STONE RIDGE - T
he State University of New York (SUNY) Ulster, located in Stone Ridge, NY, is making great strides toward achieving its environmental goals at no additional cost. SUNY Ulster recently began an upgrade to its campus facilities which will be funded through expected energy savings. This project will simultaneously reduce utility, operating and maintenance costs, and greenhouse gas emissions. Keeping in line with its longstanding tradition of caring for the environment, SUNY Ulster will make the most prudent use of both fiscal and environmental resources.
SUNY Ulster selected Johnson Controls, a global leader in creating smart environments, to assist in the energy conservation upgrade to its campus. Under the agreement, SUNY Ulster expects to achieve the savings without incurring any additional energy-related expense. The upgrade, which was designed to be paid from energy savings realized, will include energy grants from the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Under the contract with Johnson Controls, the upgrade is expected to reduce the College’s energy use by 1,272,117 kWh/yr, is to eliminate the need for 578 gal of fuel oil. In addition, the upgrade is expected to reduce the College’s CO2 emissions by 537 metric tons per year.
Based on the 2005-2006 utility bills, the College’s average annual utility cost is $605,150. Based on an energy study performed by Johnson Controls, the potential exists to reduce energy use and achieve total annual utility cost savings of $195,300 and annual O&M savings of $14,880. The complete $2.6 million cost for the portfolio of upgrades is expected to be paid for based on utility cost savings over a 15 year period.
Upgrade activities at SUNY Ulster will include retrofitting older, less energy efficient equipment on campus with state-of-the-art energy using equipment. The project will also address water conservation and a renewable energy system in the form of a solar hot water heating system.
In order to achieve its operating goal of environmental sustainability, the College embarked on a comprehensive project to reduce energy use in many campus buildings. Activities to be undertaken include replacement of electric heat with high efficiency oil-fired hydronic heat, addition of a solar domestic hot water system, installation of a high efficiency lighting upgrades and controls, improved building insulation, adding a new energy management system, and installation of more efficient equipment to control ventilation and building fan motors .
Based on the 2005-2006 utility bills, the college uses an average of 4,616,727 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 74,696 gallons of fuel oil per year. The average utility cost per year is $605,150. Based on the energy study performed by Johnson Controls, the potential exists to reduce the College’s energy use and achieve total annual utility cost savings of $195,300 and annual O&M savings of $14,880. The complete $2.6 million cost for the portfolio of upgrades is expected to be paid for based on utility cost savings over a 15 year period.
The seriousness of SUNY Ulster’s environmental stewardship can be seen in all areas of the College, including operations, curriculum, student activities and community outreach. The College offers an Associate in Science Degree Program in Environmental Studies which enables students to gain hands-on training through field-based internships, and prepares them for a variety of careers in the environmental field. Through its office of Continuing and Professional Education, SUNY Ulster recently brought on-line a host of new courses in the area of environmental sustainability. These include courses in green home design and renovation, alternate energy systems for the homeowner, green roofing, and a sustainable building advisor certification class. The College also encourages sustainability through student activities such as the Environmental Club that meets to discuss environmental issues and to plan programs and events to address those issues.
