| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 72.46 |
| Liaison | Paul Mathisen |
| Submission Date | May 22, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
OP-6: Clean and Renewable Energy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.06 / 4.00 |
Paul
Mathisen Dir. of Sustainability & Assoc. Prof Civil & Environmental Engineering |
Total energy consumption (all sources, excluding transportation fuels), performance year :
Total clean and renewable electricity generated on site during the performance year and for which the institution retains or has retired the associated environmental attributes:
A brief description of on-site renewable electricity generating devices :
1000 is a low estimate (we cannot access the actual amount) of the MMBTu provided by this equipment: WPI has a co-gen system where two 75 kwh are used to offset electrical use at our Gateway Park facility. In addition, heat from this system is further used to offset heat for the building. Solar panels are located on the roof of the Recreation Center that heat the pool water.
Non-electric renewable energy generated on-site, performance year:
A brief description of on-site renewable non-electric energy devices:
50 solar thermal panels on the roof of the Sports & Recreation Center help maintain water temperature in the pool. These panels heat a closed, fluid-filled circuit of piping that connects to a heat exchanger. When the sun is shining, the fluid in the solar thermal system is heated and flows continuously through the heat exchanger. On average, the solar panel system provides ~42% of the annual pool water heating. We do not currently have sufficient data to supply the average annual energy output of these panels.
Total clean and renewable electricity generated by off-site projects that the institution catalyzed and for which the institution retains or has retired the associated environmental attributes, performance year:
A brief description of off-site, institution-catalyzed, renewable electricity generating devices:
This number is a low estimate. Through an innovative program called virtual net metering, WPI supported the installation of new solar panel arrays at Treasure Valley Scout Reservation in Rutland and at two other locations, increasing the amount of clean electricity flowing to customers in Central Massachusetts.
Total third-party certified RECs, GOs and/or similar renewable energy products (including renewable electricity purchased through a utility-provided certified green power option) purchased during the performance year:
A brief description of the RECs, GOs and/or similar renewable energy products, including contract timeframes:
This number is a low estimate. WE could not define the MMBTu derived through this program. Collaboration providews 2.4MW of energy throughout region. Through an innovative program called virtual net metering, WPI is supporting the installation of new solar panel arrays at Treasure Valley Scout Reservation in Rutland and at two other locations, increasing the amount of clean electricity flowing to customers in Central Massachusetts. The program is part of a 20-year contract WPI has entered into with Nexamp, a company that develops, designs, builds, owns, finances, and operates commercial-scale solar systems. For this project, Nexamp manages the financing and construction of the three solar facilities while also coordinating the relationships with the utility (National Grid) and organizations such as WPI.
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Electricity use, by source (percentage of total, 0-100):
| Percentage of total electricity use (0-100) | |
| Biomass | 0.10 |
| Coal | 6.40 |
| Geothermal | 0 |
| Hydro | 3.10 |
| Natural gas | 28.40 |
| Nuclear | 19.50 |
| Solar photovoltaic | 6.10 |
| Wind | 9.20 |
| Other (please specify and explain below) | 27.20 |
A brief description of other sources of electricity not specified above:
Other sources include: Municipal Trash, 5.3%, Oil, 5.6%, Other renewables, 1.1%, System mix, 15.2%
Energy used for heating buildings, by source::
| Percentage of total energy used to heat buildings (0-100) | |
| Biomass | 0 |
| Coal | 0 |
| Electricity | 3.50 |
| Fuel oil | 0 |
| Geothermal | 0 |
| Natural gas | 96.50 |
| Other (please specify and explain below) | 0 |
A brief description of other sources of building heating not specified above:
The institute uses natural gas as the primary heating source for campus. The Power plant uses heating oil as a backup for natural gas, but hasn’t used it for other than generators since 2007. Electricity is used to heat 3.5% of building space (Fuller/Ellsworth Apartments, Stoddard Complex, and Fuller Labs Hallways. .
Percentage of total energy consumption from clean and renewable sources:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.