| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.97 |
| Liaison | Natalie Hayes |
| Submission Date | Aug. 6, 2020 |
Bentley University
OP-6: Clean and Renewable Energy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.40 / 4.00 |
Natalie
Hayes Associate Director of Sustainability Office of Sustainability |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Total energy consumption (electric and non-electric)
142,082.41
MMBtu
Clean and renewable energy sources
Clean and renewable electricity
| kWh | MMBtu | |
| Imported electricity from certified/verified clean and renewable sources (i.e., bundled green power purchases) | 0 Kilowatt-hours | 0 MMBtu |
| Electricity from on-site, clean and renewable sources (rights retained/retired) | 0 Kilowatt-hours | 0 MMBtu |
A brief description of the certified/verified sources of clean and renewable electricity:
Bentley has purchased our VERC's from Renewable Choice Energy since 2015. In FY2019 Bentley purchased 3,253 MTCO2e from the New Bedford Landfill Gas project which captures carbon from the landfill and burns it for electricity. These are used to offset our Faculty and Staff air travel as well as study abroad air travel.
A brief description of the on-site renewable electricity generating facilities/devices:
The Bentley multi-purpose arena was constructed and came online in 2018, which includes a 1,400 solar array. This array produced 562,780.12 kWh during the reporting year (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019). Given that the array was able to qualify for the MA incentive program, SREC-II, Bentley understood that there was a financial benefit from proceeding in a REC Arbitrage, which is allowed under LEED certification. Bentley sells the SRECs produced by the array, and procures wind RECs for the electricity generated.
Clean and renewable thermal energy
| MMBtu | |
| Clean and renewable stationary fuels used on-site to generate thermal energy | 0 MMBtu |
| Imported steam, hot water, and/or chilled water from certified/verified clean and renewable sources | 0 MMBtu |
A brief description of the clean and renewable stationary fuels:
We do not calculate the energy avoided from this project but we feel that it is an innovation that is worth mentioning. The construction of a 3,000 square foot solar thermal wall on the southern external wall of the Dana Athletic Center was completed in September 2009. The solar wall is made of perforated wall material and is installed several inches from the exterior wall of the building to create an air cavity.
The solar wall, which traps heat from the sun, is hooked up to a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. When the HVAC unit calls for outdoor air, the air is pulled through the solar wall and is heated in the process. The hot air rises up the air cavity created between the solar wall and the building's exterior wall and enters the HVAC unit. By providing the unit with pre-heated air, less energy is required to warm the air to room temperature. We do not have a record of the MMBTU's avoided.
The solar wall, which traps heat from the sun, is hooked up to a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. When the HVAC unit calls for outdoor air, the air is pulled through the solar wall and is heated in the process. The hot air rises up the air cavity created between the solar wall and the building's exterior wall and enters the HVAC unit. By providing the unit with pre-heated air, less energy is required to warm the air to room temperature. We do not have a record of the MMBTU's avoided.
A brief description of the certified/verified sources of clean and renewable thermal energy:
---
Unbundled renewable energy products
| kWh | MMBtu | |
| Purchased RECs, GOs, I-RECs or equivalent unbundled renewable energy products certified by a third party | 25,000,000 Kilowatt-hours | 85,300 MMBtu |
A brief description of the unbundled renewable energy products:
Bentley has purchased REC's from Renewable Choice Energy since we began offsetting our electricity KwH. In FY2019 we purchased 25,000 MWh of Green-e Certified American wind from Texas and Nebraska.
Metrics used in scoring
85,300
MMBtu
Percentage of total energy consumption from clean and renewable sources:
60.04
Optional Fields
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Sierra magazine requests the following information from U.S. institutions that wish to share data with that organization:
| Percentage of total electricity use (0-100) | |
| Biomass | 0 |
| Coal | 0.50 |
| Geothermal | 0 |
| Hydro | 8.90 |
| Natural gas | 48.50 |
| Nuclear | 30.50 |
| Solar photovoltaic | 1.70 |
| Wind | 3.60 |
| Other (please specify and explain below) | 6.29 |
A brief description of other sources of electricity not specified above:
0.2% oil
0.04% methane
0.4% landfill gas
3.1% Refuse
2.5% Wood
0.03% Price-Responsive Demand
0.02% Other
**“Other” represents resources using a fuel type that does not fall into existing categories. Other may include new technologies or new fuel types that come onto the system but are not yet of sufficient quantity to have their own category.
0.04% methane
0.4% landfill gas
3.1% Refuse
2.5% Wood
0.03% Price-Responsive Demand
0.02% Other
**“Other” represents resources using a fuel type that does not fall into existing categories. Other may include new technologies or new fuel types that come onto the system but are not yet of sufficient quantity to have their own category.
Energy used for heating buildings, by source::
| Percentage of total energy used to heat buildings (0-100) | |
| Biomass | 0 |
| Coal | 0 |
| Electricity | 28.82 |
| Fuel oil | 0.36 |
| Geothermal | 0 |
| Natural gas | 70.82 |
| Other (please specify and explain below) | 0 |
A brief description of other sources of building heating not specified above:
n/a
Additional documentation to support the submission:
---
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The electricity fuel mix from the grid: https://www.iso-ne.com/about/key-stats/resource-mix/
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.