Energy is crucial to our society’s success. We use it every day, whether consciously or not, to power our homes, cars, computers and gadgets. However, the forms of energy most commonly used today are expensive, inefficient, polluted, and limited. Society cannot continue depending on such energy if future generations are expected to survive.
In response, Boston College has been actively greening its campus by reducing energy use and emissions. Since 2003, projects such as switching to energy efficient lighting, installing new heat pumps and retrofitting inefficient motors have saved over seven million kilowatt hours (kWh). In the Fall of 2005, BConserves, a comprehensive approach to energy conservation, began. Energy conservation has a tremendous positive impact on the environment. Reducing kWh used results in fewer Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Be sure to visit our What You Can Do Page to see how you can help the environment, BC and your utility bills by reducing your energy consumption. Also, see our Tool Box to calculate how much energy you use so you can start saving even more.
Sustainable Energy
Many advances in today’s technology have harnessed energy to reach some greater achievement. But, for just a moment, try to picture your life without this modern energy. What would that be like? You would probably be either too chilly or warm, you would have to actually visit someone to talk to them, you would not be able to take a car, bus, train or plane to get somewhere, and you certainly would not be reading this right now. Energy is important to our society; there is no question of that. The issue is how to obtain this energy, which for the moment is focused around fossil fuels, yet this is not a limitless or clean source that can carry future generations.
When fossil fuels (such as coal, oil and natural gas) are burned, carbon dioxide and toxins are released into the air. This causes acid rain, smog, and contributes to the Green House Effect, which is widely believed to be one of the main reasons for global warming. These fuel sources are becoming more expensive and are in limited supply, yet as the world develops, greater importance and dependence is placed on using these forms of energy.
To prevent further damage from the burning of fossil fuels, resources have been invested into researching alternative energy sources, which could help reduce the impact of human activity on the environment. Clean energy can take the shape of biopower, fuel cells, solar electricity, solar hot water or wind.
Heating & Cooling
Maintaining a temperate climate indoors year round can be costly to the environment and for your wallet. Add the cost of heating and cooling water and you have just made about two-thirds of your energy bill. If you have a few leaks or cracks, that can create unnecessarily high costs and consumption. Although the monetary costs might be easy to understand, the environmental costs are greater than we often think about. Wasted energy use only increases the amount of carbon dioxide and other hazardous materials in the air, which could have astronomical effects on global warming. See the links below to learn how you can decrease your energy consumption.
Lighting
An increasingly popular movement in energy efficiency is to switch from incandescent light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs). CFLs use about 75-percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, last longer and produce less heat. This saves on electricity usage and costs; about $30 is saved over the lifetime of CFL bulb. To learn more, visit the following sites:
Energy Star
Tree Hugger
Earth Easy
Appliances
Appliance use makes up another large portion of the electricity bill. The refrigerator and dryer in particular consume copious amounts of energy. Likewise, personal electronics, such as computers and cell phone chargers, can increase your bills and environmental impact. Switching to energy efficient appliance, such as Energy Star approved machines, can help reduce these costs. Other small actions, like turning off your computer monitor when not in use or unplugging your cell phone charger, can add up to a large energy reduction. See our What You Can Do Page to learn more.
Energy Star – Appliances
Energy Star – Home Electronics
Energy Use at Boston College
Electricity represents the majority of the utility use at Boston College and is where we have concentrated our conservation efforts.
Green = Oil
Navy = Natural Gas
Blue = Electric
Purple = Water & Sewer
Energy Savings at Boston College
With the help of TerraPass, Boston College has reduced up to 200 metric tons of carbon emissions in the current year!
Read the BC Library's newsletter article on how O'Neill Gets Greener.
Each year Boston College takes greater steps towards sustainability and energy conservation. Past projects have reduced energy through more efficient forms of lighting and heating, as well as procuring Energy Star appliances.
Lighting
The quality and efficiency of fluorescent lighting degrades over time. Improvements in technology also make lighting retrofits a good investment. Over the years Boston College has converted lighting in the following buildings to ensure energy efficiency and quality: Smith, Stuart, McElroy, Corcoran Commons Dining Hall, Edmonds, Conte Forum, Merkert, 66 Commonwealth Avenue, Cushing, Ignacio, Rubenstein, Kenny Cottle, Higgins, Campion, McGuinn, Comm Ave and Beacon Street Garages, the Plex, O’Neill Library and Alumni Stadium.
Heating
You wouldn’t expect an all-electric building built in the seventies to be efficient especially given that electric heat is so expensive to operate. However, since 2004 all of the heat/AC units in Ignacio and Rubenstein were upgraded resulting in nearly one million kWh conserved each year.
Other Energy Saving Projects
Older motors run at 100% or not at all. Installing a variable speed drive allows a motor to run at the speed needed using electricity more efficiently. VSD’s in Conte and Higgins have reduced kWh usage by more than 650,000 kWh each year. Other conservation projects include Energy Star refrigerators, new air compressors and steam trap replacements
The Big Belly Solar Compactor is a self-compacting trash receptacle that is powered completely by solar energy. The Big Belly is the size of a normal trash can but it has five times the capacity, which reduces collection trips and can cut fuel use and greenhouse gas by 80%. Currently, Boston College has five of these bins in high traffic areas such as the Dust Bowl. The City of Boston has also purchased fifty Big Bellys for use throughout the city, including Fenway Park.
Laundry
Using Boston College’s laundry facilities actually helps reduce your environmental impact through energy and water conservation. New high-efficiency washers spin the clothes at a high speed, making them that much dryer at the end of the cycle. When it’s time for clothes to be switched to the dryer, they’re dry 10 minutes quicker than before, saving energy through shortened dry times. Of course, hanging clothes to dry uses zero energy! Visit our Water Page to learn how these washers also save water.
And Boston College plans to do more. Proposed projects under review include more lighting occupancy sensors and a web-based irrigation system and controls. As Boston College embarks on the Master Plan to update, restore, and build a number of buildings, an eco-friendly approach will be adopted to increase sustainability practices on campus.
How Does Your Dorm Compare?
Click on the links below for a sampling of how your dorm uses energy during a typical week, as well as during the university’s NRG Games.
Congratulations to the Winners of NRG Games 2009!
Keyes took the Upper/Newton Campus division with an 8.63% reduction in energy use!
90 St. Thomas More Rd. finished victorious on Lower Campus with a 9.77% reduction!
Ignacio beat out Rubensteing with a reduction of 4.72%!
Keyes and 90 St. Thomas More Rd. will receive a private BBQ in their honor, sponsored by UGBC and Facilities Management. Ignacio will also be rewarded with an ice cream party.
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Overall, Boston College residence halls saved 44,139 killowatt hours of energy. This is the same as:
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Saving 63,118 lbs of carbon dioxide from being released into our atmosphere.
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Taking 67 cars off of the road for one month.
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Planting 9 acres of forest, which absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen.
Results:
*Positive numbers represent the percent reduction in energy use. Rubenstein and Ignacio run on electricity only.
Final Results:
Newton and Upper Dorms
Lower Dorms
Ignacio and Rubenstein
February 1-25:
Newton and Upper Dorms
Lower Dorms
Rubenstein and Ignacio
February 1-22:
Newton and Upper Dorms
Lower Dorms
Rubenstein and Ignacio
February 1-18:
Newton and Upper Dorms
Lower Dorms
Rubenstein and Ignacio
February 1-15:
Newton and Upper Dorms
Lower Dorms
Rubenstein and Ignacio
February 1-8:
Newton and Upper Dorms
Lower Dorms
Rubenstein and Ignacio
February 1-4:
Newton and Upper Dorms
Lower Dorms
Rubenstein and Ignacio
Results from 2008:
Newton Dorms
Upper Dorms
Lower Dorms (Non-Senior)
Senior Dorms
Energy Dashboard
Since February of 2007,
Additional Information
Have you ever thought about powering your home with static electricity? See how this family got creative with their socks and some friction.
Do you have an Energy Hog living in your house? Watch this video to learn how to deal with them.
The following organizations provide in-depth information on the scientific, economic and political issues surrounding sustainable energy and its use.
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
The Renewable Energy Trust seeks to maximize environmental and economic benefits for the Commonwealth’s citizens by pioneering and promoting clean energy technologies and fostering the emergence of sustainable markets for electricity generated from renewable sources.
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is the Northeast’s leading organization of professionals working in sustainable energy, whole-systems thinking and green technologies. NESEA advances the adoption and practical application of sustainable, low carbon energy practices. NESEA accomplishes this through a number of ongoing programs and annual events. NESEA is a proud chapter of the American Solar Energy Association (ASES).
EPA – Clean Energy
Today, more than ever, consumers have the ability — and the interest — to invest in clean energy. Clean energy includes energy efficiency and clean energy supply options like highly efficient combined heat and power as well as renewable energy sources.
EPA’s Clean Energy Programs are working with state policy makers, electric and gas utilities, energy customers, and other key stakeholders. By identifying, designing and implementing clean energy policy and technology solutions, we are delivering important environmental and economic benefits.
The Sustainable Energy Coalition
The Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC) brings together more than 60 national and state-level business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations. Founded in 1992, the Coalition promotes increased federal support for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and reduced federal support for unsafe or polluting energy resources.