Achievements to Date

Energy Management, Monitoring, and Analysis

  • Installed campus-wide building submetering for electricity, natural gas, high temp hot water, and domestic water
  • Installed an electricity meter on the main campus meter
  • Continuous improvements to submetering system
  • Continuous monitoring of building submeters
  • “Cost-avoided” $100,000 of energy during 2013 due to multiple energy management initiatives
  • Transitioned building controls to a central building management system
  • Upgraded energy management systems in the Lecture Center

Building Scheduling

  • Designated one staff member responsible for scheduling air conditioning and cooling in buildings in the summer of 2015
  • Due to active building scheduling during the cooling season, the college experienced an overall 5% reduction in electricity use in air conditioned buildings during the summer of 2015, compared to the prior year.  Top performers included the Athletics and Wellness Center which saved 54,000 kwh of electricity (18% reduction from the prior year), the Service Building which saved 17,000 kwh reduction (23% reduction from the prior year) and Van Den Berg which saved 26,000 kwh of electricity (20% reduction from the prior year
  • Established building scheduling liaisons with programs in Van Den Berg, Humanities, and Resnick
  • Smartly scheduled and cooled Van Den Berg, Humanities, and Resnick Engineering Building with building liaisons during the summer of 2013
  • High-level building scheduling for heating and cooling across all campus buildings with central building management controls

Winter Session Setback

  • Launched the college’s first formal winter session setback across campus during winter break 2013-14
  • “Cost-avoided” nearly $50,000 of electricity and natural gas during the 2013-14 winter session setback

Lighting Upgrades

  • 70% of the exterior lights were upgraded to LEDs in the fall of 2015
  • Converted to LED exit lights campus-wide
  • Upgraded to high efficiency T5 light fixtures throughout Athletics and Wellness Center and Elting Gym with a $150,000 grant from Central Hudson.
  • Installed ~4,000 energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs in residence halls and other select locations saving an estimated $29,000 per year in electricity.
  • Installed lighting occupancy sensors and motion detectors in selected locations.
  • Installed new T5 lighting in the Central Heating Plant with support from NYSERDA, saving approximately $8,000 per year in electricity
  • Changed fixtures and lamps in Smiley Art Building and College Theater
  • Installed LEDs throughout LeFevre Hall and Ridgeview Hall.  Approximately 98% of lighting in both buildings are LEDs

Peak Energy Use Periods and Demand Response

  • Participated in mandated and test load shed programs during period of peak electric usage
  • Communicated the need for cooperation in energy conservation via campus-wide emails during the energy price spikes during the extreme heat of July 2013 and the polar vortex of January 2014

Building Envelope

  • New window upgrades in residence halls
  • New window upgrades at the Humanities Classroom Building
  • Installed new roofs and insulation on Hasbrouck Dining Hall, Crispell, LeFevre, Bevier, Deyo, Bevier, Capen, Scudder, Bliss, College Hall, Old Main, the Sojourner Truth Library, and Lecture Center

HVAC Energy Efficiency Upgrades

  • In the process of upgrading to high-efficiency chillers (air conditioning systems) at McKenna Theater, the Dorsky Museum, Coykendall Science Building, and Hasbrouck Dining Hall
  • Installed heat recovery systems in Crispell Hall, LeFevre Hall, Ridgeview Hall, Wooster Science Building, and the New Science Building
  • Replaced motors and drives across campus
  • Upgraded to high efficiency motors in the Central Heating Plant

Infrastructure

  • Major High Temp Hot Water Distribution System upgrade, including improved insulation of underground piping

Renewable Energy

Technology & Computing

  • Conducted a study on plug load and power management with NYSERDA funding
  • Upgraded to energy-efficient flat screens campus-wide
  • Purchased only EPEAT Gold computers

Vehicles

  • Purchased flex fuel, hybrid, and electric vehicles
  • Purchased a fleet of GEM cars powered by solar photovoltaic panels.
  • Central Hudson granted the college $37,000 to support our solar-powered GEM Car program.  This funding was used to construct a 5K photovoltaic array that powers the small white vehicles that look like fancy golf carts as well as the building that houses the GEM cars.