Missouri State U Launches 'Green Kiosk'
The university recently purchased the energy dashboard to educate the campus community about current energy use and to capture statistical information for facilities and sustainability projects on specific buildings.
U.S. Solar Decathlon 2013 Announces Winners
(U.S.): Vienna University of Technology, a first-time U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon competitor, took first place overall in the international competition whose design philosophy was guided by differing climes and lifestyles. University of Las Vegas Nevada won second and Czech Technical University placed third.
Atlantic Cape CC Completes 2.2MW Photovoltaic Project
The recently dedicated project includes more than 2,000 panels and spans four parking lots. The monitored system is projected to provide enough energy for approximately 220 homes and will be used as a teaching tool for students.
Bowdoin College Proposes 1.3MW Solar Installation
The 1.3-megawatt photovoltaic installation, which is projected to supply approximately eight percent of the college's annual electricity usage, is proposed to be built atop two athletic facilities and include a 127-acre ground mounted installation.
Cornell U, Texas A&M U Win 2013 Global Climate Award
The recently-won award recognized these universities for their achievements in providing clean, sustainable energy solutions through its on-campus combined heat and power system. The award's focus was on identifying and recognizing systems that illustrate the overall importance of district energy (heating & cooling) in providing sustainable energy solutions, providing a global benchmark for environmental excellence, and offering a platform for sharing successful ideas and encourage further interest in district energy.
Sullivan County CC to Install 2MW Photovoltaic Array
Made possible by a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, a power purchase agreement has been signed to construct a two-megawatt solar plant on nine acres of campus beginning in 2014. The array is projected to generate approximately 60 percent of the college's annual electricity consumption.
Virginia Tech Installs Solar-Powered Bus Shelter
To address the difficulty of running power lines to the shelter, which sits atop a steam tunnel, the university and local transit authority identified battery-banked solar power as a good solution.
Castleton State College Erects Wind Turbines
The four newly installed one-kilowatt micro-wind turbines on the college's Hoff Hall are installed with a 29-kilowatt solar array. The system is designed to be a hybrid system with solar generation happening during the day and wind energy generation occurring at night.
Colgate U to Install Solar Thermal System
In an attempt to lessen the university's use of number 2 heating oil, which is dirty and costly, one of 16 residence halls will soon have 12 solar panels that heat water from the sun for domestic uses in bathrooms and kitchens.
EPA Announces Green Power Leadership Award Recipients
Georgetown University and The Ohio State University were recently honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for achievements in advancing the nation's renewable energy market. Both universities are Green Power Partners of the U.S. EPA.
Essex CC Students Erect Solar Charging Station
The recently constructed nine-foot pole holds a single 30-watt photovoltaic panel. Erected by students in the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design and Solar Training course, the charging station will serve as a working lab.
Smith College to Install Photovoltaic System
Set to begin construction this semester, the new solar array will be comprised of 1,500 panels and is projected to produce about 550,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. This project is in collaboration with a third party to help make it financially sustainable.
Western U Health Sciences Signs Solar Contract
A 20-year power purchase agreement was signed with Washington Gas Energy Systems for a 772-kilowatt rooftop photovoltaic system projected to supply 1,110 megawatts of electricity per year. Completion of construction is set for October 2013.
Georgetown U, Energy Dept Collaborate on Energy Efficiency
(U.S.): The two organizations recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the Georgetown University Energy Prize, a competition to encourage innovative, replicable and scalable approaches to reduce energy consumption in communities. The winner will receive $5 million in funding for the multi-year proposal.
Visvesvaraya Technological U to Open Renewable Energy Park
(India): Under its Center for Nanotechnology and in partnership with the Solar Agriculture Institute of India, the university has proposed a new renewable energy park on 10 acres to supply 100 percent of the school’s power and contribute to neighboring villages electricity.
U Minnesota Sees Results with New Energy Reduction Email Campaign
In an effort to reduce energy consumption of on-campus residents, faculty and staff, the university experimented with mass emails this summer encouraging energy conservation when the weather was hot and demand for energy was high. In July, demand was reduced 6.6 percent from the year prior.
Colby-Sawyer College Installs Wind Turbine
Helping to offset the college’s energy use, the 3.7 kilowatt wind turbine will also supply real-time data to students. Project funding was made possible from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation.
DePaul U Adds 2 Wind Turbines
Continuing to reduce its carbon footprint, the university’s two rooftop, grid-tied wind turbines help offset some of the building’s electricity needs.
SUNY Cortland Commits to 100% Renewable Electricity
The first in the 64-campus State University New York system, the university will receive electrical power from 100% renewable energy for all facilities. More than 700 new solar panels will be added, and the university will purchase 16 million kilowatts of renewable energy credits per year. Efforts to use renewable energy support its master’s program in sustainable energy systems.
Anna U Installs 3kW Solar Project
(India): The Indian university in Chennai has installed the photovoltaic array to reduce its dependence on non-renewable forms of energy. Projected to produce an average of 12 kilowatts per day, the array was donated by an alumnus. The university plans to set up similar solar stations at constituent institutions to meet the state’s solar mandate, which indicates that 6 percent of total power consumed by educational institutions be met by solar.
Montgomery County CC to Install Solar Panels
(U.S.): As part of a $4 million project with Siemens, 44 solar panels are set to be installed near the school’s Advanced Technology Center by October. The school plans to convert the on-campus electric vehicle charging stations to batteries charged by the photovoltaic panels.
Wooster College Deconstructs Coal Smokestack
(U.S.): After the college decided to stop burning coal for steam generation in March 2013, the 1939 smokestack was removed this summer. Moving to a natural gas boiler, the carbon footprint reduction is projected to be 50 percent and save the college $4 million in operating and maintenance costs over the next decade.
College of St. Joseph Athletic Center to Receive Solar Panels
Spurred by an agreement with a local utility, the college’s Athletic Center will host a photovoltaic system built with assistance from renewable energy and ecological design students from the nearby Green Mountain College. The project will feature reused materials from local area suppliers including roof-friendly rubber feet made from recycled tires.
U Virgin Islands Plans 3MW Solar Installation
A new power purchasing agreement with Illinois-based New Generation Power will allow for the university to install one photovoltaic systems on each of its two campuses. New Generation Power will build and maintain the systems for 20 years and, in exchange, will sell the university power at a cheaper rate than what is currently offered through the local utility. The university expects to save about $1 million per year.
UC San Diego Receives $7.2M in Energy Incentives
The $7.2 million check from San Diego Gas & Electric represents energy efficiency incentives earned through the university's implementation of energy-efficient projects from 2010 to 2012 including green building and renewable energy initiatives. During this period, the university has saved more than 21 million kilowatt hours and reduced more than 2 megawatts of demand.
Texas A&M U System Announces New Center for Solar Energy
In addition to housing a renewable power generation system that will power the A&M-Central Texas campus, the nearly $600 million center will act as an incubator for practical and emergent technologies relating to renewable energy and photovoltaic solar technologies.
Houghton College to Install 2.5 MW Solar System
The college has signed a power purchase agreement with Smart Energy Capital for the planned solar system, which is anticipated to reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent. The energy generated by the system is expected to meet more than one half of the college's electric demands with an estimated savings of $1.3 million over the contract period.
U Toledo Hosts U.S. Dept of Energy Midwest Clean Energy Summit
The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative brought together more than 250 business, elected, regional economic development and university leaders to discuss ways to expand and promote clean energy manufacturing throughout the region and across the nation.
Arizona State U Starts Solar Shade Installation
(U.S.): When complete, the two PowerParasol systems are expected to produce enough electricity to power 128 homes annually. Besides shading pedestrian areas, the solar systems will provide nighttime lighting for better security.
Madurai Kamaraj U Heads Toward Energy-Efficient Campus
(India): With the installation of solar panels on its administrative building, the university is starting the first phase of a campus-wide energy efficiency initiative. The university aims to produce all of its power through clean energy sources.
Sainik School Kazhakkoottam Debuts Solar Campus Streetlights
(India): The institution has completed the first phase of an energy efficiency project, converting 50 streetlights to solar power. In the next phase, the school plans to incorporate solar power in its hostels and the academic blocks, and possibly providing the surplus power generated to the local community.
U Albany Partners for Solar Energy Emergency Program
(U.S.): Following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy in New York this year, the university is teaming up with renewable energy consulting company Direct Gain Consulting to provide emergency backup renewable energy systems in the Hudson Valley. In addition to expanding on solar technology currently under development by university faculty, the goal of the "RE-START" program is to provide solar services at select gas stations, ATMs, food stores, health clinics and emergency service providers.
'This American Life' Features Campus Fossil Fuel Divestment
In the six months since 350.org founder Bill McKibben's fossil fuel divestment campaign tour, "divestment campaigns have sprung up on over 300 campuses, five small schools have divested...but calling around to student organizers I found that at most schools they are still in the very early stages, way too early to show results." The episode highlights one student's experience with trying to get her campus to divest from fossil fuels.
