EPA Top 50 Universities/Colleges

Top 20 College & University

 

The Top 20 College & University list represents the largest green power users among higher education institutions within the Green Power Partnership. The combined green power use of these organizations amounts to more than 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually, which is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 123,000 average American homes annually.

• Current and Past Partner Lists

As of April 5, 2012

Annual Green Power Usage (kWh)	GP % of Total Electricity Use*	Green Power Resources	Providers (listed in descending order by kWh supplied to Partner)	Athletic Conference
1. University of Pennsylvania
200,194,600	48%	Solar, Wind	Community Energy°, On-site Generation	Ivy League
2. Carnegie Mellon University
119,515,000	103%	Solar, Wind	Nexant°, On-site Generation	University Athletic Association
3. University of Utah
98,255,850	36%	Solar, Wind	3Degrees°, Rocky Mountain Power°, On-site Generation	Pac-12
4. University of Oklahoma
97,201,680	56%	Wind	Oklahoma Gas & Electric	Big 12
5. Oregon State University
95,005,040	100%	Biogas, Biomass, Solar, Wind	Bonneville Environmental Foundation°, On-site Generation	Pac-12
6. Drexel University
84,268,000	100%	Wind	Community Energy°	Colonial Athletic Association
7. Northwestern University
74,311,195	30%	Solar, Wind	3Degrees°, On-site Generation	Big 10
8. University of Wisconsin
69,891,198	15%	Wind	Madison Gas & Electric, We Energies, WPPI Energy	Big 10
9. Apollo Group, Inc. / University of Phoenix
68,931,000	46%	Wind	NextEra Energy Resources°	Numerous
10. University of Maryland
66,000,000	26%	Wind	Washington Gas Energy Services°	Atlantic Coast Conference
11. The City University of New York
64,000,000	15%	Biomass, Wind	New York Power Authority	Numerous
12. The Ohio State University
60,810,000	10%	Various	Greenlight Energy°	Big 10
13. American University
54,033,500	100%	Solar, Wind	Renewable Choice Energy°, On-site Generation	Patriot League
14. University at Buffalo
44,120,000	20%	Solar, Wind	Starphire.NET°, Better World Energy, On-site Generation	Mid-American
15. Texas A&M University System
43,350,000	15%	Wind	Champion Energy Services	Numerous
16. The Catholic University of America
43,000,000	100%	Biomass, Geothermal, Small-hydro, Solar, Wind	Hess Energy Marketing	Landmark Conference
17. Auraria Higher Education Center
40,652,886	100%	Wind	Renewable Choice Energy°	Numerous
18. Western Washington University
40,000,000	102%	Wind	NextEra Energy Resources°	Great Northwest Athletic Conference
19. Quinnipiac University
37,744,000	100%	Wind	Renewable Choice Energy°	Northeast Conference
20. Georgetown University
36,511,500	25%	Biogas, Biomass, Wind	Hess Energy Marketing°	Big East

*Reflects the amount of green power as a percentage of total electricity use. Partners choosing to purchase green power in an amount exceeding 100 percent of their U.S. organization-wide electricity use are listed as such.

Organizations can meet EPA Partnership requirements using any combination of three different product options: (1) Renewable Energy Certificates, (2) On-site generation, and (3) Utility green power products.

I was excited to see that out of all universities in the United States, Western Washington University was ranked 18 out of 20 for the universities that use the most amount of green power.

Western currently has a green fee which the students have to pay along with tuition. With these funds, FM will be installing new technologies to conserve energy costs these are the projects that are in progress:

• Solar Panels on 5th floor roof of the Environmental Studies building
• Approximate allocated funding amount: $167,500 
• Approximate utility savings: $4,430 per year
• Additional costs include structural engineering, equipment
  rental, etc. This bid does not reflect total cost of project
• Seattle-based  A&R Solar’s bid to provide solar panels,
  inverter, electrical interconnections and solar panel framing for
  installation: base-bid $81,200 dollars; Alt 1 $11,800; total $93,000
  
  
• Hand Dryers
• Preliminary estimate for units, labor, fees, and permits:
  $9,700 - $12,000. These numbers do not include educational
  components.
  
  
• LED Retrofits
• Preliminary estimate for units, labor, and fees: $50,000 - $59,000.These numbers do not include educational components.
• Approximate utility savings: $1,200 per year
  10x12  program The 10x12 Program is an initiative to reduce
  Western’s utility use 10% by 2012. The program focuses on
  operational changes from the university and behavioral changes from
  the campus community in four areas: Electricity, Natural Gas, Water,
  and Zero Waste. Parks Hall, Arntzen Hall, the Biology Building, and
  the Chemistry Building serve as pilot areas for this program. 

I think it is extremely important for schools to have a fee for sustainability. If more colleges required a green fee or sustainability fee then they can use that money to improve the school and save the environment. Other companies could do this as well. For example, when joining a gym, members must pay a one time fee that goes towards energy efficient machines, hand dryers for the bathroom, etc.

http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top20ed.htm