Energy Strategy
Annually, NYU consumes:
- 130,000,000 kWh of electricity
- 3,500,000 gallons of fuel oil
- 8,000,000 therms of natural gas
- NYU output is about 0.30% of New York City's total greenhouse gas emissions
- Buildings' energy use accounts for over 2/3 of NYU's contribution to global warming
NYU's energy "footprint"—the equivalent land area needed to meet its energy needs—may cover more than 116 square miles. (Try your hand at this ecological footprint game to learn more.)
Energy Goals
- Reduce university-wide electricity consumption 5% from FY07 to FY08 (encouraged by Facilities & Construction Management)
- On an ongoing basis, offset carbon output and other environmental impacts from conventional, outside power purchasing with Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2017
- Increase use of energy (electricity, heat, chilled water) sourced from in-house cogeneration to around 50% by 2010
Current Initiatives
- Replacement of incandescents with low-mercury, high efficiency compact fluorescent lightbulbs in Brittany Hall and other residence halls
- Relamping of Silver Towers parking garage
- "Lights Off" campaign to turn off unused lighting, especially after night cleaning
- Creation of computer power management guidelines
- Installation of Vending Misers to reduce vending machine energy consumption
- Verifying schedules and correct operation of Building Management Systems
- Making building consumption data more easily available via the Web.
Overall Energy Strategy
A good energy strategy will provide clear guidelines throughout the university community for construction, maintenance, and the ongoing use of energy; reduce the impacts of energy production on the environment; and help make New York City a better place to live.
- Goals and metrics: collecting good data about energy usage, setting benchmarks, analyzing progress towards targets
- Conservation: reducing energy use in heating, cooling, lighting, and other building needs (for example, shutting off the lights when no one is in the room)
- Efficiency: doing the same thing with less energy (for example, replacing light bulbs with efficient compact fluorescents)
- Procurement: getting energy from the cleanest and most renewable available source when possible, and getting the best price possible on our standard sources of energy so we have money for conservation and efficiency programs
- Production: expansion and best use of our cogeneration plant
- Education and outreach: University faculty, staff and student cooperation and support of the energy strategy are key to its success.