Carleton University released its latest Energy Master Plan today, part of an ambitious sustainability strategy that reduces current energy and water consumption and ensures the highest possible conservation levels are maintained as the campus evolves.
“Since launching Carleton University’s inaugural Energy Master Plan in 2014, we have achieved great success in reducing our campus energy and water consumption by two per cent per year. In Phase 1, we partnered with Honeywell to conduct building audits and, as a result of our energy retrofit initiative, we have seen a 16 per cent average reduction in energy and water consumption in the five buildings targeted,” said Darryl Boyce, assistant vice-president (Facilities Management and Planning).
“The new Energy Master Plan builds on our progress since 2014. We now take a more holistic sustainability approach to our renovation projects, as well as when planning new buildings. We also know that by engaging our faculty, staff and students in our sustainability efforts – such as the $1-million Green Revolving Fund – and the facilitation of research opportunities within the Faculty of Engineering and Design, we will make continuous improvements in our sustainability efforts.”
The Carleton 2018-2021 Energy Master Plan builds on the success of previous initiatives, sets goals and creates a road map forward. The new plan addresses:
- Facility conditions;
- Energy utilization and sustainability ratings;
- A detailed analysis of energy and water use and utility requirements needed for campus growth; and
- Building retrofits to reduce energy consumption and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Ambitious Goals
As a result of a comprehensive review of utility data and campus growth, the plan sets ambitious goals for the university, including:
- Build a co-generation energy plant;
- Developing a program to increase efficiency by optimizing equipment;
- Complete LED lighting replacement;
- Increase research opportunities;
- Introduce a Green Engagement Fund to support smaller programs which have the intent to educate or engage our campus community on an element of sustainability;
- Explore private-sector partnerships to take early advantage of emerging technologies; and
- Expand access to energy data, including more energy display screens in key campus locations.
Recognizing Success
Carleton has been recognized for its efforts and sustainability success. It achieved a silver rating for the Sustainability Tracking Assessment Rating (STARS) and is ranked in the top 35 global schools in the UI Green Metric rankings.
The first phase of implementing building energy retrofits has been completed and they’ve provided energy and water savings, as well wider environmental benefits. Carleton has achieved a 2,693,298 kWh reduction in annual electricity use, a 25,247 m3 reduction in annual water use and a 19,076 m3 reduction in annual natural gas use. This is the equivalent greenhouse gas emissions from 440 passenger vehicles driven for one year.
For more information, please go to carleton.ca/sustainability.
Sustainability and the Environment at Carleton:
One of Carleton’s unofficial colours is green. Our faculty and students are focused on developing sustainable solutions to critical real-world problems facing the environment, offering an enviable mix of undergraduate and graduate programs with research cornerstones and links to government agencies like Environment Canada’s National Wildlife Research Centre, which is housed on Carleton’s campus. From innovative research on better ways to produce safer drinking water and wastewater to implementing carbon emissions reduction strategies and assessing the impacts of climate change on Canada’s North, Carleton is becoming a leader in environmental stewardship. The university has established a Sustainable Energy Research Centre (CSERC) with a mission to advance the transition to a more sustainable energy future for Canada. Carleton also launched new master’s degrees in sustainable energy engineering and sustainable energy policy.
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Thursday, May 17, 2018 in News Releases
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