Campus energy projects
Task force advances host of campus energy projects
Executive Vice President and Department of Facilities launch new energy conservation investments
Key objectives of the Task Force have been advanced with the recent allocation of $500,000 to invest in strategic energy conservation measures across campus. Included in this first round of investments will be lighting retrofits, continuous commissioning of buildings, fume hood sash controls, and coil and filter upgrades. This first tranche of funding is part of a new portfolio approach to energy conservation investments developed by the Executive Vice President's Office, Department of Finance, and Department of Facilities. This new program enhances the Department of Facilities' existing energy conservation activities.
Outcomes
- $500,000 recently allocated to initiate new energy conservation investments.
- $700,000 annual energy cost savings expected with a recently completed campus-wide steam trap renewal project.
- 60% metered reduction in steam use was realized in East Campus dorms after a completed heating system renewal program.
- Lighting retrofit program recently completed in the Department of Athletics doubled lighting levels while reducing energy use by 50% resulting in expected savings of $120,000 anually.
IS&T launches new "IT Energy@MIT Initiative"
MIT has over 20,000 networked personal computers supporting education, research, and administrative activities. In support of the MIT Energy Initiative, MIT's Information Services and Technology (IS&T) has developed near-term guidelines for energy-saving actions for personal computers. The guidelines are based on measurements at MIT and research done by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Lawrence Berkley National Lab. For more information visit IS&T's IT Energy Initiative.
Outcomes
- Estimated annual savings from these actions on campus represent 4% of MIT's total electricity consumption — equivalent to annual power consumed by 960 homes in Cambridge.
- Expected to save over 8 million kWh and $887,000 annually, while reducing over 7 million pounds of CO2 emissions.
Sloan School of Management collaboration creates new project evaluation methodology
Through a Sloan School of Management Laboratory for Sustainable Business (S-Lab) class collaboration, the Task Force has developed an innovative methodology to evaluate campus energy project investment opportunities using both financial and carbon emission reduction metrics. This has led to the initiation of a new process for internally funding attractive near-term energy conservation investments. The project developed a comprehensive portfolio of potential near-term mitigation measures including projects in facility efficiency, behavioral change, procurement, off-site green power purchasing, and on-site renewable power. Read more about S-Lab and other Sloan sustainability research and practice.
Outcomes
- Over 100 projects identified, totaling $100 million dollars of possible investments.
- $16 million in potential annual cost savings identified resulting in up to a 50% reduction in campus greenhouse gas emissions from 2003 levels.
MITEI grant fund established to support student campus energy projects
The Campus Energy Task Force has established a competitive grant program for student energy projects that promote campus sustainable energy and environmental practices. A committee of faculty, staff, and students reviews student project proposals for funding and scores them on merits of impact, community engagement, educational opportunity, and cost effectiveness. Read about the 2007 grant projects. More information on applying for a grant is found in the student project request for proposals.
Outcomes
- $15,000 allocated in first year of student grant program.
- 16 student campus energy projects underway — including research, education, and energy conservation and efficiency programs.
Cancer research facility on track to be our best lab yet
Drawing from lessons learned in the new Sloan building design process and technology experience gained in the new Department of Physics building and E25, the Department of Facilities, the Environment, Health and Safety Office (EHS), and the project design team have pushed past conventional design rules of thumb to reduce the energy footprint of the new cancer research facility. By engaging early and continuously in the schematic design process, the HVAC design team was able to achieve their goal of downsizing the major HVAC elements, thereby reducing capital cost as well as ongoing energy costs. A simplified, customized energy model was an important tool. It illustrated that ventilation rates drive energy consumption for this and any lab building. Ventilation rates can be dictated by number of hoods per room, hood face velocity, time of day, season, window area and sun exposure for each space, equipment (plug) load heat, etc. Project engineer's plug load assumptions were halved based on actual measurements by Facilities in our existing cancer labs. Higher cost efficiency features were enabled by the capital reduction from a right-sized ventilation system. The next push will be to further reduce annual energy use by employing effective controls to reduce flow and associated heating and cooling whenever possible. For more information, visit the Department of Facilities' cancer research facility page.
Outcomes
- Utilizing energy recovery heat pipes expected to reduce energy cost by $444,000 a year.
- Upsizing ductwork to reduce air flow losses and fan energy expected to save $110,000 a year.
- Fume hood face velocity requirements were reduced by 20% without decreasing effectiveness.
