Campus energy projects
Task force advances host of campus energy projects
The Campus Energy Task Force has been the catalyst for an unprecedented partnership between students, faculty and staff of the Institute to develop a robust campus energy program. Task Force members include faculty from the 5 academic schools, representatives from key administrative offices and support staff, and both undergraduate and graduate students. A number of strategies to advance sustainable energy practices and reduce MIT’s energy use have been the result of research and collaborative projects involving students and faculty from many different schools at MIT and staff from administrative units, such as Facilities, Information Services and Technology, Housing, Travel, and Environment, Health and Safety.
The MIT Campus Energy Program has three goals:
- Reduce MIT’s energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions economically
- Enhance student energy education and learning by using our campus operations as a living laboratory for discovery and innovation
- Serve as a model of intelligent, effective actions to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions: a model that could be used by others in the US and worldwide
The Campus Energy Program is guided by these principles:
- Comprehensive: utilities, transportation, computing, sustainable design, education; including both engineered and behavioral solutions
- Inclusive: students, staff, faculty; focusing on multidisciplinary and collaborative problem-solving
- Disciplined: sound ROI, portfolio approach; focusing on modeling best practices for global impact
The Campus Energy Task Force has advanced progress in several areas of our campus energy program, which are highlighted here. Areas of focus include: facilities energy conservation & conservation funding, sustainable design, commuting, efficient computing, community participation, and student learning.
