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Caldwell Hall is lit up on the Ag Quad at dusk.

Cornell's Energy

How energy is generated and how it is used are both related to sustainability. And Cornell is working hard to address both. Because Cornell is so big - about 14 million square feet of indoor space across 250 campus buildings - combined tiny individual changes such as everyone unplugging appliances over school breaks can make a noticeable difference in usage.

One major way Cornell is reducing energy use is through lake source cooling. Cold lake water cools a separate closed water loop that is utilized to air-condition campus buildings, allowing the university to reduce electricity use for central cooling by 86% (eliminating 10% of the entire campus electrical use). Cornell also is planning a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) project to renew and upgrade its central heating plant. The CHP project will add new cogeneration equipment that produces electricity and heat together, using significantly less energy than making them separately and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by over 20%.

Improving energy supply

While Cornell's energy needs cannot be met without an adequate supply from the public utility (NYSEG), an impressive 16% of our power is generated by the university. Cornell operates:

  • a 1,100-kilowatt hydroelectric plant in Fall Creek, supplying about 2% of Cornell's energy; and
  • a steam/electricity cogeneration plant, which extracts added energy from nearly every pound of steam on its way to heat campus buildings- meeting 14% Cornell's demand at 80% efficiency (over twice conventional power plants).
  • a new combined heat and power plant is scheduled to be completed in 2010. It will drastically improve efficiency and reduce our coal usage by nearly 50%.

 

Reducing energy waste

Cornell reduced carbon dioxide emissions through energy efficiency by 50,000 tons per year between 1980 and 2000. A simple program to reduce electric use, including computers and monitors, over the 13-day holiday break alone saves 4,000 kilowatts of electricity. Other methods such as demand controlled ventilation, high performance building controls, high efficiency lighting, increasing building insulation, replacing windows, etc. helps curb energy waste.

Kyoto Task Team

Stemming from actions by the KyotoNOW! student group, the Kyoto Task Team was created in 2001, to help guide the university's CO2 reduction efforts. This team, led by facilities services, includes staff, faculty and students. Aggressive campus energy efficiency and conservation efforts since 2001 have reduced energy use by 5% despite significant physical campus growth.

American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment

In February, 2007 President David Skorton signed a letter of intent, which will lead to the adoption of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment in June. This agreement commits Cornell to pursuing a path towards climate neutrality and a leadership role towards adressing global climate change.