provide cooling, saving the university $6,000 and diverting 23 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Texas A&M to Install Thermal Storage Tank
A soon-to-be-completed 3-million gallon tank for chilled water to air condition and dehumidify buildings is projected to save the university around $600,000 per year by creating the chilled water at night when electricity rates are lowest. Due to the new chiller's capacity, it will allow the university to shut down other chillers that charge during the day.
Utah State U Connects Photovoltaic System
Reducing utility costs and increasing visibility for renewable energy, the newly installed 264-panel system will offset energy consumption used by the university's equine research center.
U Illinois Urbana-Champaign to Install 5.87MW Solar Farm
(U.S.): Contributing to the university's goal of carbon neutrality, construction of an on-campus 5.87-megawatt solar farm will begin in spring 2015 after university and state officials recently approved power purchase and land lease agreements.
U Richmond Reaches Agreement to Install Solar Energy
(U.S.): With construction slated to begin in July 2015, the 204-kilowatt solar electric array will help the university meet its 30 percent by 2020 carbon reduction goal. Under the arrangement, a solar energy developer in Virginia will install, maintain and own the solar array and its associated tax benefits and will sell the electricity generated by the array to the university at a set rate over a 20-year period.
EPA Honors Raritan Valley CC
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency commended the community college, an EPA Green Power Partner, for using enough wind power to meet 100 percent of the main campus' electricity needs.
Northern Arizona U Installs Residential Wind Turbine
Funded through the university's Green Fund and the department of Finance and Administration, the 2.4-kilowatt wind turbine was installed on campus and originated from students working on the Arizona Wind for Schools initiative, a project of the U.S. Department of Energy's WindExchange program.
Santa Fe CC Completes 156KW Solar Electric Array
The new 156-kilowatt photovoltaic installation combines a solar parking structure with rooftop arrays that will produce approximately 70 percent of the energy to power the building and is estimated to save the college more than $200,000 annually.
U California to Begin Supplying Electricity to Campuses
The university will switch from a third-party electricity supplier to provide electric power directly to five of its campuses and three of its medical centers, along with other electric accounts throughout the university as part of its initiative to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.
Cornell U to Purchase Wind Farm Electricity
Making strides in carbon emissions reduction, the university recently agreed to purchase all electricity generated from a proposed community-owned wind farm consisting of seven 1.7-megawatt wind turbines. The purchase will represent 20 percent of the university's total annual electricity use. The university's Climate Action Plan calls for net zero emissions by 2035.
U Virginia Upgrades Lighting in Residence Halls
While Hereford Residential College students were away for winter break, the university re-lamped about 500 fluorescent fixtures that should realize a savings of approximately $4,000 annually.
Government College of Technology Connects 20KW Photovoltaic Array
(India): The recently commissioned 20-kilowatt solar electric system was installed as part of the college's Center of Excellence in Alternate Energy Research. The center and its students will be adopting a nearby village and installing solar-based street lights and table lamps.
