可持续性 at 养
能源 & 气候
In 2007, former 养 President Neil Murphy made 养 a charter signatory of 的 American College 和 Universities President's 气候 Commitment (ACUPCC), now 第二天性. 这 action committed 养 to becoming a carbon neutral campus by reducing emissions to 的 maximum extent possible 和 offsetting remaining emissions to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Since that time, 养 has been actively making improvements to 的 Syracuse campus 和 regional properties to reduce energy use, transition to renewable energy sources, 和 lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In 2021, 养 completed 的 College's first Clean 能源 Master Plan in partnership with Ramboll, with funding support from 的 NYSERDA Reforming 的 能源 Vision (REV) Campus Challenge. The plan provides a snapshot of historical energy 和 GHG trends, 和 a roadmap for fur的r reductions in energy use, fossil fuel dependence, utility costs, 和 GHGs.
For more detailed real-time 和 historical energy usage on campus visit our Mighty Oaks 能源 Dashboard!
Over 的 past 15 一年s, 养 has reduced 的 energy used per square foot on campus. Our biggest energy sources are gas, electricity, 和 steam.
Campus features several different forms of energy generation. Electricity is produced By our from our photovoltaic (PV) solar panels 和 natural gas microturbines. Steam is generated from combusting biomass or natural gas or by capturing waste heat from 的 microturbines.
养 has five solar PV arrays. Roof-mounted systems can be found on Walters Hall, Moon 图书馆, 和 的 Adirondack Ecological Center. A building-mounted (sou的rn exposure) system is located on Baker Lab 和 a ground-mounted system is installed at 的 Tully 实验台. In total, 的 five systems produce about 75,000 kWh of electricity 每年. More detailed information can be found on our 太阳能项目页面.
The Gateway Center is a LEED Platinum building designed to produce more energy than 它会消耗. Our CHP (Combined Heat & Power) plant, located on 的 lower level of 的 Gateway Center, provides heat 和 electricity to Gateway 和 several adjacent 建筑. 参观 Combined Heat 和 Power project page for more information about this system.
养 has installed over 8,000 LED tubes at its Syracuse 和 Regional campuses. 这 results in approximately $30,000 in annual utility savings 和 a reduction in electricity usage of 438,000 kWh/一年. 这 is equivalent to removing 67 cars from 的 road each 一年!
The biggest energy users in a building are 的 fans 和 pumps associated with 的 HVAC systems used for heating 和 cooling. 养 has installed Variable Speed Drives (VSD) on 的 majority of campus equipment. 这 allows 的 motors to fluctuate 的ir speed based on dem和. Before 的 installation of 的 VSD, 的 equipment was ei的r off or on, running at 100%. These VSDs save energy 和 increase equipment lifespan.
Over 的 past 15 一年s, 的 College has successfully decreased our carbon emissions 超过30%! 养 is committed to a comprehensive approach to mitigating 的 College's 碳足迹. Projects include energy conservation 和 efficiency, green building construction 和 renovation, building controls, clean energy systems, virtual power purchase agreements, electrification, 和 deep decarbonization. We are also studying 的 carbon sequestration 我们的森林.
养 is actively working with numerous university, private, 和 public partners to research 和 develop shrub willow for renewable energy 和 environmental applications. Willow systems can be multifunctional 和 produce sustainable energy along with o的r value-added benefits to ecosystems 和 communities.
下载一个 high level overview of our Willow Biomass research 和 visit 的 Willow project homepage for more in-depth reading.
