Princeton University

Princeton University (Princeton) is an independent, co-educational, non-denominational institution that provides undergraduate and graduate instruction to 5,000 undergraduate students and 2,500 graduate students in humanities, social science, natural sciences and engineering.  Princeton’s commitment to sustainability goes back many years and its adoption of a Sustainability Plan in 2008 further highlights the University’s commitment to minimizing its environmental impact.

A key component of Princeton’s Sustainability Plan is the University’s goal to reduce its carbon emissions to 1990 levels (95,000 metric tons) by 2020; 19,000 metric tons less than its 2007 emissions.  If the University took no action its emission levels would rise to 176,000 metric tons annually by 2020 driven by its expansion plans.  The strategies supporting this goal focus primarily on improving the efficiency of the University’s high-performance cogeneration plant and the buildings which it heats, cools and electrifies as well increasing the efficiency of new construction and renovated facilities.  As part of this effort, the University participated in the New Jersey SmartStart Buildings program, an incentive plan sponsored by the New Jersey Office of Clean Energy that provides financial assistance to residents, business owners and local governments that integrate energy efficient technologies into new construction or the upgrade of existing facilities.  In 2009 a direct heat exchanger that captures waste heat was installed in the cogeneration plant resulting in an annual savings of approximately 87,600 MMBtu.  Additionally, the University installed two backpressure turbines in the steam distribution system, which works in conjunction with existing pressure reducing valves resulting in far more efficient electricity generation.  Across the campus the University has evaluated its overall footprint and subsequently developed strategies and installed upgrades that focus on reducing its energy usage.  A substantial effort has been made to install occupancy sensors and replace T-12 light fixtures with high-efficiency T-8 fixtures.  As a whole the University's efforts have resulted in the savings of approximately 753,000 kWh and 391,700 therms annually.  Despite having added approximately 164,000 square feet in new construction, the University’s energy usage increased a modest 2.6 percent from 2007 to 2009.

Princeton’s ‘Report on Sustainability 2009’ reports that the University is committed to investing over $40 million over the next 10 years to reduce overall utility usage on campus by at least 25 percent.  It is Princeton’s goal that all new construction and major renovations will be designed to use 50 percent less energy than is required by current energy code; a key component in reaching its emissions reduction goal.  

Off
Delivering on the Promise
Total Annual Energy Savings 753,294 kWh
391,770 therms
Total Annual Cost Savings $1170000
Years of Investment 2 years
Total Project Cost $3,880,00
Public Rate Payer Funded Efficiency Program Contribution $771,000
Customer Contribution $3,109,000
Customer Payback Period 4 years
Year

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