Energy Conservation
What do we use?
Green Energy
Since 2005, SU has voluntarily purchased 20 percent of its electricity each year from renewable sources. Currently, this portion comes from "green" wind power. Renewable energy emits far fewer greenhouse gasses than burning coal or other fossil fuels, thus helping to lower SU's carbon footprint.
SU is a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership and held the Big East Conference Champion designation as the largest purchaser of green power from 2006-2010. According to the EPA’s estimates, SU’s more than 22 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power purchased annually has the equivalent environmental impact of avoiding the carbon dioxide emissions of nearly 3,000 passenger vehicles each year.
LEED
In accordance with University’s commitment to sustainability and signing of the Presidents Climate Commitment, a cross-functional group led by the Energy Systems and Sustainability Management (ESSM) department has been established to adopt US Green Building Council (USGBC) standards in existing campus facilities. Syracuse University is currently a pilot partner in the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Portfolio Program. In an effort to facilitate the process, representatives of Campus Planning, Design, and Construction and ESSM have pursued LEED Accreditation and are now recognized as LEED Accredited Professionals. The initial goal of the University’s participation in the LEED Portfolio Program is to achieve a LEED rating for sixteen representative campus facilities. This process will help to identify the cost and resources necessary to certify the remaining facilities on campus.
Temperature Policy
Occupied Spaces - The established temperature guidelines are 68 °F during the heating season (September 15 - May 15) and 76 °F during the cooling season (May 16 - September 14).
Unoccupied Spaces - 60 °F during the heating season and 85 °F during the cooling season.
Cooling temperatures only apply where air conditioning equipment currently exists. Some exceptions include laboratories, research areas and art/book archives.
Building Temperature Control
Energy Systems and Sustainability Management (ESSM) helps make campus building systems run efficiently and on schedules that meet occupants' needs. The department's Energy Management System (EMS) Operations Center is the "command center" that monitors and schedules the heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water and building access control systems in campus buildings.
Need a special heating or cooling schedule for a building/room because of a change in use, occupancy or an upcoming special event? Please submit your request online in advance or call 315-443-1535.
History / Timeline
Click here
News
http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green
Alternative Energy
How can you reduce your energy impact? Visit the U.S. EPA's Clean Energy portal.
Energy efficiency information for your home, vehicle and workplace, as well as renewable energy information from the U.S. Department of Energy. http://www.energysavers.gov/
Check out www.altenergy.org, a collaborative group of alt energy aficionados publishing information on developments in the field of alternative energy sources in the North America, Europe and Australia.
Energy Saving Tips
AppliancePros.com -- A Guidebook to Energy Efficient Appliances http://www.appliancepartspros.com/a-guidebook-to-energy-efficient-appliances.aspx
Home Energy Efficiency - tips and resources for homeowners http://www.homeloans.org/
Refrigerators with freezers on top use 10 to 15 percent less energy than a side-by-side model of equivalent size.
Source: NRDC http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/fappl.asp
Avoid opening oven door while baking - each time the door is opened, about 20% of the inside heat is lost.
Source: EarthEasy http://www.eartheasy.com/live_energyeffic_appl.htm
Over half of the energy used by a desktop computer goes to the monitor, so turning it off when not in use will save significantly.
Source: EarthEasy http://www.eartheasy.com/live_energyeffic_appl.htm
Laptops use 10 per cent or less of the electricity consumed by typical desktop computers. When buying a laptop, look for systems comprised completely of 3.3-volt components (processor, memory and LCD). These systems use 40 to 50% less energy than 5.0-volt systems, and are generally equipped with a lighter battery.
Source: EarthEasy http://www.eartheasy.com/live_energyeffic_appl.htm
Using the screen saver on your computer doesn't save energy. Switch off the screen or set up the energy saving features instead.
Source: Planet Slayer [Australia] http://www.abc.net.au/science/planetslayer/factoids.htm
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs save 75% of the energy, last up to 10 times longer and will produce 75% less heat. Hint: Compare lumens to get the right light output and recycle responsibly.
Source: EPA Energy Star www.energystar.gov
Using 100% post consumer recycled paper saves 5 pounds of carbon dioxide per ream of printer paper. In addition, by printing on both sides of the paper, you effectively double that savings to 10 pounds of CO2 per ream.
Source: stopglobalwarming.org http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/carboncalculator.asp
Smooth acceleration and gentle braking combined with cautious anticipation of stops and starts should result in the largest savings, up to 37%. In addition to the smooth take-offs, driving the proper speed limit can save an additional 12%.
Source: Edmunds.com http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/106842/article.html
Energy Facts
For each unit of electricity we use, two units of energy are wasted as heat loss from the power station!
Source: Planet Slayer [Australia] http://www.abc.net.au/science/planetslayer/factoids.htm
Up to two-thirds of the gas used by a standard gas storage hot water service is wasted as heat loss. High efficiency storage models and instantaneous units that heat water only as needed are more efficient.
Source: Planet Slayer [Australia] http://www.abc.net.au/science/planetslayer/factoids.htm
If everyone in the U.S. used energy efficient lighting, 90 average sized power plants could be retired.
Source: Building a Sustainable Business sustainablebiz.blogspot.com
The average ecological footprint of each American is 24 acres. The number of biologically productive acres available per person worldwide is only 4.5 acres.
Source: Environmental Almanac http://environmentalalmanac.blogspot.com/2006/11/ecological-footprint-stepping-toward.html
Residential appliances, including heating and cooling equipment and water heaters, consume 90% of all energy used in the U.S. residential sector.
Source: Solar Energy International energy facts. http://www.solarenergy.org/resources/energyfacts.html
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