2024-05-20
|
Study Abroad
Dartmouth's Historic $500M Commitment to Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
Investing in Sustainability & Energy Efficiency
Dartmouth's Historic $500M Commitment to Sustainability and Energy Efficiency
Dartmouth College is investing half a billion dollars to make its campus more sustainable. The investment will focus on an overhaul of the campus's facility heating infrastructure, moving from a steam-based to a hot-water system. The hot-water system includes numerous distribution points, including a thousand underground bore holes, and allows for multiple heating methods, such as electric heat pumps and solar-powered heat pumps. The transition to the hot-water system means a 20% gain in efficiency, and energy savings can offset the investment costs over the years to come. The $500 million investment represents roughly a quarter of the institution's overall capital improvement plan. The spending includes other energy efficiency measures like improving building enclosures and providing funds for adding non-combustion technologies such as geo-exchange boreholes, large-scale heat pumps, and solar energy for electricity and hot water generation. Dartmouth is the largest investment focused on sustainability in the institution's history, and the spending represents the largest investment focused on sustainability in the institution's history.
Colleges are increasingly focusing on reducing their energy and environmental footprints to reduce climate emissions. Power purchase agreements (PPAs) are a key strategy used by institutions to lower their energy use and focus on green energy sources. However, colleges can also use other tools to reduce their energy and environmental footprints without requiring significant capital spending. Temperature controls, renovating existing buildings, reducing purchasing of paper and printers, and eliminating trays in campus dining halls can all help save energy. Reducing car commuting and employee travel can also impact campus emissions. However, cultural and structural obstacles often prevent universities from implementing these changes. Efforts to encourage carpooling can have a significant impact on campus emissions. An organizational approach to sustainability is crucial, as it can be connected to other areas like deferred maintenance and research. At Dartmouth, a shift towards smaller investments in heating infrastructure has allowed the institution to tackle smaller steps over time, leading to different technologies and flexibility in managing construction and finances.
Colleges are increasingly focusing on reducing their energy and environmental footprints to reduce climate emissions. Power purchase agreements (PPAs) are a key strategy used by institutions to lower their energy use and focus on green energy sources. However, colleges can also use other tools to reduce their energy and environmental footprints without requiring significant capital spending. Temperature controls, renovating existing buildings, reducing purchasing of paper and printers, and eliminating trays in campus dining halls can all help save energy. Reducing car commuting and employee travel can also impact campus emissions. However, cultural and structural obstacles often prevent universities from implementing these changes. Efforts to encourage carpooling can have a significant impact on campus emissions. An organizational approach to sustainability is crucial, as it can be connected to other areas like deferred maintenance and research. At Dartmouth, a shift towards smaller investments in heating infrastructure has allowed the institution to tackle smaller steps over time, leading to different technologies and flexibility in managing construction and finances.
