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Reducing energy use and transitioning to renewable energy sources preserves
limited fossil fuel resources for future generations to use wisely, and
reduces emission of pollutants – especially greenhouse gases.
This page and its ancillary linked pages discuss the
efforts to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and
transition to renewable energy sources. At present, this discussion is
restricted to the buildings on the Ithaca campus that are connected to
the central utility system. These 250 buildings total 14 Million square
feet of space, and comprise the overwhelming bulk of the Cornell’s
energy demand. Information on the energy use by transportation
is presented on a separate page.
Cornell Energy
Cornell Energy is an energy conservation and management program
that coordinates both the supply and demand side aspects of energy use
and cost on campus.
Campus Energy Supply
Electricity: Electricity is purchased off the grid
and produced on campus in a 1.1 Megawatt hydroelectric plant on Fall
Creek and an 8 Megawatt steam turbine cogeneration set in the Central
Heating Plant. Together the hydro plant and the
cogeneration system produce 16% of Cornell’s electric supply.
The Utilities Department has commissioned a study to determine
the technical and economic feasibility of wind generated electric power
within a 15 mile radius of the Ithaca Campus.
Steam
for heating: (leaving ECO web)
Steam is produced in the Central Heating Plant using coal, natural gas
and oil. All steam condensate is returned to the boilers for re-use.
The Utilities Department is engaged in master planning to identify long-term
fuel and technology options.
Campus
Energy Demand
For the first 108 years of its history, Cornell, like all of America,
had minimal concern with the supply and price of energy. Beginning in
1973, however, there was a dramatic change in expectations. From 1980
to 2000, there have been substantial and successful efforts to reduce
energy consumption on the Cornell campus. Reducing energy use saves money
for other uses within the university operating budget – and fiscal
responsibility is one of the three pillars of sustainability. Based
on projects installed from 1980 to 2000, the Utilities Department has
documented annual savings of $7.6 Million on energy expenditures, resulting
in reduced carbon dioxide emissions of 71,000 tons per year. This reduced
the utility-related CO2 emissions (for electric purchases, CHP fuel) by
21%, from a potential 336,000 tons per year to 265,000 tons per year.
In 2001, with the guidance of the Kyoto
Task Team, the university created a new, aggressive, and highly successful
“Energy Conservation Initiative”, involving students, staff
and faculty. The goal of the initiative is a 20% reduction in all energy
demands (as metered) by 2010, for the buildings existing as of 2000. To
accomplish this goal, 4 full-time technicians have been added to continuously
“tune-up”, or commission, the building energy and air conditioning
systems. In addition, there are on-going energy conservation capital construction
projects: retrofits at existing buildings and design considerations in
new buildings. Since 2000, as a result of the Energy
Conservation Initiative, carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced 15%.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Kyoto
Task Team
Reducing Greenhouse emissions involves both supply-side and demand-side
management. In 2001 Cornell students convinced the university administration
of the need to respond to climate change and adopt the goals of the
Kyoto Protocol. Cornell University is committed to doing everything
within its ability, consistent with the University's obligations for
teaching, research, service and extension, to implement the Kyoto Protocol
standards and to issue a regular report on our progress. This will mean
bringing greenhouse gas emissions 7% below 1990-levels by 2008. This
is quite a challenging goal, given the significant increase in new campus
buildings.
Air Conditioning by Lake Source Cooling:
Chilled Water is produced by Lake Source Cooling, supplemented by chillers.
The Lake Source Cooling Project utilizes a renewable resource, the deep
cold waters of nearby Cayuga Lake, and saves 90% of the energy required
by the old conventional chiller system.The Lake
Source Cooling Project reduces campus electricity purchases by 10%.
Solar Powered Lighting
Transportation and Mail Services at Cornell has implemented the Solar
Powered Lighting program to provide a cost-efficient, environmentally
friendly alternative to traditional passenger shelter lighting options.
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