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Campus Sustainability News

News on campus sustainability initiatives, emerging programs, rankings, awards, student initiatives, green teams, and more from across the Cornell University campus.

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Installation of solar panels on Day Hall.

From the rooftops of Cornell’s proposed North Campus Residential Expansion (NCRE), the university hopes to gather enough solar energy to offset the new buildings’ electricity use by up to 35%, create about 1 megawatt of electricity annually and further reduce the university’s carbon footprint.“Cornell has a goal for the Ithaca campus to become carbon neutral using 100% renewable energy by 2035,” said Rick Burgess, vice president for facilities and campus services. “In line with this commitment, and encouraged by campus and community input, we are seeking to increase the amount of renewable energy that will be used in the proposed project. We are aiming to make a great project even better.”

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"...Cornell is a pioneer of purpose-driven science that works across disciplines. And CALS has a prime focus on food energy and environmental resources..."

Cornell clock tower at night

The annual Winter Setback program saved the Cornell campus over $80,000 in 2018, 20% less than in previous years. What changed?

Robert “Bert” Bland Associate Vice President for Energy & Sustainability Facilities and Campus Services Cornell University

 Bert Bland is responsible for around-the-clock electric, heating, cooling, water, sewage, energy generation, distribution, and use-optimization of Cornell University’s 250+ buildings on the Ithaca campus.  He was interviewed by The Megawatt Hour as part of their series "Complexities in Energy Decision Making."

Solar project in New Windsor New York

City dwellers may laugh at the idea of putting solar on their roofs, but there’s an alternative: community solar.

Lights for buildings on campus often have to stay on all night due to their hours of operation according to Jon Ladley, facilities planning manager.

Cornell recently opened Cascadilla Community Solar Farm, the University’s sixth large-scale solar project.  The solar farms will generate 30-gigawatt hours to serve about 3,000 average local residential homes.

smart thermostat

Cornell researchers are developing radio-frequency tags that can more comfortably and efficiently control building HVAC systems.

Construction is underway at the Cascadilla Community Solar Farm.

The new solar farm - Cornell's 6th -  will generate over 30,000 megawatts annually and double the University's annual renewable energy use.

Upson Hall

Upson Hall is Cornell’s fifth LEED Platinum building and the 21st overall LEED certified project completed on the Ithaca campus. Calculations for Upson Hall's energy efficiency reflect a 66.62 percent energy-cost reduction – a new Cornell LEED record. 

Cornell clock tower with Day Hall solar panels in foreground

Launched in 2018, the coalition group NY Higher Education LSRE Project brings together campuses in New York State who will solicit large-scale renewable energy projects to advance carbon reduction and green power goals.