Campus energy projects
Task Force Advances Host of Campus Energy Projects
MIT wins green building certification for Brain and Cognitive Sciences Complex (BCSC)
The U.S. Green Building Council has recently awarded LEED Silver certification to MIT's Brain and Cognitive Science Complex, the first MIT building to receive this prestigious rating. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings. The LEED Silver target was identified early in the design process so that necessary documentation from the designers and builder could be captured for the LEED qualification package. In addition, the new graduate residence hall NW35 is on track for Silver recognition, and the new Sloan building project team anticipates a Gold rating. MIT has committed to collecting and submitting LEED documentation for certification. While valuing certification as an accepted measure of sustainable design, a well-designed and energy-efficient building remains MIT's goal. Learn more about the Brain and Cognitive Science Complex or about MIT's sustainable building program.
Outcomes
- A rainwater collection system satisfies 100% of the flushing needs of the building reducing its overall water consumption by more than 70%.
- Variable air volume systems, right sizing of HVAC equipment, and heat recovery methods reduce energy use.
- 40% of the building materials and products, by cost, were manufactured regionally, supporting the regional economy and reducing environmental impacts.
- Demolition of Building 45 on the site achieved a 96% recycling rate.
New Sloan School building anticipated to achieve LEED Gold
The new Sloan School of Management building currently under construction is expected to achieve a LEED Gold rating (the second highest rating) by the U.S. Green Building Council for its high degree of sustainable design. The project has been successful largely due to the implementation of an integrated design process. The key principle to the integrated design process is whole system thinking. Instead of optimizing each piece of the building individually, as is done in the traditional design process, the Sloan design team considered how to make the entire system succeed. To do that, they had to understand the relationships between the pieces, for example how a change in the skin of the building will affect the HVAC system. These types of connections are difficult to make in the traditional process since it is very linear. Generally, the architect designs the building and then hands it off to the engineers to make it work. In an integrated design process, everybody addresses all systems early in the process. This leads to securing buy-in from all team members from the beginning so that every decision can be made with the expertise of many disciplines. Learn more about the Sloan School expansion project.
Outcomes
- Daylighting controls of lights and shades, chilled beams, and other features in the building are expected to reduce the overall energy use of the building by around 25%.
- Through the use of energy efficient light fixtures and the optimization of daylighting, the electrical power for lighting will be around 0.8 watts per square foot.
- Replacing the surface parking lot with a garage below grade will increase open space and create a more welcoming entrance on the eastern edge of campus.
Department of Chemistry fume hood project saves energy
A single chemical fume hood has been shown to use as much thermal and electrical energy as a single family home. A unique pilot program designed to improve the energy efficiency of fume hoods in the Department of Chemistry has demonstrated success in reducing energy use by encouraging researchers to simply close their sashes when not in use. Using a combination of data-rich analyses of individual fume hood use, education, and monthly performance updates, the project team has been able to realize and document a reduction of fume hood sashes left open when not in use — resulting in lower energy use and savings to the Institute. The program is a unique collaboration between the School of Science Dean's Office, Department of Chemistry, Department of Facilities, Environment, Health and Safety Office, and several dedicated students. The project was featured in a Tech Talk article.
Outcomes
- $30,000 in fume hood energy costs saved in pilot phase through behavior changes alone.
- 4.6% reduction of fume hood energy use realized, with greater reductions expected.
- Expansion of program across campus expected to more than triple savings.
Solar power and energy efficiency relight MIT's Great Dome
A relighting of the Building 10 Great Dome took place on June 9, 2007, thanks to an anonymous donor's gift that replaced outdated lighting fixtures with energy-saving light-emitting diodes (LED) and high-efficiency precision metal halide fixtures. In addition to the new fixtures, the lighting system is supplemented by energy generated by a new photovoltaic (PV) array on the roof of Building 57. The new PV array, the largest installation on campus, is connected to MIT's electrical grid and more than offsets energy consumed by the new lighting system, demonstrating more sustainable energy practices. The PV installation was made possible through support from MIT alumni, a Massachusetts Technology Collaborative grant, and the Department of Facilities. Read the Tech Talk articles on the new PV system and the dome relighting.
Outcomes
- Using energy efficient technologies, the new dome lighting requires only as much energy as two hair dryers.
- A new 40kW solar PV system will add 50,000 kWh annually in clean energy, equivalent to removing 65,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year and offsetting more than four times the electricity required by the new dome lighting.
Campus Energy Task Force supports new learning opportunities on campus
Task Force members have developed and supported new educational opportunities for students to explore and learn about campus energy issues. UROPs, theses, classes, and volunteer projects have enabled students to research real-world campus energy challenges, identify improvements, and recommend solutions while collaborating with MIT energy and environment staff. Projects have researched green loan programs, on-site wind feasibility, dorm energy use, fume hood energy savings, air travel CO2 emissions, campus energy use mapping, biodiesel, lab energy efficiency, green building design and other topics. For more information on energy education, visit the Education section of the MITEI website.
Outcomes
- Campus Sustainability UROP Program established in partnership with the MITEI Energy Education Office and the Environmental Programs Office, funding 12 UROPs.
- An undergraduate architecture thesis identified over $350,000 in potential energy savings in Building 18. Many of his findings are now being acted on.
