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Personal Carbon Footprint Contest
Why Energy Savings and Sustainability?
The Issue
As the world-wide demand for energy rises, energy-producing fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are being depleted, and the social, environmental and economic costs associated with energy consumption are escalating. Climate change is caused by carbon dioxide pollution from using fossil fuels.
At Brandeis
The university is taking action to reduce energy and water consumption. Like the trio in the "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" slogan, "Conservation, Efficiency and Renewables" are the trio of practices to mitigate energy usage impact. Brandeis has signed the AUC Presidents Climate Commitment, an agreement to drastically reduce our energy use.
Energy conservation is the practice of cutting back on wasteful energy consumption and can be as simple as turning out unnecessary lights.Brandeis has implemented a number of conservation strategies and policies. Follow these links for more information:
Policies:
Energy efficiency consists of technological solutions such as updated appliances and motion sensors. Efficiency won’t be effective if building occupants don’t conserve as well.In 2004, the university began investing in a comprehensive Energy Savings Program, resulting in millions of dollars of savings. Energy efficient lighting has been placed in many buildings, upgrades have been made to the steam system, and improved heating and cooling machinery has been installed.
Renewable Clean EnergyA growing alternative to fossil fuel produced energy is clean and renewable energy such as solar, geothermal and wind power. Clean energy refers to sources that don't pollute in their extraction and use. Renewable energy refers to sources that will not run out. It is becoming increasingly available, but still represents a small percentage of our total energy use. It is currently more costly than fossil fuels, but the prospect of stable prices is making projects more viable.
The university purchases 15 percent of our electricity demands from GreenE certified off-site wind power and is researching a campus wind turbine, as well as other ways to use renewable energy. See News Stories.