25% Less Energy
Middlebury is reaching to reduce energy consumption on its core campus by 25 percent by 2028.
The reduction will come from changes to campus infrastructure, including renovating and updating several large academic buildings, emphasis on energy performance for new buildings, as well as behavioral changes. The plan also calls for improved energy-use monitoring across campus.
While the challenge of reducing energy consumption at the main campus by 25 percent is very ambitious, Middlebury is well-prepared after its successful 10-year campaign to become carbon neutral by 2016.
Focusing on energy sources and consumption was key to that campaign, and the shift from being carbon conscious to energy conscious was a natural one. A lot of conservation and efficiency work has been done to get to carbon neutrality, including 136 efficiency projects from 2007 to 2024 with current annual savings of $1.17 million and a simple payback of 2.3 years.
For example, new insulation on a section of underground steam pipes cost $17,000 and reduces heat loss equivalent to $5,800 a year.
Conservation and Efficiency Projects 2007 to 2024
How Are We Doing?
As of the end of FY23, Middlebury has reduced its overall annual usage of energy to 367,149 MMBtus, a reduction of 9.3%, or approximately two-fifths of 25% the target, over its 2018 baseline year. These reductions are being achieved by reframing Middlebury’s approach to building design, renovation, and operation.
Energy Renovations
The Middlebury core campus consists of 126 individual buildings of various ages and energy infrastructure systems, totaling 2.5 million square feet. To meet the goal of reducing energy consumption by 25%, Middlebury is building in energy-efficiency requirements into every major planned renovation and construction project.
To date, four buildings—Munroe Hall, Warner Hall, Voter and the Christian A. Johnson Memorial Building—have been renovated with energy efficiency as a top priority. These upgrades are having a substantial impact on lowering campus energy usage.
Point of use heating and cooling controls
Classrooms and offices are now equipped with motion sensors that automatically adjust room temperature according to usage. When not in use, room temperature settings and lights are automatically set to low energy use until new activity is detected. These and other efficiency improvements have reduced overall building energy usage significantly. For example, the installation of a similar system in Bicentennial Hall’s Vivarium, which the facility’s managers can control according to when rooms are in use, is saving up to 70,000 kilowatt hours annually.
Energy Related Data for Research and Special Projects
A portal for environmental and energy-related data at Middlebury is available for College faculty, staff and students.