Energy

Energy


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Teachers College is committed to slow climate change through energy efficiency

According to the US Energy Information Administration, in 2018, buildings accounted for over 68% of the increase in total energy-related U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. The greatest contribution to CO2 emissions from buildings in the US is from consumption of fuels for heating and cooling and indirect consumption of fuels for end-use electricity (ex. Lighting or charging devices). Energy-related consumption is considered one of the greatest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. 

One of the critical goals outlined in New York City’s OneNYC 2050 sustainability plan is to address energy consumption and promote use of more renewable energy in order to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Strategies to cut GHG emissions in NYC include both improving energy transmission and growing community solar programs. As part of a sustained effort, New York City has been able to “cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 17% below 2005 levels amid significant population and economic growth”. 

At Teachers College, the Office of Facilities Management is advancing energy efficiency through improvements in lighting, heating and cooling. This important work has positive implications to our operating and maintenance cost, and indoor air quality. 

In 2012, Teachers College implemented a lighting retrofit program by replacing inefficient incandescent and fluorescent lamps with T8/T5 fluorescent and LED lamps in over 9000 light fixtures; this retrofit reduced our electrical lighting load by 38%.Fluorescent lights continue to be replaced with LED’s. Motion/infrared sensors have been added to classrooms (26 currently), storerooms and mechanical/back of house areas. Light sensors and astronomical time clocks have replaced regular time clocks for exterior lighting. 

Lighting 2012 Report

Source: TC Office of Facilities Managment Report (2012)

In 2006, Teachers College installed its first central chilled water plant, operates on natural gas in spring, summer, and fall and free cooling plate and frame heat exchanger in winter this has allowed us to convert our older less efficient HVAC systems that use more energy to operate and contain refrigerants that are not environmentally friendly. 

Over the past 5 years, the College has converted 140 tons of cooling to the central plant. High efficiency motors have been installed throughout the campus. Variable frequency drives (vfd’s) have been installed on motors, pumps and fans.

The office of Facilities Management has a total of 34 classrooms on an automated system that uses scheduling data from Live25 to determine when heating or cooling is required in a classroom.

Heating and Cooling for Our Campus

Energy Sustainable Future

Heating & Cooling 2 for Our campus

  • Boiler Control Upgrade
  • Additional HVAC Units to be converted to Chilled Water
  • Energy Metering

 

New York City’s drinking water is known for its high quality and taste. In 2019, the City’s water supply system provided more than 1 billion gallons of safe drinking water every day to more than 8.4 million residents of the City. The City’s Department of Environmental Protection is partnering with other city agencies, institutions of higher learning, and businesses to help conserve water. To learn more about New York City’s water, click here and here.

Water is a crucial resource for everyone and is part of our daily lives. Aside from our homes, water is essential at places where we work and study too. At Teachers College, we use water for making coffee at the TC Cafe, cooking at Dining Hall, washing our hands in bathrooms, heating and cooling classrooms throughout the year, and for student residents to shower and cook. 

At Teachers College, water-efficiency and water conservation is a significant priority. Water-efficient practices and technology are widely implemented across buildings. Below are a few examples of the College's efforts.

Water


Water drop main page image sustainability conservation

Teachers College is committed to water-efficiency and conservation practices.

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