Dartmouth is widening its analysis of energy-generation options to heat its campus as the institution continues to move forward with the Dartmouth Green Energy Project, which is aimed at improving energy resiliency, sustainability, and efficiency.
A hot-water transmission system at Dartmouth is estimated to be 20% more efficient than the current steam system. The change would include replacing steam pipes in more than 110 campus buildings.
There is widespread support for the switch from steam to hot-water heatwhich, at more than USD150 M, is the largest aspect of the anticipated investment in the Green Energy project.
Currently, about 2% of the College’s energy is generated by solar arrays, with additional solar photovoltaic systems proposed for the rooftops of Dana Hall and the indoor practice facility, both currently under construction, and on the newly expanded rowing facility.
The energy initiative sets out to meet goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 2010 levels by 50% by 2025 and by 80% by 2050; and establishing a better system to distribute energy across campus, improving efficiency by 20%.