Building a more sustainable and resilient future for all
The Sustainability Institute integrates, supports and leads sustainability across the university to:
• Promote sustainability and resilience teaching and learning • Catalyze interdisciplinary research that drives discovery and innovation • Engage public and private sector partners to develop and apply sustainable solutions • Integrate sustainability scholarship with campus activities to engage students in research and experiential learning • Provide a competitive advantage in attracting exceptional new talent, students, partnerships and resources
The Sustainability Institute at Ohio State
Today, our planet’s life support systems are rapidly transforming. The ecosystems that sustain us are fluctuating, due to continued population growth, resource consumption, environmental degradation and climate change.
As a society, we stand at a crossroads between a sustainable and resilient future and one that leaves future generations to deal with unprecedented environmental change, resource scarcities and growing social inequities.
At Ohio State, we are poised to make lasting contributions to solving many of the world’s most complex and pervasive challenges. Our interdisciplinary research capacity, culture of problem solving and strategic partnerships with private industry, public agencies and non-governmental organizations offer countless opportunities to create transformational change in Ohio and around the world.
The time to act is now.
View the Sustainability Institute brochure
Read the Sustainability Institute Strategic Plan
About The Sustainability Institute
Ohio State is a comprehensive land-grant research university with hundreds of faculty in sustainability, thousands of passionate students, an enduring land-grant mission, and a strong commitment to sustainability in its campus operations, dedicated to leveraging its knowledge to enable more sustainable and resilient communities, including our state, nation and the global community.
Over 600 faculty and research scientists are engaged in sustainability research; we teach more than 1,000 courses that support sustainability learning; and we are engaged in Ohio communities and around the world to improve social, economic and environmental conditions.
The Sustainability Institute at Ohio State
3018 Smith Laboratory
174 W. 18th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
614-247-4762
sustainability@osu.edu
On the web: si.osu.edu
On social media: @OhioStSustain
University sees sustainability improvements from energy partnership
August 26, 2019
Highlights after two years include conservation measures, plans for new plant
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two years into a 50-year partnership, The Ohio State University continues to see improvement in its energy management and sustainability through tangible initiatives such as smart metering and lighting upgrades. Future improvements, including a Combined Heat and Power plant, promise to make an even bigger impact.
On July 6, 2017, Ohio State transferred operation of utility systems that deliver heating, cooling and electricity to the Columbus campus to ENGIE Buckeye Operations on behalf of Ohio State Energy Partners.
The partnership included a $1.015 billion upfront payment to the university and a $150 million commitment to support academic priorities.
To date, Ohio State Energy Partners has made tangible progress, including:
- Converting a total of 107,000 indoor light fixtures and 1,700 outdoor light fixtures to energy-efficient LED technology over the past two years.
- Installing more than 375 smart meters to link to an ENGIE Digital Platform. This system will allow ENGIE to monitor the utility system infrastructure throughout campus.
- Making infrastructure improvements to support utility systems for facilities around the Oval, within the Arts District and for health sciences facilities.
- Beginning to upgrade the energy systems in 14 buildings with a goal to improve their energy efficiency by more than 26% on average.
Heading into year three of the groundbreaking agreement, Ohio State Energy Partners is seeking Board of Trustees approval on a $393 million capital plan for the 2020 fiscal year.
The plan will help advance Ohio State and OSEP sustainability goals, which include improving energy efficiency by at least 25% within 10 years and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
In a major next step, the university is planning for a Combined Heat and Power plant, which would provide heating and cooling to parts of the campus core and to the proposed West Campus innovation district. The CHP plant is expected to:
- Cut the university's Columbus campus carbon emissions by up to 35% in the first full year of plant operation.
- Create efficiencies to support hot water and chilled water systems.
- Add to the university's overall resiliency by generating electricity.
- Reduce energy costs.
"The CHP facility generates electricity with combustion turbines and then utilizes the exhaust heat to make steam and heat water, which Ohio State uses to heat campus buildings," said Serdar Tufekci, OSEP CEO. "The CHP facility will also include a central chiller plant, which will be the first one west of the Olentangy River to provide cooling in midwest campus and West Campus buildings. This combined capacity is both financially and environmentally responsible."
The proposed CHP plant will reduce the amount of electric power the university must purchase from the electricity markets. Additionally, producing electricity on campus using highly efficient natural-gas fired generators will reduce the total carbon dioxide emissions associated with the campus.
Ohio State's Board of Trustees approved $10 million for professional services in May and will now consider construction approval. The total project cost, which includes the district heating and cooling loop infrastructure and a new pedestrian bridge across the Olentangy River, is expected to be $278 million with upfront capital costs provided by OSEP. The project has a target completion date of fall 2021.
Additional approval from the Ohio Power and Siting Board is required.
Beyond the sustainability benefits of the comprehensive energy management partnership, Ohio State has invested more than $800 million of the proceeds in endowments that provide ongoing support for student scholarships, faculty excellence and other priorities.
These endowments provide funding for the Buckeye Opportunity Program, which ensures that financial aid covers the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for all Ohio students who receive Pell grants. They also provide funding for the Teaching Support Program, offered through the University Institute for Teaching and Learning, for faculty members.
In addition, academic collaboration between Ohio State and OSEP supports endowed faculty positions, internships, other student scholarships and the energy advancement and innovation center, a hub for technology commercialization that will be developed as part of the West Campus innovation district.
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Contact: Dan Hedman, 614-292-7672; hedman.11@osu.edu