Energy & climate
Energy is one of the largest issues that faces NC State from both a financial and environmental perspective. From 2006-07, our university spent $28.5 million on utilities including electricity, natural gas and fuel oil. The majority of our energy is used in campus buildings for heating, cooling and lighting and in fact NC State is the second largest consumer of energy in buildings in the state, after UNC-Chapel Hill. As NC State’s enrollment population expands we must focus on energy efficiency and implementing alternative energy projects to responsibly manage our growth.
In recent years significant energy-related legislation has required state agencies and universities to think seriously about efficiency. In response, to the State Energy Plan, NC State established a commitment to reduce the annual energy consumption per square foot by at least 4% over a 10 year period. The annual, NC State University Strategic Energy and Water Plan Update, maps out ongoing strategies for attaining this reduction. More recently, in 2007, SB 668 (SL 2007-546) required a further reduction in energy and water use in state, university and community college buildings. NC State designated 2008 as the Year of Energy and signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a commitment to achieve climate neutrality on campus and joined the U.S. Energy Star program as a partner university,
Within the university, the Office of Energy Management identifies and implements practical ways to save electricity, natural gas, oil and water and to reduce operating costs. The NC Solar Center has become one of the premier renewable energy centers in the US and serves as a clearinghouse for solar and other renewable energy programs, information, research, technical assistance and training.
NCSU initiatives |