This is where change begins.
Clean Energy
Over the past seven years, the University at Buffalo has generated or purchased 100% of its electricity from renewable sources leading to an approximate 30% decrease in our overall carbon footprint. This has been achieved through direct onsite solar (one of the largest on-campus producers of renewable energy in the country), off campus solar generation and the purchasing of renewable energy credits.
Through our operations, academics, and extracurricular activities, our University has built partnerships to increase engagement and infrastructure in renewable energy.
UB currently generates more than 400,000 kWh of solar energy onsite from the Solar Strand and Norton Hall, and expect more solar panels soon from our REV initiatives.
The University at Buffalo’s on-site solar project, which started in 2020, is beginning to produce electricity, topping out at 12 million kWh, making UB one of the largest on-campus producers of renewable energy in the country.
The university’s clean energy efforts began nearly 15 years ago when it constructed the Norton Solar Rooftop, which became the largest solar array on any building in Western New York at the time. The 6,300 square foot solar system had a peak output of 73.5 kilowatts with annual energy production initially expected to reach 73,100 kilowatt hours or about enough to power the electrical requirements of 10 average Western New York Households. In conjunction with the new solar roof, UB also launched, Energy for the Future, a major educational exhibit about energy alternatives, and a solar lounge with computer-run graphical displays, where a wall of windows provides a close-up view of the photovoltaic roof.
From this early learning, the university realized it needed a new model to achieve the type of scaling and financing to increase impact. In late 2015, conversations ensued with BQ Energy about the potential to enter into a remote net metering agreement (similar to a power purchase agreement). The prospective deal would enable the university to be the sole off-taker of a newly constructed
4.5 megawatt solar facility that would be installed on a brownfield site at the former Bethlehem Steel facility in Lackawanna, NY (less than 10 miles from the University). BQ Energy would own and maintain the facility and the University would not be responsible for any capital for the project.
In return, the university would buy all of the electricity produced (at an agreed upon price) for the term of the contract—25 years. Based on a third party financial analysis, it was projected that the university will save approximately $7M over the life of the project compared to what it would have paid for the same amount of grid purchased electricity.
The solar array was constructed through much of 2016 and when finished contained 13,000 ground-mounted solar panels and covers approximately 25 acres (equivalent to about 70 tennis courts). The facility did its first test in December of 2016 and went online around January 1, 2017 supplying renewable solar electricity to the university.
The 3,200-panel photovoltaic array stands at the main entrance to UB's North Campus and provides a striking but practical campus gateway. The Solar Strand generates in excess of 550,000 kWh of energy- that's enough clean, renewable power to help avoid the emission of nearly 240 tons of harmful greenhouse gases every year.
The GRoW (Garden, Relax, or Work) Home is the University at Buffalo’s entry into the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon 2015. It is an international competition held every two years where 20 collegiate teams are invited from around the world to design, build, operate, and market an ultra-efficient home.
Energy Conservation
UB’s IT Services has been at the forefront of utilizing green information technologies and practices. As part of its ongoing 2020 IT Strategic Transformation, the department has implemented measures such as server virtualization, cloud computing and virtual computing, which have all increased UB’s efficiency and decreased its environmental impact. In addition, the Center for Computational Research launched a series of green IT projects a little over 2 years ago with funding from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The projects have been successful, resulting in an incredible seven-fold increase in CCR's research computing capacity as well as a decrease in total energy consumption by 20%. As of January 2012, such actions have saved the university more than $278,000 and reduced greenhouse gases by more than 550 metric tons. The recently relocated CIT data center will soon undergo similar improvements.
IT services has also been working on providing a cutting edge learning environment for the School of Management, self-help course capture technology in the School of Social Work, and upgrading CIT's UBUnix timeshare environment. For more information about IT services initiatives, please click here!
- Activate power management features so your computer and monitor will go into a low power “sleep” mode when not in use.
- Turn off your monitor when you leave your desk.
- Activate power management features on your laser printer.
- Whenever possible, shut down rather than logging off
- Turn off unnecessary lights and use daylight instead.
- Avoid the use of decorative lighting.
- Use LED or compact fluorescent bulbs.
- If your area has bi-level lighting, try turning off half the lights.
- Keep lights off in conference rooms, classrooms, lecture halls and theaters unless they are being used.
- Dress appropriately for the season.
- Set thermostats to 68-70 degrees during heating season and 74-76 during cooling season.
- Use hot water sparingly.
- Keep windows and doors closed in heated and air-conditioned spaces.
- Report broken windows and doors.
- Use energy-efficient products.
- Purchase Energy Star computers and equipment. If Energy Star is unavailable, purchase the most energy-efficient model offered.
- Turn off all office and research equipment when not in use.
- Whenever possible, turn off fume hoods or go to low speed when not in active use.