Syracuse University has received two different recognitions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its use of green power. It has been recognized as a 2014-15 Individual Conference Champion of the College & University Green Power Challenge for using more green power than any other school in the Atlantic Coast Conference. At the same time, the University has been named among the top 30 largest green power users among higher education institutions within the Green Power Partnership. On this ranking, Syracuse came in at number 23, with 35 percent of its energy coming from wind power.
“Being recognized by the EPA Green Power Partnership as a Top 30 University and 2014 -2105 ACC Conference Champion validates the University’s continued focus on enhancing campus sustainability and reducing the University’s carbon footprint in a fiscally responsible manner,” says Nathan Prior, associate director for energy management for Syracuse University’s Department of Energy Systems and Sustainability Management.
Since April 2006, EPA’s Green Power Partnership has tracked and recognized the collegiate athletic conferences with the highest combined green power use in the nation. The Individual Conference Champion Award recognizes the school that has the largest individual use of green power within a qualifying conference.
Syracuse University is buying a combination of renewable energy certificates (RECs) and utility green power products from GDF Suez Energy Resources NA and Starphire.NET. This demonstrates a proactive choice to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives.
According to the EPA, the University’s green power use of nearly 24 million kWh is equivalent to the electricity use of more than 2,000 average American homes annually.
Thirty-nine collegiate conferences and 90 schools competed in the 2014-2015 challenge, collectively using nearly 2.4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power. EPA will extend the College & University Green Power Challenge for a 10th year, to conclude in spring of 2016.
