The Action Steps in this section work toward the established Goal for the Energy & Stationary Emissions topic area:
Reduce total campus combustion to no more than 125,000 mmbtu by the end of FY25
The Office of Sustainability and Facilities Operations will develop an in-house energy dashboard website that provides the College’s current energy usage and generation data in a single location.
Description:
The Office of Sustainability and Facilities Operations will develop an in-house energy dashboard website that provides the College’s current energy usage and generation data in a single location.
CAP Goal Supported:
EN-A (Campus Combustion Reduction)
Resources Required:
Minimal additional resources will be needed. Staff time from sustainability interns for data entry will be required for some aspects of the dashboard, but the remainder should be automated as part of other ongoing campus efforts.
Analysis:
While many students have used campus energy data to great effect in their coursework and research, accessing this data can be challenging. Building-level and campus-wide data is split between multiple sources and formats, frequently in esoteric and hard-to-manage formats.
Centralizing higher-level data in a single dashboard will significantly enhance usability for academic pursuits while also increasing transparency for Vassar’s work toward its climate goals. Campus-level data can currently be integrated into the GRITS platform presently used for the Green Reinvestment Fund. Facility-level data can be made available as Vassar updates its building management systems and energy metering over the next few years.
Vassar will establish an Energy Management Support Team (EMST) to support and implement energy conservation efforts.
Description:
Vassar will establish an Energy Management Support Team (EMST) consisting of representatives from Facilities Operations, Residential Life, the Office of Sustainability, CASC, Finance and Administration, and other relevant groups. This team would support and implement energy conservation policies, residential energy education programs, and coordination of future studies toward long-term decarbonization.
CAP Goal Supported:
EN-A (Campus Combustion Reduction)
Resources Required:
A small time commitment from staff, interns, and volunteers to attend meetings of the Energy Management Support Team and, as able, follow-up on items raised at team meetings.
Analysis:
Reaching net-zero stationary emissions will require coordinated efforts to retrofit existing facilities, construct all new facilities to the standards outlined in the Green Building Guidelines, and implement behavior-change programs across campus. The Energy Management Support Team would assist in the implementation of these efforts.
The work of the EMST would vary from semester to semester. Still, early work could include developing proposals for Green Reinvestment Fund projects, reviewing the Green Building Guidelines and their application in new projects, and leading conducting energy audits within residential houses.
Facilities Operations will strategically implement projects aligned with the Energy Master Plan to provide a total combined reduction in on-campus combustion of at least 20,000 MMBtu.
Description:
Facilities Operations will strategically implement projects aligned with the Energy Master Plan to provide a total combined reduction in on-campus combustion of at least 20,000 MMBtu.
CAP Goal Supported:
EN-A (Campus Combustion Reduction)
Resources Required:
This step will require substantial financial resources to implement. Given the anticipated positive return on investment for projects under consideration, projects should be eligible for financing under the Green Reinvestment Fund guidelines. Where possible, projects should also align with existing asset renewal efforts to maximize the environmental and financial benefits to Vassar.
The Energy Management Support Team established by EN-02 can provide valuable assistance in identifying and implementing projects.
Analysis:
The Energy Master Plan, the Net-Zero Report from Ecosystem, and the work of past Environmental Defense Fund Fellows offer a wealth of possible projects for implementation in the coming years. These include:
Cozy™ Radiator Covers, which would reduce overheating in residential spaces and improve campus energy efficiency
Expanded building-level steam and electricity metering, which allows for granular tracking of building-level consumption and cost savings through real-time energy management
Retrocommissioning, which effectively provides ‘tune-ups’ for existing HVAC systems
The Office of Sustainability will oversee an audit of cooling and supplemental heating equipment for the campus.
Description:
The Office of Sustainability will oversee an audit of cooling and supplemental heating equipment for the campus. During the cooling season this will include desk fans, ceiling fans, and window-unit air conditioners. During the heating season, this will primarily focus on space heaters.
CAP Goal Supported:
EN-A (Campus Combustion Reduction)
Resources Required:
Oversight from a sustainability intern and student volunteers. Members of the Energy Management Support Team may be asked to assist as well.
Analysis:
The Vassar campus contains over fifty buildings with various cooling systems in use, from central air conditioning to window units to desk fans. Data from a full audit of the campus cooling infrastructure will help identify opportunities to enhance energy efficiency and improve occupant comfort.