The University of California, San Diego has been accumulating awards for its savvy use of a constellation of power generation and energy-saving technologies. The campus already controls a fully functioning microgrid—including a cogeneration plant—and, as befits a research institution, is constantly looking for new ways to make its energy system smarter. This “living laboratory,” as campus leaders like to call it, demonstrates what it takes to build a smarter grid and why the effort is worth it.
Electric utilities have historically been conservative entities. In contrast, research universities—while preserving the wisdom of the ages—are always pushing the boundaries of theoretical and applied knowledge. That may be one reason that some of the most comprehensive advances in deploying technologies associated with the concept of a “smart grid” are happening on university campuses.
The University of California, San Diego (UCSD), for example, has collected multiple accolades and grants for a variety of initiatives related to its combined heat and power (CHP) plant, energy efficiency, and campus sustainability efforts. In 2002 the CHP plant received a VIP (Very Important Planet) Clean Air Award from San Diego Earthworks. This year, it was one of three 2010 Energy Star CHP winners (the other two were CHP plants at Fairfield University and the University of Missouri).
When considering energy systems more broadly, the campus has garnered additional kudos. The entire University of California system won a California Environmental Leadership Award from Global Green USA for its 32 LEED-certified buildings (those recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design system)—more than any other university in the country—and for its leadership in research and education related to climate change, clean energy, and other sustainability issues. And the June issue of Fast Company named Director of Strategic Energy Initiatives Byron Washom one of “The 100 Most Creative People in Business 2010.”
Although many other campuses enjoy the benefits of CHP and may have energy management systems, UCSD’s comprehensive plan makes it an exemplar not just for educational institutions but also for other campus-like settings and “local power” initiatives. UCSD also demonstrates that successfully building a smarter grid requires multiple steps and initiatives, a clear view of the big picture, and a solid business plan. (For more information on CHP plants across the U.S. and Department of Energy [DOE] goals for CHP, see the online supplement “Combined Heat and Power Across the U.S.”)
Email
Comments
Print
Reuse
