Clean Energy. In support of the climate neutrality goals outlined in Section C of this Policy, the University of California is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by reducing energy use and switching to clean energy supplies.
1. Energy Efficiency Each location will implement energy efficiency actions in buildings and infrastructure systems to reduce the location’s energy use intensity by an average of at least 2% annually.
2. On-campus Renewable Electricity Campuses and health locations will install additional on-site renewable electricity supplies and energy storage systems whenever cost-effective and/or supportive of the location’s Climate Action Plan or other goals.
3. Off-campus Clean Electricity By 2025, each campus and health location will obtain 100% clean electricity. The UC Clean Power Program will provide 100% clean electricity to participating locations.
4. On-campus Combustion By 2025, at least 40% of the natural gas combusted on-site at each campus and health location will be biogas.
Clean Energy. 1. Energy Efficiency: The energy efficiency goal follows the spirit of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Building Challenge. Each location’s percent reduction in energy use intensity (EUI) will be reported annually based on the sum of weather-adjusted energy use divided by the sum of the maintained gross square footage (OGSF50). The average annual reduction will be calculated using an established baseline as detailed in the UC EUI Tracking Methods and References. UCOP will use energy usage data from the systemwide purchased utility database for reporting campus energy use intensity, based on the campus-specified set of utility accounts and associated maintained gross square footage. Electric and gas site energy will be converted to kBTU and normalized for weather. Policy goals will be evaluated and adjusted as appropriate following the 2025 reporting year.
2. On-campus Renewable Energy
a. Each location will determine the appropriate mix of measures to be adopted within its clean energy portfolio. The capacity to adopt these measures is driven by technological and economic factors, and each location will need to reevaluate its mix of energy measures regularly.
b. Locations will periodically evaluate the feasibility of new on-site renewable electricity projects. The financial evaluation of these projects will fully account for the anticipated avoided costs associated with decreased on-site power production from combined heat and power plants and/or purchased electricity, as well as the avoided cost of carbon.
3. Off-campus Clean Electricity
a. Clean electricity is defined as having a residual greenhouse gas emission factor that is less than 150 lbs. CO2/MWh.
b. Clean electricity will be procured through the following methods and reported on annually:
Clean Energy. In 2007, RVCC installed a 1.4MW cogeneration engine becoming the first community college in the country to do so. Combined Heat and Power (CHP), also known as cogeneration, is the concurrent production of electricity or mechanical power and useful thermal energy (heating and/or cooling) from a single source of energy. CHP is not a single technology but a suite of technologies that generate electricity or power at the point of use, allowing the heat that would normally be lost in power generation, transmission, and distribution processes to be recovered for heating and/or cooling. This allows for much greater improvement in overall fuel efficiency, resulting in lower operating costs and CO2 emissions. The goal of the plant is to reduce carbon emissions by 1900 tons per year. The College received a grant for $1 million from the NJ Board of Public Utilities to construct the cogeneration plant. RVCC will consider joining the EPA partnership program for combined heat and power. Under this MOU, RVCC will become an EPA ENERGY STAR Partner. RVCC will utilize EPA’s program offering within ENERGY STAR Building & Plants entitled “Menu of ENERGY STAR Offerings for Higher Education” (the Menu) as the structure for continuous improvement and to meet or exceed the goal of 10% energy reduction under the program. RVCC has implemented many specific energy conservation measures (ECMs) based on energy audits of the major buildings and systems on campus. RVCC has already taken steps to reduce energy usage across its campus, like installing energy efficient lighting in many buildings including a recent project at the Arts Building where they received a SmartStart grant from the state. RVCC is in the process of installing a voltage reducer for the pool lighting which will decrease lighting energy in the building by 15%. Through the EPA’s ENERGY STAR partnership, which includes recommendations specifically for colleges and universities, RVCC will reduce energy use across campus by an additional 10 percent. RVCC is currently designing a new heat exchanger for the pool to use more efficient central plant heating and eliminate the use of the gas boiler. Many lighting upgrade and retrofit projects designed to save energy while maintaining or even improving lighting comfort have been undertaken at RVCC. Occupancy sensors have been installed in a large number of classrooms to control lighting while rooms are unused. All Exit sign lighting has been replaced with LED signs, and the Colle...
Clean Energy. Hydropower is a renewable source of energy. It is most economical and causes less damage to the environment as compared to other forms of energy production. Developing hydropower increases energy security at a low cost, as it is not dependant on fossil fuels, which are depletable resources and prone to heavy price fluctuations. There is no waste product generated from hydro power and is therefore one of the cleanest form of electricity. SJVNL has applied for CDM process for Rampur project, thus it can benefit by earning carbon credit.
